New Hampshire Water & Wastewater Operator Certification

Who regulates water operators in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau (water) and Wastewater Engineering Bureau/program (wastewater) administers the credentials covered here.

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Certification types

• Water Treatment
• Water Distribution
• Wastewater Treatment

Certification levels / grades / classes

Water Treatment and Distribution Grades I–IV plus Grade IA; wastewater grades are defined by Env-Wq 304.

Initial certification requirements

Water candidates meet education/experience prerequisites and pass the relevant treatment/distribution examination with at least 70%; wastewater certification follows examination, experience, education, and certification-committee requirements in Env-Wq 304.

Exam information

Water candidates meet education/experience prerequisites and pass the relevant treatment/distribution examination with at least 70%; wastewater certification follows examination, experience, education, and certification-committee requirements in Env-Wq 304.

Renewal cycle

Water certificates are issued up to two years and expire December 31 of odd-numbered years; wastewater certificates are valid two years from issuance. Two years for both programs; wastewater electronic renewal form NHDES-W-09-004 is due no later than one state business day before expiration.

Continuing-education requirements

Water per two-year period: Grade IA 5 TCH; Treatment Grades I–IV 20 TCH; Distribution Grades I–IV 20 TCH. Wastewater: Grade I-OIT 10 TCH; all full grades 20 TCH; limited carry-forward is allowed under Env-Wq 304.16.

Reciprocity / out-of-state operators

Water accepts the same examination passed in another jurisdiction and issues certificates without exam only in the statutory cases referenced by RSA 332-E:6 VI and 332-E:7. Wastewater applicants certified by another jurisdiction may request the certification committee waive the written exam under Env-Wq 304.19.

Water vs. wastewater differences

Water Treatment; Water Distribution; Wastewater Treatment