Wastewater Operator Certification Program

Announcement: On Jan. 1, 2022, we will be transitioning to the 2019 version of the ABC Standardized Exams. Please see the Fact Sheet: Oregon Wastewater Operator Certification Exam Update under the heading “Exam Information” below for more information.

Announcement: DEQ now grants renewal Continuing Education Units for wastewater career outreach and/or passing an ABC exam. Please see course #4391 on the Oregon Environmental Services Advisory Council web page for career outreach instructions. To obtain 2.0 CEUs for upgrading or becoming dually certified, see the exam information dropdown below.

Oregon law requires owners of wastewater systems and drinking water systems (public and private) to have their systems under responsible control and direction of certified operators. Trained and certified operators are necessary to ensure that the systems are managed in a manner that fully protects public health and the environment.

The Department of Environmental Quality administers the program for domestic wastewater system operators. The Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services administers the certification program for drinking water system operators.

Program information

Forms and documents

DEQ-approved training

Approved training for CEU credit:

Visit the Oregon Environmental Services Advisory Council home page

CEU Lookup: Select the “Courses" tab at the top to view DEQ-approved wastewater continuing education units (CEUs)

Approved training for Operator in Training (OIT) and Provisional Grade I (when applicant has less than 12 months experience, see Application Instructions Page 1):

Treatment: Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Volume I
WEF Online Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals Course
Collection: Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Collection Systems, Volume I
Oregon community college wastewater technology coursework also meets OIT and Provisional DEQ approved training requirement:

Clackamas Community College - Water and Environmental Technology

Wastewater CEU Options

Exam information

ABC exam locations
Obtain 2.0 Continuing Education Units For Passing Your ABC Exam
Fact sheet: Oregon Wastewater Operator Certification Exam Update
Wastewater Collection Operator Preparation Resources
Wastewater Treatment Operator Preparation Resources
ABC Formula/Conversion Tables for Wastewater Treatment, Collection, and Laboratory Exams
Provided by ABC, 2018
Portrait View | Landscape View
Small Wastewater System Operator ABC Need-to-Know Criteria

Some documents courtesy of the Association of Boards of Certification

Certification database

Regulations

Contact

For questions please contact the Certification Program by email or by phone: 503-229-5349 or 503-229-5161

If you need in-person assistance, please contact us to make an appointment. We cannot accommodate customers without appointments.