ABC Certification Program
Continue to impact your profession through certification renewal.
ABC certificates are valid for two years. To allow current certificate holders the opportunity to renew, a notice will be mailed two to three months prior to the certificate expiration date. You are given a six-month grace period following the expiration date to file your renewal application.
Renewal requirements vary by certification area. In-Training certificates shall not be renewed. Below you’ll find information specific to your current certificate:
| Renewal Requirements |
|---|
| Operator Certificate: Class I-IV |
| The certified operator shall have completed at least 24 contact hours of continuing education approved by ABC during the two-year term of the certificate. |
| Lab Analyst Certificate: Class I-IV |
| The certified analyst shall have completed at least 24 contact hours of continuing education approved by ABC during the two-year term of the certificate. |
| Plant Maintenance Technologist Certificate: Class I or II |
| The certified technologist shall complete at least eight contact hours of continuing education approved by ABC during the two-year term of the certificate. |
| Land Applier Certificate: Class I or II |
| The certified applier shall have completed at least 24 contact hours of continuing education approved by ABC during the two-year term of the certificate. |
Approval of course topics is based on the following ABC course relevancy definitions:
Water Treatment Operators and Laboratory Analysts: Relevant water continuing education training must be on topics essential to the operation and maintenance of water systems and influence drinking water quality, water supply and/or public health for the operator certificate(s) to which the training is applied.
Wastewater Treatment Operators and Laboratory Analysts: Relevant wastewater continuing education training must be on topics essential to the operation and maintenance of wastewater facilities/systems and influence public health and environment for the operator certificate(s) to which the training is applied.
Note: First aid, CPR, and defensive driving courses will not be accepted for continuing education for any category of certification. For details on this policy, please review the Continuing Education - Approved Topics memo.
ABC approved topics for courses taken on or after January 1, 2009:
Wastewater Treatment Operators
Wastewater Collection Operators
Water and Wastewater Laboratory Analysts
Coursework Approval
Approval of coursework is guided by the list of ABC approved topics developed by our Certification Committee and subject matter experts. For certification categories in which a list of approved topics has not been developed, the relevant ABC Need-to-Know Criteria guides coursework approval.
Credit will not be given for presentations, writing/publishing articles, or teaching courses. Annual meetings/conferences/workshops that meet approved topic guidelines are accepted for continuing education credit if certificates of attendance with contact hours/CEUs are issued to participants. Courses taken more than one time during a two year renewal cycle will be given credit only once.
Documentation
A new certificate will not be issued until continuing education courses are completed and documentation submitted. Documentation of continuing education must contain course title, instructor or sponsoring agency, date of completion, and contact hours.
Failure of a certified operator to meet these requirements or to furnish the required information shall constitute grounds for refusal to renew.
The following procedure applies with renewal certification:
- Certificates which have not been renewed within six months of the expiration date stated on the certificate will be considered lapsed.
- Individuals with certificates that have expired over six months, yet less than two years, may request reinstatement of the lapsed certificate by submitting a renewal application and paying an additional late fee of $35.00.
- You must provide evidence of compliance with the continuing education requirements and provide documentation of 24 contact hours for each two year renewal cycle.
- The renewal date of the new certificate will be for two years from the expiration date of the last certificate issued. Certificates which have expired for more than two years cannot be renewed.
- Certificate renewal applicants applying two years after their certificates have lapsed will be denied and must re-apply as a new applicant.
- Recertification requires you to submit an application for initial certification and either pass the appropriate exam or qualify by reciprocity.