WATER OPERATOR

CERTIFICATION
al crop marks
EXPLAINED
#NoOperatorNoWater
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Certified water operators are a critical part of providing an adequate
and safe supply of water.

I. Operator Snapshot III. How AWWA Can

a. A Look at the Job Get You There
b. Outlook a. Certification Resources

c. Salary b. Other Resources

II. Getting Certified IV. After Certification

a. Certification Process a. Operator Resources

b. Certification Requirements b. Continuing Education Credits

c. State Resources
I BECAME
A WATER
OPERATOR
TO:
 VALUE OF
CERTIFICATION
OPERATOR
CAREER
SNAPSHOT
A LOOK AT THE JOB
WHAT THEY DO
WATER TREATMENT WATER DISTRIBUTION WASTEWATER TREATMENT
OPERATORS OPERATORS OPERATORS
are responsible for operating and are responsible for operating are responsible for operating
maintaining a water treatment plant, and maintaining a water and maintaining a wastewater
including maintenance of equipment, distribution system. treatment plant.
quality control, and day-to-day
activities.

Water and wastewater operators can perform a wide variety of tasks:

• Inspect equipment • Record meter and gauge readings • Operate equipment to purify and
and operational data clarify water or to process or
• Monitor operating conditions, dispose of sewage
meters, and gauges • Document and report test results to
regulatory agencies • Clean and maintain equipment,
• Collect and test water and tanks, filter beds, and other
sewage samples work areas

*Based on US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2018
OUTLOOK
A PROMISING FIELD
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics shares that in the upcoming
decade, more than 7,000 certified operators will be needed.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators held
about 119,200 jobs in 2016. The largest employers of water and
wastewater treatment plant and system operators were as follows:

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 77%

(excluding education and hospitals)

UTILITIES 12%

MANUFACTURING 4%

*Based on US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2018
SALARY
Water Distribution/ Wastewater
Water Treatment Operator
Collection Operator Treatment Operator

Population
Associate Intermediate Senior Associate Intermediate Senior Associate Intermediate Senior
Size

50,000– $37k– $45k– $50k– $38k– $45k– $49k– $39k– $44k– $50k–
100,000 $54k $64k $71k $53k $62k $69k $56k $63k $72k

25,000– $37k– $43k– $48k– $37k– $43k– $52k– $38k– $41k– $53k–
50,000 $51k $59k $67k $52k $59k $71k $50k $54k $72k

10,000– $37k– $43k– $48k– $35k– $40k– $48k– $35k– $38k– $41k–
25,000 $51k $57k $67k $49k $56k $67k $50k $54k $60k

First–Level Intermediate High–Level First–Level Intermediate High–Level First–Level Intermediate High–Level

Typical
Years of 0–2 2–4 5+ 0–2 2–4 5+ 0–2 2–4 5+
Experience
*Salary ranges based on AWWA’s 2017 Compensation Survey
GETTING
CERTIFIED
 CERTIFICATION PROCESS
WATER OPERATORS MUST PASS A CERTIFICATION EXAM FOR
THEIR SPECIFIC CERTIFICATION LEVEL.

Currently, operator

04
certification is offered
at a state or province
File for your exam. level, but testing criteria

01 are similar across

geographic locations.
Visit Association
of Boards of

02
Certification (ABC)
website to find your
certification contact
information.
Check your eligibility
(exam requirements,
03
applications, training Check for upcoming
progams, etc.) testing dates.
HOW THE EXAM WORKS

70% Minimum score required $75–$100 Average cost

to pass the exam* of the exam*

Plan for 3–6 months of Take several

preparation practice exams

Source Water
WHAT THE
EXAM COVERS Operations and Maintenance
Each question tests one of Labratory
three skills: Comprehension, Procedures
Application, or Analysis Water Treatment Process

Regulation/Administrative Duties

*If you are currently employed with a utility, check with them for testing requirements,
cost coverage, and available resources. Requirements may vary by state.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
AWWA Water System Operations (WSO) certification study guides all meet Association of Boards
of Certification (ABC) Requirements and align with ABC’s Need-to-Know Criteria.

EDUCATION EXPERIENCE

CLASS I High school diploma, GED, or equivalent 1 year of acceptable experience

CLASS II High school diploma, GED, or equivalent 3 years of acceptable experience

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent; 900 contact hours of 4 years of acceptable experience, including
CLASS III
post high school education 2 years of direct responsible charge

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent; 1,800 contact hours 4 years of acceptable experience, including
CLASS IV
of post high school education 2 years of direct responsible charge

VERY SMALL WATER SYSTEMS

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent, six contact hours of Six months of acceptable operating experience in a very small
education in a very small water system water system or high utility

WHAT IF MY STATE DOESN’T FOLLOW ABC?

STATE RESOURCES
Requirements for operator certification and exam details differ slightly by state.
Select your state below for more specific information:

Alabama Maine Oregon

Alaska Maryland Pennsylvania
Arizona Massachusetts Rhode Island
Arkansas Michigan South Carolina
California Minnesota South Dakota
Colorado Mississippi Tennessee
Connecticut Missouri Texas
Delaware Montana Utah
Florida Nebraska Vermont
Georgia Nevada Virginia
Hawaii New Hampshire Washington
Idaho New Jersey West Virginia
Illinois New Mexico Wisconsin
Indiana New York Wyoming
Iowa North Carolina
Kansas North Dakota
Kentucky Ohio
Louisiana Oklahoma
 HOW AWWA
CAN HELP YOU
CERTIFICATION RESOURCES
Publications Online Learning Video

SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS PREP AND STUDY

Operator Math Made Easy Secrets to Success: How to Prepare for
General
Operator Chemistry Made Easy Operator Certification
Water Math for Water Treatment Operators AWWA Water Operator Certification Exam Prep
Treatment WSO Water Treatment, Grade 1 WSO Water Treatment, Grade 1 Clips
Operator WSO Water Treatment, Grade 2 WSO Water Treatment, Grade 2 Clips
WSO Water Treatment, Grades 3 & 4 WSO Water Treatment, Grade 3 & 4 Clips
Water
WSO Water Distribution, Grades 1 &2 WSO Water Distribution, Grades 1 & 2 Clips
Distribution/
WSO Water Distribution, Grades 3 & 4 WSO Water Distribution, Grades 3 & 4 Clips
Collection
Math for Distribution System Operators AWWA Water Operator Certification Exam Prep
Operator
Wastewater
Math for Wastewater Treatment Operators, Grades 1 & 2 Wastewater Operator Certification Study Guide
Treatment
Math for Wastewater Treatment Operators, Grades 3 & 4
Operator

Download AWWA’s free Exam Prep App

to take studying on the go
EXAM PREP
OTHER RESOURCES
FROM AWWA: MORE:

This project was commissioned by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Workforce Strategies
Committee and funded by the AWWA Technical and Educational Council.

Report prepared by Jeff Oxenford, Oxenford Consulting LLC and Jim Ginley, Jim Ginley Consulting LLC
February 2018

Copyright© 2018 American Water Works Association

 AFTER
CERTIFICATION
OPERATOR RESOURCES
Publications Online Learning Video Expert-Led Training

ON–THE–JOB TRAINING ADVANCE YOUR CAREER

EL7 Basic Mathematics EL6 Applied Mathematics

General WSO Source Water Protection
WSO Water Loss Control

AWWA Water Operator Field Guide, Second Edition High-Tech Operator: Course 1
Water Treatment Operator Training Handbook, 3rd Edition High-Tech Operator: Course 2
Water Treatment Made Simple for Operators High-Tech Operator: Course 3
Water Treatment Operator Course: Level 1 WSO Chlorine Chemistry
Water Water Treatment Operator Course: Level 2 WSO Jar Testing
Treatment Water Treatment Operator Course: Level 3 WSO Instrumentation and Control
Operator EL10 Filtration Basics WSO Coagulation, Flocculation, and Sedimentation
EL229 Membrane Processes WSO Turbidity Measurement and Particle Counting
WSO Membrane Technology
OPERATOR RESOURCES
Publications Online Learning Video Expert-Led Training

ON-THE-JOB TRAINING ADVANCE YOUR CAREER

Water Water Distribution Operator Training Handbook, 4th Edition EL69 Advanced Disinfection of Pipeline
Distribution/ EL13 Distribution Service to Customers and Storage Facilities
Collection EL227 Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control EL68 Advanced Metering Infrastructure
Operator EL208 Fire Hydrant Basics for Pressurized Water System for the Water Industry
EL206 Why Are Water Service Lines Important EL24 Disinfection of Pipelines and Storage Facilities
WSO Maintaining a Distribution and Storage System EL14 Distribution System Materials and Equipment
EL15 Water Main Installation
WSO Pumps
WSO Flushing and Cleaning

Wastewater Wastewater Microbiology: A Handbook for Operators EL9 Disinfection Basics

Treatment AWWA Wastewater Operator Field Guide EL210 Pumping and Pressure Sewer Systems
Operator WSO Disinfection
WSO Disinfection By-products
WSO Filtration
OPERATOR RESOURCES
HOW AWWA MEMBERSHIP CAN HELP
Stay up-to-date.
Connect with other Water Professionals.
AWWA membership gives you access to the latest news
Talk with your peers at local events and meet
and information on the water sector, including
water-sector leaders at conferences across North
a subscription to Opflow, which will:
America. Take advantage of the opportunities to share best
• Keep you informed on • Offer in-depth articles on practices and learn what others have done when they have
best practices in the important topics confronted a crisis.
water sector
• Test your knowledge with
• Provide hands-on certification quiz questions
guidance to improve
utility operations

Section Membership is your local connection to AWWA and provides:

Local events and continuing education opportunities | Region-specific news and information | Ways to directly influence local
water issues | Networking opportunities in your community | Opportunity for training and education funding through the One
AWWA Operator Scholarship
CONTINUING EDUCATION
(CE) CREDITS
CE Credits are required to renew licenses. States and provinces use different labels, but AWWA awards CE Credits in
alignment with the International Association for Continuing Education and Training.

AWWA OFFERS A FREE CE CREDITS TRANSCRIPT REPORTING TOOL

Store your CE Credits all in one place with the CE Credit reporting tool. You can print your AWWA certificates, sorting by
program or date range (going back SEVEN years). You can even use the transcript as an official document!
#NoOperatorNoWater

#AWWA

awwa.org/waterneedsoperators

6666 West Quincy Avenue

Denver, CO 80235-3098 USA
T 800.926.7337