Revised AWWA Policy Statement: Operator Certification
February 3, 2025

AWWA Articles
Revised AWWA Policy Statement: Operator Certification
The following revised AWWA Policy Statement on Operator Certification has been approved by the Technical and Educational Council for Council/ Member comment.
Comments on the policy statement will be reviewed by AWWA Staff and forwarded to the Executive Committee if the comments are minor or referred back to the originating body if the comments are substantive. Policies forwarded to the Executive Committee will be reviewed for approval and final action.
Revised: Operator Certification Policy Statement
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) fully supports mandatory certification of persons in responsible charge of water and wastewater treatment plants and distribution and collection systems. Further, all engineering, operations and maintenance staff of water and wastewater treatment plants, distribution and collection systems and water reuse facilities should be encouraged to gain certification. AWWA believes model certification program and training coordination procedures such as those developed by the Water Professionals International (WPI) should be followed to ensure the efficient use of state, provincial, and local resources.
Thoroughly trained and qualified operators are essential to protect public health through the safe and reliable operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment plants, distribution and collection systems and water reuse facilities. Operator certification is integral to ensuring that operators are qualified and trained on an ongoing basis.
Continuing education measured by recognized units, such as contact hours or continuing education units (CEUs), is essential to the development and sustained competence of all operators and should be required for certification renewal. For example, WPI recommends a minimum number of contact hours every operator should obtain every renewal cycle. Each state, province and/or agency in charge of operator certification has the option to modify the number of recommended continuing education credits required per renewal period based on the needs of the region/state/province.
Practices specified in this policy statement are consistent with all other pertinent AWWA policy statement.
Adopted by the Board of Directors Jan. 30, 1977, and revised Jan. 31, 1982, and June 14, 1987, and Jan. 26, 1992, and Jan. 19, 2003, and Jan. 17, 2010, and June 7, 2015, and June 10, 2018.
Submit comments by March 3, 2025.
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