Wastewater Operator Certification Program

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) serve an essential function to protect public health and the environment from contaminated water leaving homes and businesses. Competent, trained, and certified operators must run these plants. We assure qualified operators fill this role through evaluating certification requirements and ongoing professional training.

Fee changes coming!

We are in the process of updating the Cerification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Plant rule (WAC 173-230) to establish a new fee schedule. We are also looking at other changes to improve the operations of the Wastewater Operator Certification Program.

Visit the rulemaking website for updates and more information. Sign up for our email listserv for periodic rulemaking updates and to learn of opportunities to comment on draft proposals.

Let us know what you think.

Take our survey to let us know what you think about the proposed changes and if you are interested in participating in the Rule Advisory Committee.

Survey open until August 13, 2018.

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2017 Outstanding WWTP awards

Throughout the year we require more than 300 wastewater treatment plants to submit data on the water quality leaving their plants. Some of those plants have met every standard and never missed a deadline. This year we are recognizing 111 of those excellently run plants from 2017. Each plant receives a plaque commemorating their achievement, and we notify their administrators and legislators. Read more about it on our blog or see the list of awardees.

How do I get certified?

Apply

Download application then mail it

or request an application be mailed to you.

Remember to:

Type or write clearly in ink.
Apply for the level you qualify for.
Complete all five pages in full detail.
Hand sign and date affidavit (even if you have no operating experience).
Include all supporting documents and a $50 application fee.

What happens next?

We review your application within 60 days. If approved, you must take the qualification exam.

Register for the exam through Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP). You must pass the exam with 70 percent or higher.
AMP notifies us of your score.
If you pass, we will mail you a certificate and a validation card.
Learn how to stay certified (see "How do I stay certified?").

You have one year to take and pass the exam from our review date. If you don't pass, you can retake the exam after 14 days.

What exam level do I qualify for?

All levels require a high school diploma or GED. Excess WWTP operating experience can substituted for a high school diploma or GED.
"Operating experience" means the routine performance of duties, onsite in a WWTP, that affect plant performance or effluent quality.

Certification level	Required domestic operating experience and relevant education	Allowable substitutions for operating experience	Allowable substitutions for education	Examples of substitutions for excess operating experience with no relevant experience and not enough credits/CEUs
Operator in Training	3 months operating experience	3 relevant credits/CEUs	---	---
Group I	1 yr operating experience	---	---	---
Group II	3 yrs operating experience	Up to 1.5 yrs relevant experience, education or portion of both (1.5 yrs=67.5 credits/CEUs)	---	---
Group III	4 yrs operating experience (with at least 2 yrs at a class II or higher plant) and 90 credits/CEUs	Up to 2 yrs relevant experience, education or portion of both (maximum 90 excess relevant credits/CEUs)	Excess operating experience 1 yr for 1st 45 credits/CEUs 3 yrs for last 45 credits/CEUs (4 yrs excess operating)	6 yrs total operating experience + 29 relevant credits/CEUs 7 yrs total operating experience + 12 relevant credits/CEUs 8 yrs total operating experience + 0 relevant credits/CEUs
Group IV	4 yrs (with at least 2 yrs at a class III or higher plant) and 180 credits/CEUs	Up to 2 yrs of relevant experience, education or portion of both (maximum 90 excess relevant credits/CEUs)	Excess operating experience 1 yr for each 45 credits/CEUs for 1st 90 3 yrs for last 45 credits/CEUs for 2nd 90 credits (8 yrs excess operating experience)	10 yrs total operating experience + 29 relevant CEUs/credits 11 yrs total operating experience + 12 relevant credits/CEUs 12 yrs total operating experience + 0 relevant credits/CEUs

What counts as relevant experience?

Included but not limited to:

Boiler operator
Building/equipment maintenance
Engineering
Environmental or engineering branch of federal, state, county, or local government
Environmental or operations consultant
Laboratory technician
Machinist
Water distribution manager
Water treatment plant operator
Welding
Wastewater collection operator
Wastewater pump operator

To substitute education for operating experience, education credits or Continuing Education Units (CEUs) must be in excess of the required education.

1 year = 45 quarter credits/CEUs or 30 semester credits
1 month = 4 credits/CEUs

Frequently asked questions

How do I get certified with no WWTP operating experience?

1. Education: You will qualify for an Operator in Training with 3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or college credits relevant to wastewater.

2. Gain experience through:

Employment: Some cities hire entry-level positions for their WWTP. Search on their websites or see job links below.
Intern: A few municipalities and schools offer internships. Call your local plant or technical college to see if they have opportunities.
Volunteer: Offer part-time volunteer work for 3 months at your local plant. Call your local plant to see if it's possible.

How do I stay certified?

Where can I view my transcripts?

View professional growth transcripts anytime by logging into SecureAccess Washington.

For current SAW account users:

Log onto SecureAccess Washington ("Add Service" if you haven't already. See steps 4-10 below)
Go to "My Services" at top of page.
Select "Operator Certification" option.
View transcripts.

New Users:

Open SecureAccess Washington
Follow their prompts under "Don't have an account? Create one." They will send you an email confirmation code.
Log into SAW with your new account email and password.
Click "Add New Service"
Select "Department of Ecology" from the list on the left.
Find "Operator Certification" under services and click apply on the left.
Wait for an email confirmation from SAW
Look for "Operator Certification" under "My Services."
Fill in the 2 question form. SAW will send OpCert staff a request.
You will have access to your transcripts after we approve your request.

Or, you can call the OpCert office at 360-407-6889.

Where can I find approved courses or trainers?

See our approved course list.

Approved trainers offering Continuing Education Units (CEUs):

Washington colleges with operator courses:

Do you offer a course to become an operator?

How can I study for the exam?

Califormina State University, Sacramento has online self-paced courses including the Ken Kerri series.
Green River Community College has individual classes or longer term degree programs.

Study guides/resources:

Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) (exam developers)

Sample test and need to know criteria

Treatment Plant Operator (TPO) magazine

American Water Works Association (AWWA)

How can I get my training approved for CEUs?

How can I get reciprocity in Washington?

You may qualify for reciprocity, a state to state certification exchange, if you meet Washington state's requirements.

To qualify for reciprocity you must:

Meet Washington state education and experience requirements.
Have passed a standardized Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) equivalent exam with a score of 70 percent or higher.
Hold a valid certification in good standing.
Pay the $50 application fee.

We have reciprocity with:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Wyoming.

We have conditional reciprocity with:

Oregon — if certification was received by taking a standardized ABC exam.
Colorado — for levels A-D, not for class S.
Utah — if certificate is not a restricted certificate.
New York — if exam score is 70% or higher.

We do not have reciprocity with:

California, Florida, Indiana, New Mexico, or North Carolina

If we do not have reciprocity with your state, you will have to meet Washington’s requirements and pass an exam to become a Washington State Certified Wastewater Operator.

Note: If you do not see your state listed above, we have not verified reciprocity with them.

Where can I look for jobs?

Where to send your application materials:

Correspondence/professional growth documents

Email
opcert@ecy.wa.gov

Fax
360-407-6426

Mail
Department of Ecology
Wastewater Operator Certification
PO Box 47696
Olympia, WA 98504-7696

Payments (applications and renewals)

Contact information

Poppy Carre
Operator Certification Program Coordinator
poppy.carre@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6449

Tyga Hunter
Operator Certification Program Assistant
tyga.hunter@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6889

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