Wastewater Operator Certification Program

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Certification

There are five levels of operator certification (Grades I – V). To receive a certificate, you must meet the minimum experience and education requirements and pass a written test. Please refer to the Certification Requirements for a summary of the experience and education necessary for each grade. For future exam dates and information please refer to the examination schedule.

Qualifying experience may be acquired in two ways:

• You may work either part-time or full-time performing operator duties while holding an Operator-in-Training certificate or a wastewater certificate at a lower grade level. Part-time experience will be prorated, e.g. two years of half-time work equals one year of qualifying experience.
• You may use wastewater experience gained outside California, provided you were a certified wastewater operator and performing duties that would require certification in California.

Note: Operations duties in an agricultural, industrial or manufacturing facility or on a ship are not considered qualifying experience for purposes of the Operator Certification Program.

• Applications
  • Certification
  • Examination Waiver
  • Operator-in-Training
  • Operator-in-Training Renewal
  • Provisional Operator
  • Reinstatement
  • Renewal
  • Make a Payment

For questions, please contact the Office of Operator Certification at (916) 341-5819 to leave a voice message or email us at: wwopcertprogram@waterboards.ca.gov.