Certification Level | Minimum Education Requirement (see Table 7 for equivalents) | Minimum Experience Requirement | |
WTPO 1 | 12 years | 12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant. | |
WTPO 2 | 12 years | • | 18 months operating experience in a water treatment plant; and |
• | 18 months additional water-related experience. | ||
• | Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement. | ||
WTPO 3 | 14 years | • | 24 months operating experience in a Class 2 or higher rated water treatment plant; and |
• | 24 months additional water-related experience. | ||
• | Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement. | ||
WTPO 4 | 16 years | • | 24 months operating experience in a Class 3 or higher rated water treatment plant; and |
• | 24 months additional water-related experience. | ||
• | Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement. |
Certification Level | Minimum Education Requirement (see Table 7 for equivalents) | Minimum Experience Requirement | |
WDS | 12 years | 6 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system. | |
WDM 1 | 12 years | 12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system. | |
WDM 2 | 12 years | • | 12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system; and |
• | 24 months additional water-related experience. | ||
• | Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement. | ||
WDM 3 | 14 years | • | 12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system; and |
• | 36 months additional water-related experience. | ||
• | Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement. | ||
WDM 4 | 16 years | • | 12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system; and |
• | 36 months additional water-related experience. | ||
• | Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement. |
Minimum Education Requirement | Equivalent Education and Substitutions | ||
12 years of education | • | High school diploma or GED; | |
• | One year of water-related experience may substitute for each year of education through twelfth grade. | ||
14 years of education | • | High school diploma or GED, and one of the following: | |
• | A two-year college degree; | ||
• | 60 college semester credits; | ||
• | 90 college quarter credits; or | ||
• | 90 CEUs from relevant water system training. | ||
• | One year of operating experience or water-related experience may substitute for each year of education through twelfth grade. | ||
• | Two years of operating experience or water-related experience may substitute for each year of college education. | ||
16 years of education | • | High school diploma or GED, and one of the following: | |
• | A four-year college degree; | ||
• | 120 college semester credits; | ||
• | 180 college quarter credits; or | ||
• | 180 CEUs from relevant water system training. | ||
• | One year of operating experience or water-related experience may substitute for each year of education through twelfth grade. | ||
• | Two years of operating experience or water-related experience may substitute for each year of college education. |