Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Wastewater Operator Certification Program

Several updated Oregon Administrative Rules for wastewater operator certification have been approved by the Environmental Quality Commission, DEQ’s policy and rulemaking board. The updated rules went into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Learn more about the updated rules


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

Note: DEQ now grants renewal Continuing Education Units for wastewater career outreach and/or passing a WPI (formerly ABC) exam. Please see course #6188 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.

​DEQ’s Wastewater Operator Certifications program is moving to a new electronic data management system called Your DEQ Online. Starting on March 14, 2023, you can set up your account and start submitting notifications and fees electronically. 

The following notification and application forms are no longer available in PDF or Word formats:​​
  • Collection Exam Application - Grades I through IV                         

  • Treatment Exam Application - Grades I through IV            

  • Combined Collection and Treatment Exam Application - Grade I and Small Wastewater System          

  • Re-examination / Reschedule Exam Form    

  • Reciprocity Application form for Collection Certificate – Grades I through IV

  • Reciprocity Application form for Treatment Certificate – Grades I through IV

  • Post-exam Application Form

  • Document Replacement Request Form

  • Designated Operator Form

​​​​​​​​Approved training for Continuing Education Units credit:
Approved training for Operator in Training and Provisional Grade I (when applicant has less than 12 months experience, see Pathways to entry-level Operator Certification​:        
     
Treatment: 
Oregon Community College technology coursework also meets OIT and Provisional DEQ approved training requirement​:


To qualify for a Wastewater Operator Certification Program in Oregon via reciprocity, you must:

  • Hold a valid wastewater certification in good standing from another state or Canadian province, or a Professional Operator certification from Water Professionals International.
  • Meet Oregon DEQ education and experience requirements. View the requirements.
  • Register and apply online through Your DEQ Online and pay the application fee. Use the Wastewater System Operator Certificate application and select YES when asked if it is for reciprocity. You will need to attach a copy of your current certificate. Learn how to do this in Your DEQ Online.

Once your complete application is received, we will verify your out-of-state certification is in good standing and that you took the standardized exam.

NOTE: If you have passed a standardized ABC exam, we can give you a waiver from the exam at the same grade. If you took a state-specific (non-standardized) exam, we can give you a waiver from the exam at one grade lower than the corresponding Oregon grade.

If you have additional questions, please email OpCert@deq.oregon.gov​.​



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.

Sign up for text or email updates via GovDelivery