Wastewater Operator Certification
New York State certification grades are divided into four levels, 1, 2, 3 & 4 with 1 being the lowest and 4 the highest grade. All activated sludge certifications will be designated with the letter “A” (1A, 2A, 3A and 4A).
Every operator in New York State who wishes to be certified at any level (Grade 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 3, 3A, 4 or 4A) must satisfy the minimum qualifications. The qualifications consist of education, experience at a wastewater treatment facility, pre-certification training through DEC-approved courses, and passage of an Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) exam.
Exam Qualifications and Application Instructions by Grade Level
Click on the Grade exam for which you wish to apply:
All application packages must be mailed to NYWEA via the US Postal Service or an express delivery service. Emailed or faxed application packages are not accepted.
Exam Application Documents
Pre-Certification Training
Important Notice: Exam Application Fee Increase – Effective September 1, 2023
NYWEA announces a necessary change in the Operator Certification Application Fee effective Sept. 1, 2023. Since the transition of the program from NYS DEC to NYWEA in 2011, this fee has not changed. The exam application fee, formerly $150, is now $195. This change was effective Sept. 1, 2023.
Payment method options:
- Check (payable to NYWEA)
- Money Order (payable to NYWEA)
- Voucher/Purchase Order Number
- Pay online with Paypal, Visa or Mastercard: Click HERE to access the online payment portal. You will automatically receive a receipt following the transaction; NYWEA will be notified that the fee has been paid. NYWEA will match up this fee payment notice with your application packet once it is received in the NYWEA office via the postal mail or express delivery service.
NYWEA’s exam application fee is separate from the $112 exam fee that is paid to PSI, the test administrator that administers the ABC exams. Operators who retake an exam do not need to reapply to NYWEA; they are responsible only for the $112 PSI exam fee.
Exam Scheduling Instructions for Approved Candidates
PSI, the test administrator, upgraded its online scheduling platform on December 15, 2023.
- The new website address is: https://test-takers.psiexams.com/abc-ny
- If you created an online account on PSI’s former platform, you must create a new account to schedule a future test or reschedule a current one.
- First-time users must also create an account.
- Click HERE for directions to schedule your appointment online.
Exam Resources
ABC has recently under a rebranding and is now called Water Professionals International (WPI); however, the exams will continue to be called ABC exams.
- Grade 1 ABC Testing Need-to-Know Criteria
- Grade 2 ABC Testing Need-to-Know Criteria
- Grade 3 ABC Testing Need-to-Know Criteria
- Grade 4 ABC Testing Need-to-Know Criteria
- Formula/Conversion Table
- ABC Testing: Exam References
- Sacramento – Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Treatment Plants Vols I & II, 8th edition
- Sacramento – Advanced Waste Treatment, 5th edition
- WEF Fundamentals of Treatment Series
- Sample Exam Questions – to familiarize yourself with the exam’s format
- Computer-Based Testing Demo
- Clear Waters Operator Quizzes
- World of Wastewater YouTube Video Series
- WEF Skills Builder
- Roy CEU
Exam Results
These are the exam results from ABC (WPI) exams in New York State for the following period:
Appeals Process
If NYWEA rejects an application due to an applicant’s failure to meet preliminary or minimum operator qualifications, including, but not limited to, the applicant’s lack of required experience, education, or training, the applicant will not be approved to take the exam.
Upon written request* for appeal, the application and all corresponding documents will be reviewed by the NYWEA Governance Council. The Council will review the original determination made by NYWEA’s Operator Certification Program Administrator. The Council will also consider any additional statement or supporting documentation provided by the applicant.
Within 90 days of the receipt of the written request for appeal and any supporting documentation provided by the applicant, the voting members of the Council will then vote to recommend an Appeals Review Determination to the DEC. Under 6 NYCRR Part 650, DEC is the appointing authority for New York’s wastewater operators and will therefore make the final determination about the operator’s qualifications. The applicant will be informed of this decision in writing (via email).
*Requests for appeal must be emailed to [email protected].