Helpful Hints to Water/Wastewater Certification

Helpful hints on how to become certified in Florida as a Class C Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator. If you live outside of Florida, please visit your states operator certification program.

The State of Florida Operator Certification Program Handbook

This handy Guidebook covers all the need-to-know information about Water/Wastewater licensing in Florida. It includes applications, info on application fees, approved courses, renewing your certification, CEU requirements, etc. It is available as a PDF file through The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) website.

1. You will need a HS diploma or FDEP approved GED
2. You will need to complete a FDEP approved course in Water (DW) or Wastewater (WW) treatment. The University of Florida TREEO Center offers an online course in both Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations that has been approved by the FDEP.
• Water Treatment Plant Operations Class C & B Training Course – Online (CB-DW) FDEP Approved Course for State Exam
• Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Class C & B Training Course – Online FDEP Approved Course for State Exam
3. Once you complete the approved course with a passing grade, you will be qualified to sit for the state exam. The FDEP Operator Exam information and application is located here.
1. Please note: You can start at the Class C level. You do not have to begin at the Class D level license, but you do need to have the Class C before you take the Class B, and so on. Exams are provided via computer-based testing (CBT) service at many locations in Florida. The FDEP Operator Certification Department will give you that testing and location information when you are approved to take the test.
2. When you pass your exam, you will get a letter stating that you have passed that exam.
4. To obtain your actual Certified Operators License, you will need to:
1. a. Work at a treatment plant and document 2,080 hours of experience. This equates to one year (40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year). Your employer verifies this time. This type of position is considered a trainee position, and not all municipalities hire trainees. Contact your local municipality to see what their policies are.
2. b. Once the work experience requirement has been completed, you can apply to FDEP for your Class C Water or Wastewater Operators License.
3. c. If you do not pass the exam, you may apply to take it again right away. There is no mandatory waiting period.