Water & Wastewater Operator Certification
- Certification Program Contacts
- DEQ Staff Directory
- Laws and Rules
- About Certification
- Advisory Council
- Certification Class Chart
- Designated Operator Forms
- Duties and Responsibilities
- Twelve Steps to be an operator
- How to Become Certified
- Application Form
- Application Checklist
- Application Instructions
- High School Waiver Form
- Reciprocity Certification Info
- Temporary Operator Application
- Temporary Operator Statues and Rules
- Exam Information
- Exam Dates/Locations
- Continuing Education Credits
- Application for Approval Forms
- Approved Training Providers
- CEC Rules
- CECRC Committee
- Credit Report Form
- Training Providers
- Water School Information
- Reimbursement Program
- Operator Reimbursement
- Related Sites
- Permitting & Compliance Division
- Public Water Supply Program
- Public Water/Subdivisions Bureau
- Subdivisions Review Program
- Water Quality Circulars
- Water Quality Information Site
Certification Classes
| I First Class |
II Second Class | III Third Class | IV Fourth Class | V Fifth Class |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Water Distribution Operator 1 | Serving more than 20,000 people | Serving 2,500-20,000 people | Serving 500-2,499 people | Serving 100-499 people | Serving fewer than 100 people |
| B. Water System Operator 1 | Treatment for surface water utilizing chemical coagulation, filtration, and disinfection | Treatment for surface water not utilizing chemical coagulation | Well water supply serving greater than 2,500 people, with or without disinfection | Well water supply serving 100-2,500 people, with or without disinfection | Well water supply serving fewer than 100 people, with or without disinfection |
| C. Waste- water System Operator 3 |
Conventional, high rate, or biological nutrient removal activated sludge systems or any treatment system with mechanical tertiary (advanced) treatment processes | Treatment such as extended aeration, oxidation ditches, trickling filters, package plants, sequencing batch reactors, or bio-disc treatment systems | Aerated lagoons | Lagoons not utilizing artificial aeration | ---------------- |
| D. Industrial Wastewater Treatment Operator 2,3 | Physical-chemical treatment facilities for precipitation and settling and/or biological treatment plants treating more than 1.0 mgd | Biological treatment plants treating less than 1.0 mgd | Treatment facilities primarily for oil removal | Ponding facilities for removal of sediment which do not utilize chemical treatment | ---------------- |
| Experience Requirement for Fully Certified Operator | 2 years | 1 1/2 years | 1 year | 6 months | 3 months as of 11/19/02 |
Educational Requirement
High school graduation or G.E.D. certificate, or
approval of Application for Special Exception for this requirement
Annual Renewal Fee Per Individual Certified (July 1 - June 30)
Renewal fees are $30 per one or both A and B certificates and
$40
per one or both C and D certificates
1. When an accurate population census is not available, the population served may be determined by multiplying the number of service connections by 2.5.
2. Facilities discharging to municipal facilities and facilities for removing sediment without a surface water discharge do not require a certified operator unless the municipality requires it.
3. Currently all industrial wastewater certifications, except oil refineries, are using the standard wastewater study material and examinations closest to their form of wastewater treatment.

