WATER OPERATOR CERTIFICATION
Become a Certified Drinking Water Operator!
Certified water operators enjoy rewarding and stable careers with above-average compensation, interesting work, and colleagues committed to public health and service. NHWWA is honored to be a member of the team that supplies roughly half of the State with safe and reliable drinking water and welcomes you to join us. Read more about becoming a drinking water operator or advancing your level of certification in this honorable, rewarding, and essential occupation!
Career Paths
Getting Started. Entry-level certification (Grade 1A) requires a high school diploma or equivalent and completing the Small Public Water System Operator Course, or having the required education and at least six months of applicable experience, with three of those months working on a drinking water system. Candidates must apply for and pass a NHDES-administered exam. Grade 1A Operators must earn at least 5 Total Contact Hours (TCH) of continuing education every two (2) years to maintain their licenses. See the table below for a summary of education and experience requirements for the various Operator grade levels.
Next Steps. Grade 1 Treatment and Distribution certifications require a high school education or equivalent and one year of operating experience. The NHDES allows Operators in Training (OITs) to sit for their Grade 1 exams before having one year of experience. Certified Operators must earn at least 20 TCH every two (2) years to maintain their licenses. The NHWWA offers several courses to prepare new Operators for taking the certification exam and for excelling in their jobs – Water Operator Certification Courses.
Up the Ladder. Grades 2 through 4 are increasingly complex treatment and distribution systems. Higher levels of experience and education are required at these Grades. Certified Operators must earn at least 20 TCH every two (2) years to maintain their licenses. The NHWWA offers ongoing technical trainings, as well as our summer Construction Day and fall Trade show and Exposition, that provide Operators with opportunities to learn and exchange ideas with their peers and earn TCH for license renewals. Our Water Manager’s School, presented in partnership with NHDES and the NH Water Pollution Control Association, is an excellent pathway to middle and upper management for Operators with several year’s work experience.
We are here to help you have a successful and rewarding career in the drinking water sector, and to ensure the continued success of our sector as it delivers safe and affordable drinking water to New Hampshire’s residents, businesses and visitors. Take advantage of our many educational offerings, provided by some of the best in the business, to advance your career. Sign up here for regular email updates on course offerings, registrations and current events and activities. Please let us know if you ever have any questions, comments or ideas about how we can improve!
Check out our Young Professional’s Operator Certification Award. It’s a great opportunity for new or incoming professionals in the industry to receive the training they need without a financial burden.
| Grade | Education (yrs) | Experience (yrs) |
| IV | 16 | 6 |
| III | 14 | 4 |
| II | 12 | 3 |
| I | 12 | 1 |
| IA | 12 | 0.5 |
For NHDES Certified Operator requirements and policy, click here.
Certification Exams
NHDES holds in-person Grade 1A-IV Operator exams in April, July and October. Currently there is an opportunity to take Treatment and Distribution Grades I-IV exams online at various locations throughout the state. Contact Jason Smith at NHDES if you are interested in taking the online exam.
Use this link to download the application: NH Online Forms System – Application for Water Works Operator Certification. Version 1.4
If you have questions about the NH operator certification process, please contact Jason Smith, Drinking Water Operator Certification & Backflow Prevention Program Manager, NHDES.
