Industry Certification
Note these Changes to the Operator Certification Testing!
• State Water Resources Control Board Changes to Operator Certification Testing
• Operator Certification Computer-Based Testing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Both of these PDFs can be found here.
• Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution System Operators
The law requires that individuals working as drinking water treatment and/or distribution system operators must be certified by the State Water Resources Control Board. There are 5 levels (T1-T5) of certification for treatment operators and 5 levels (D1-D5) for distribution operators.
The exam for each treatment and distribution certification level has minimum qualifications that must be met in order to be eligible to take the exam. The minimum qualifications may include both coursework and work experience depending on the certification level.
State Water Resources minimum qualifications for Water Treatment exams and certification aligned with the COC Water program courses.
State Water Resources minimum qualifications for Water Distribution exams and certification aligned with the COC Water program courses.
• Wastewater Operators
There are five levels of wastewater operator certification (Grades I-V). In order to work in a Wastewater Treatment Plant, you will need to be certified. Certification requires both work experience and education as well as passing a written exam.
More detailed information on these requirements can be found on the State Water Resources Control Board website.
