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Texas Commission on Environmental Quality License Experience Requirements

Water Operator

Experience Requirements

Always verify with TCEQ. Call 512-239-6133

Note: To become licensed as a public water system operator, you must have the required education

and experience, complete the related training, pay an application fee, and pass an exam.

GED = General Equivalency Diploma

HS = High School Diploma

To obtain this license class...	If you have this much education...	You need this many years of experience³...	You need this much basic training credit...	You must pay an application fee of...	This license remains valid for...
A (waterworks)	Master's Degree²	4 years	164 hours	$111	3 years
	Bachelor's Degree²	5 years
	HS or GED	8 years^(2)*
B (surface water, groundwater, or distribution)	Bachelor's Degree²	2.5 years	100 hours Groundwater and Distribution	$111	3 years
	HS or GED	5 years^(2)*	124 hours Surface Water
C (surface water, groundwater, or distribution)	HS or GED	2 years^(1)*	60 hours Groundwater and Distribution	$111	3 years
			64 hours Surface Water
D¹ (water)	HS or GED	None	20 hours Basic Water	$111	3 years
¹ Class D Water Operator Licenses are not renewable for surface water treatment plant operators, operators of groundwater production facilities under the influence of surface water, operators of groundwater production facilities with 250 or more connections, or more than 750 population, operators working as supervisors in a distribution system with 250 or more connections, or for individuals who operate multiple systems where the total number of connections for all systems combined is 250 or more. ² Only college degrees with a major in an engineering discipline eligible for registration as a professional engineer in Texas, or degrees with a major in chemistry, biology, microbiology, waterworks utility operations, or similar disciplines are approved on a case-by-case basis. ³ One year of college (32 semester hours), an additional 40 hours of training credit, or experience in a related field may be substituted for each year of experience. Individuals may substitute college credits or additional approved training for work experience. * The number in parentheses in the table above indicates the maximum number of years permitted for substituting experience.

Water Distribution Operator

Experience Requirements

Always verify with TCEQ. Call 512-239-6133

Note: To become licensed as a public water distribution operator, you must have the required education

and experience, complete the related training, pay an application fee, and pass an exam.

GED = General Equivalency Diploma

HS = High School Diploma

To obtain this license class...	If you have this much education...	You need this many years of experience³...	You need this much basic training credit...	You must pay an application fee of...	This license remains valid for...
A (waterworks)	Master's Degree²	4 years	164 hours	$111	3 years
	Bachelor's Degree²	5 years
	HS or GED	8 years^(2)*
B (surface water, groundwater, or distribution)	Bachelor's Degree²	2.5 years	100 hours Groundwater and Distribution	$111	3 years
	HS or GED	5 years^(2)*	124 hours Surface Water
C (surface water, groundwater, or distribution)	HS or GED	2 years^(1)*	60 hours Groundwater and Distribution	$111	3 years
			64 hours Surface Water
D¹ (water)	HS or GED	None	20 hours Basic Water	$111	3 years
¹ Class D Water Operator Licenses are not renewable for surface water treatment plant operators, operators of groundwater production facilities under the influence of surface water, operators of groundwater production facilities with 250 or more connections, or more than 750 population, operators working as supervisors in a distribution system with 250 or more connections, or for individuals who operate multiple systems where the total number of connections for all systems combined is 250 or more. ² Only college degrees with a major in an engineering discipline eligible for registration as a professional engineer in Texas, or degrees with a major in chemistry, biology, microbiology, waterworks utility operations, or similar disciplines are approved on a case-by-case basis. ³ One year of college (32 semester hours), an additional 40 hours of training credit, or experience in a related field may be substituted for each year of experience. Individuals may substitute college credits or additional approved training for work experience. * The number in parentheses in the table above indicates the maximum number of years permitted for substituting experience.

Wastewater Treatment Operator

Experience Requirements

Always verify with TCEQ. Call 512-239-6133

Note: To become licensed as a wastewater treatment plant operator, you must have the required education

and experience, complete the related training, pay an application fee, and pass an exam.

GED = General Equivalency Diploma

HS = High School Diploma

To obtain this license class...	If you have this much education...	You need this many years of experience³...	You need this much initial training credit⁴...	You must pay an application fee of...	This license remains valid for...
A	Master's Degree²	4 years^(0)*	160 hours	$111	3 years
	Bachelor's Degree²	5 years^(0)*
	HS or GED	8 years^(2)*
B	Bachelor's Degree²	2.5 years^(0)*	100 hours	$111	3 years
B	HS or GED	5 years^(2)*	100 hours	$111	3 years
C	HS or GED	2 years^(1)*	60 hours	$111	3 years
D¹	HS or GED	None	20 hours	$111	3 years
¹ If you operate any activated sludge-type treatment facility of any size, any trickling filter or RBC facility with a permitted average daily flow of 100,000 gallons per day or greater or a facility that uses a subsurface area drip dispersal system for effluent disposal you cannot renew your Class D license. ² Only college graduates with a major in an engineering discipline who are eligible for registration as a professional engineer in Texas. Graduates with a major in chemistry, biology, bacteriology, or similar disciplines are approved case by case. ³ 32 semester hours of college or an additional 40 hours of wastewater training may be substituted for one year of experience. 16 semester hours of college or an additional 20 hours of wastewater training may be substituted for six months of experience. The number in parentheses is the maximum number of years permitted for experience substitution. ⁴ Training credit* - List of training courses that are required (R) and elective (E) for each class of wastewater licensing. Note: Class D and Class I licenses issued after 01/01/2008 will have a license term of three (3) years; application fee will be $111; CEUs required for renewal will be 30.

Wastewater Collection Operator

Experience Requirements

Always verify with TCEQ. Call 512-239-6133

Note: To obtain a wastewater collection system operator license, you must have the required education

and experience, complete the related training, pay an application fee, and pass an exam.

GED = General Equivalency Diploma

HS = High School Diploma

To obtain this license class...	If you have this much education...	You need this many years of experience²...	You need this much initial training credit³...	You must pay an application fee of...	This license remains valid for...
III	Bachelor's Degree¹	2.5 years^(0)*	100 hours	$111	3 years
III	^{HS or GED}	5 years^(2)*	100 hours	$111	3 years
II	HS or GED	2 years^(1)*	60 hours	$111	3 years
I	HS or GED	^None	20 hours	$111	3 years
¹ Only college degrees with a major in an engineering discipline eligible for registration as a professional engineer in Texas or in chemistry, biology, bacteriology, or similar disciplines. ² 32 semester hours of college or an additional 40 hours of wastewater training may be substituted for one year of experience. 16 semester hours of college or an additional 20 hours of wastewater training may be substituted for six months of experience. The number in parentheses is the maximum number of years permitted for experience substitution. ³ Training credit* - List of training courses that are required (R) and elective (E) for each class of wastewater license.

Source: http://www.tceq.texas.gov/licensing/licenses/requirements

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Texas Commission on Environmental Quality License Experience Requirements

Water Operator

Experience Requirements

Master's Degree2

4 years

164 hours

$111

3 years

Bachelor's Degree2

5 years

HS or GED

8 years(2)*

Bachelor's Degree2

2.5 years

100 hours Groundwater and Distribution

$111

3 years

HS or GED

5 years(2)*

124 hours Surface Water

HS or GED

2 years(1)*

60 hours Groundwater and Distribution

$111

3 years

64 hours Surface Water

HS or GED

None

20 hours Basic Water

$111

3 years

Water Distribution Operator

Experience Requirements

Master's Degree2

4 years

164 hours

$111

3 years

Bachelor's Degree2

5 years

HS or GED

8 years(2)*

Bachelor's Degree2

2.5 years

100 hours Groundwater and Distribution

$111

3 years

HS or GED

5 years(2)*

124 hours Surface Water

HS or GED

2 years(1)*

60 hours Groundwater and Distribution

$111

3 years

64 hours Surface Water

HS or GED

None

20 hours Basic Water

$111

3 years

Wastewater Treatment Operator

Experience Requirements

Master's Degree2

4 years(0)*

160 hours

$111

3 years

Bachelor's Degree2

5 years(0)*

HS or GED

8 years(2)*

Bachelor's Degree2

2.5 years(0)*

100 hours

$111

3 years

HS or GED

5 years(2)*

Master's Degree²

Bachelor's Degree²

8 years^(2)*

Bachelor's Degree²

5 years^(2)*

2 years^(1)*

Master's Degree²

Bachelor's Degree²

8 years^(2)*

Bachelor's Degree²

5 years^(2)*

2 years^(1)*

Master's Degree²

4 years^(0)*

Bachelor's Degree²

5 years^(0)*

8 years^(2)*

Bachelor's Degree²

2.5 years^(0)*

5 years^(2)*

2 years^(1)*

Bachelor's Degree¹

2.5 years^(0)*

^{HS or GED}

5 years^(2)*

2 years^(1)*

^None