Indiana Water & Wastewater Operator Certification

Who regulates water operators in Indiana?

Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Office of Water Quality administers the credentials covered here.

Visit the official agency →

Certification types

• Drinking-water distribution DSS/DSM/DSL and treatment WT1-WT5
• Wastewater has ten sanitary/industrial classifications including A-SO
• A-D
• I-SP
• and I-IV

Certification levels / grades / classes

DSS, DSM, DSL; WT1-WT5; wastewater A-SO, A-D, I-SP, I-IV.

Initial certification requirements

Drinking-water applicants document education/experience, apply to IDEM, then take Indiana exams through Ivy Tech computer-based testing or the annual paper session. Wastewater applicants are evaluated for education/experience under 327 IAC 5-23 and take the class exam; after three failures an approved eight-hour technical preparation course may be required.

Exam information

Drinking-water applicants document education/experience, apply to IDEM, then take Indiana exams through Ivy Tech computer-based testing or the annual paper session. Wastewater applicants are evaluated for education/experience under 327 IAC 5-23 and take the class exam; after three failures an approved eight-hour technical preparation course may be required.

Renewal cycle

Three years. Wastewater expires June 30 of the expiration year; online renewal is offered May 1-June 30. Drinking water is triennial and has a one-year reinstatement grace period for exam-based certificates.

Continuing-education requirements

Wastewater: A-SO/I-SP 8 hours; A/B/I/II 15 hours; C/D/III/IV 30 hours, at least 70% technical. Drinking water per three-year cycle: DSS 10; DSM 15; DSL 15; WT1 10; WT2 15; WT3 25; WT4 30; WT5 30 contact hours (IDEM rule guidance; the guidance also lists legacy WT6 at 30).

Reciprocity / out-of-state operators

Drinking-water application supports certification by reciprocity. Wastewater reciprocity from another state or U.S. territory is authorized under 327 IAC 5-23-18, subject to application and review.

Water vs. wastewater differences

Drinking-water distribution DSS/DSM/DSL and treatment WT1-WT5. Wastewater has ten sanitary/industrial classifications including A-SO, A-D, I-SP, and I-IV.