Operator Requirements and Test Applications

Education Requirements for Certification

Water Distribution or Treatment Full (F) or Operator-In-Training (OIT) Certified Operators Grades 1 and 2:

  • High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED)

Water Distribution or Treatment Full (F) or Operator-In-Training (OIT) Certified Operators Grade 3:

  • High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED)
  • 72 hours of college level courses related to water or training approved by International Association of Education Training (IACET).  *College level courses must be at least 36 hours in length and related to drinking water.Documentation required upon application

Water Distribution or Treatment Full (F) or Operator-In-Training (OIT) Certified Operators Grade 4:

  • High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED)
  • 144 hours of college level courses related to water or training approved by International Association of Education Training (IACET).  *College level courses must be at least 36 hours in length and related to drinking water.Documentation required upon application

Work Experience Requirements for Full Certification

  • Grade 1 - 6 months of experience
  • Grade 2 - 1 year of experience
  • Grade 3 - 2 years of experience with 1 year of Grade 2 full certification
  • Grade 4 - 4 years of experience with 1 year of Grade 3 full certification

*Please note that work experience gained is dependent on duties performed and the water system(s) operating category. One-half of the experience requirement may be substituted with waste water experience or appropriate college level courses.  Each application will be reviewed on a case-by-case bases. Operators who do not meet the experience requirement, will be certified as an Operator-In-Training.  Once the experience criteria has been met, operators may then apply for a conversion to obtain a Full certification.

Summary of Distribution and Treatment Requirements

Level

Education

Experience*

Renewal Requirements Per Renewal Period

Grade 1
High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED)
6 months of experience
7 contact hours (0.7 CEU)
Grade 2
High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED)
1 year of experience
7 contact hours (0.7 CEU)
Grade 3
High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) and a minimum of 72 hours post - secondary education
2 years of experience with 1 year of Grade 2 full certification
14 contact hours (1.4 CEU)
Grade 4
High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) and a minimum of 144 hours post - secondary education
4 years of experience with 1 year of Grade 3 full certification
14 contact hours (1.4 CEU)
*If experience requirement is not satisfied, applicant will receive an Operator in Training (OIT) certification for the respective grade. 

Water Operator Application: Testing, OIT-to-Full Conversion, or Reciprocity

Additional Documentation Required Upon Application

LevelTestingConversionReciprocity
Grade 1
 
 
- Active Certificate from other State
Grade 2
 
 
- Active Certificate from other State
Grade 3
- Post - Secondary Education
- Job Description
- Organization Chart           
- Post - Secondary Education 
- Job Description
- Organization Chart
- Post - Secondary Education
- Job Description
- Organization Chart
- Active Certificate from other State
Grade 4
- Post - Secondary Education 
- Job Description
- Organization Chart
- Post - Secondary Education
- Job Description
- Organization Chart
- Post - Secondary Education 
- Job Description
- Organization Chart
- Active Certificate from other State

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