Arkansas Water Operator Certification Guide

Who regulates water operators in Arkansas?

Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Division of Environmental Quality, Office of Water Quality administers wastewater licensing. administers the credentials covered here.

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Certification types

Drinking water: Treatment Grades I-IV and Distribution Small System/I-IV. Wastewater: Municipal Classes I-IV, Industrial Basic/Advanced, collection licensing, and apprentice/OIT pathways
collection reciprocity is expressly excluded.

Certification levels / grades / classes

Drinking water: Treatment Grades I-IV and Distribution Small System/I-IV. Wastewater: Municipal Classes I-IV, Industrial Basic/Advanced, collection licensing, and apprentice/OIT pathways; collection reciprocity is expressly excluded.

Initial certification requirements

Complete DEQ-approved training and pass the required examination; exam applications are submitted through SEEK/ePortal.

Exam information

Complete DEQ-approved training and pass the required examination; exam applications are submitted through SEEK/ePortal.

Renewal cycle

Drinking-water licenses renew on a two-year period. Wastewater licenses renew through SEEK under 8 CAR section 22-101; operators submit the renewal and training record for each renewal period.

Continuing-education requirements

Drinking water: 24 approved hours per two years, at least 12 directly applicable. Wastewater: Rule 3-approved training hours are required by license class and tracked/submitted through the DEQ renewal process; multiple licenses may share qualifying renewal hours.

Reciprocity / out-of-state operators

Case-by-case wastewater reciprocity under 8 CAR section 22-101; no wastewater collection reciprocity.

Water vs. wastewater differences