Mississippi Water & Wastewater Operator Certification

Who regulates water operators in Mississippi?

Mississippi State Department of Health, Bureau of Public Water Supply (drinking water); Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (wastewater) administers the credentials covered here.

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Certification types

• Public water-supply operator certification
• Wastewater operator certification (separately administered)

Certification levels / grades / classes

Waterworks operator Classes A, B, C and D. Wastewater treatment Classes I, II, III and IV, plus wastewater collection Classes I-C and II-C.

Initial certification requirements

Water: attend an MSDH Bureau-sponsored waterworks short course within the preceding 12 months, register through the MSDH program/PSI path, pass the written examination, and complete certification within three years of passing. Wastewater: submit MDEQ's original signed application with education, facility experience, references and fee; identify the requested Class I–IV or I-C/II-C and either Mississippi examination or documented examination reciprocity. MDEQ transitioned to WPI standardized wastewater examinations in 2026; each class has a current MDEQ-linked Need-to-Know criterion.

Exam information

Water: attend an MSDH Bureau-sponsored waterworks short course within the preceding 12 months, register through the MSDH program/PSI path, pass the written examination, and complete certification within three years of passing. Wastewater: submit MDEQ's original signed application with education, facility experience, references and fee; identify the requested Class I–IV or I-C/II-C and either Mississippi examination or documented examination reciprocity. MDEQ transitioned to WPI standardized wastewater examinations in 2026; each class has a current MDEQ-linked Need-to-Know criterion.

Renewal cycle

Three years for waterworks and wastewater operator certificates. Three years. Water renewal must be physically received within 30 days after expiration; wastewater renewal should be filed before expiration and applications more than 60 days late require examination.

Continuing-education requirements

Water: 48 hours per three-year period for operators continuously certified under nine years, including 12 regulation/compliance hours; beginning with the tenth year, 24 hours including 12 regulation/compliance hours. Wastewater treatment: 36 hours per three years, at least 18 Department-sponsored; collection: 18 hours; after three consecutive cycles, 24 hours with at least 12 Department-sponsored.

Reciprocity / out-of-state operators

Wastewater certification without examination is available when the applicant passed the applicable ABC/WPI or ABC-equivalent examination and meets Mississippi education/experience requirements; application requires the new-certification form, reciprocity form, references, proof of Mississippi residence, and mail submission. The current waterworks rules do not create a parallel reciprocity shortcut, so applicants follow MSDH's certification/exam path.

Water vs. wastewater differences

Public water-supply operator certification; Wastewater operator certification (separately administered)