Requirements by state

Georgia water operator certification

Reviewed 2026-07-29

Quick answer

How do I get certified as a water operator in Georgia?

Georgia certifies water and wastewater operators on a shared Class 4 (entry) to Class 1 (highest) ladder, plus separate Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Systems certificates, all through the same Board of Examiners. All exams are delivered through PSI/AMP (goamp.com). Certificates renew every two years, and reciprocity by endorsement is available if the applicant's issuing state has substantially similar requirements.

Last reviewed 2026-07-29

See how Georgia compares to every other jurisdiction in the national comparison matrix, or check reciprocity between states if you are moving.

Certifying agency: Georgia Board of Examiners for Certification of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Laboratory Analysts

Earn a high school diploma or GED before taking the exam, the minimum education for every classification
Complete the required Board-approved coursework for the class applied for (6 to 48 hours depending on class)
Document the required on-the-job experience, which shrinks with a relevant bachelor's degree or an existing Class 1 certificate in another category
Pass a written exam delivered through PSI/AMP (goamp.com) and apply for the certificate within 12 months of passing

Water treatment

Class 4: Public Water Supply System Operator, Class 4 , For groundwater systems serving fewer than 1,000 people. No prior certification required. Complete the 6-hour Class 4 Water course.
Class 3: Public Water Supply System Operator, Class 3 , No prior certification required. Complete the 40-hour Basic Water course.
Class 2: Public Water Supply System Operator, Class 2 , Requires a Class 3 Water license. Complete 48 hours of Advanced Water training.
Class 1: Public Water Supply System Operator, Class 1 , Requires a Class 2 Water license. No further coursework required beyond the experience requirement.

Exam: Written exam delivered through PSI/AMP (goamp.com). Applicants must apply for the certificate within 12 months of passing.
Education minimum: High school diploma or GED for every class, proof required at application. Class 4 adds a 6-hour course, Class 3 a 40-hour Basic Water course, Class 2 (requires a valid Class 3) 48 hours of Advanced Water training, Class 1 (requires a valid Class 2) no further coursework.
Experience minimum: With a high school diploma: Class 4 needs 1 month, Class 3 needs 3 months, Class 2 needs 24 months, Class 1 needs 36 months. A relevant bachelor's degree lowers Class 2 to 18 months and Class 1 to 30 months; a bachelor's degree plus a current Class 1 certificate in another category lowers Class 2 to 12 months and Class 1 to 24 months. Class 2 and Class 1 applicants must complete the experience before sitting the exam; Class 3 and Class 4 applicants may test first and complete experience before applying for the certificate.
Continuing education: 24 continuing education points per two-year renewal for a Class 1 Operator, 18 points for Class 2, 12 points for Class 3, 6 points for Class 4. At least half of the points must come from Water- or Wastewater-approved courses. First-time certificate holders are exempt for their first renewal period.
Renewal cycle: 2 years
Reciprocity: Certification by endorsement (Rule 750-4-.03): an applicant holding a valid out-of-state or foreign certificate may receive a Georgia certificate without examination if the issuing jurisdiction's requirements are substantially similar to Georgia's, with a Board-approved endorsement application, a verification letter from the issuing jurisdiction, proof of a high school diploma or GED, and a non-refundable application fee. Transitioning military service members and military spouses qualify for expedited processing.

Water treatment and water distribution share the same Class 1 to 4 ladder and the same Board; a Class 1 certificate in one category can shorten the experience requirement for the other.

Water distribution

Water Distribution: Water Distribution System Operator , No prior certification required. Complete the 27-hour Water Distribution O&M course.

Exam: Written exam delivered through PSI/AMP (goamp.com). Water Distribution applicants may test before completing the experience requirement but may not apply for the certificate until the experience is complete.
Education minimum: High school diploma or GED, plus the 27-hour Water Distribution O&M course. No prior certification is required to start.
Experience minimum: 3 months of relevant experience with a high school diploma or GED (also 3 months on the bachelor's-degree paths).
Continuing education: 12 continuing education points per two-year renewal, at least half from Water- or Wastewater-approved courses.
Renewal cycle: 2 years
Reciprocity: Same certification-by-endorsement pathway as water treatment (Rule 750-4-.03): a substantially similar out-of-state certificate can be accepted without examination.

A single-level certificate (no Class 1 to 4 ladder), separate from the treatment classes, administered by the same Board.

Wastewater treatment

Class 4: Biological Wastewater Treatment System Operator, Class 4 , No prior certification required. Complete the 6-hour Class 4 Wastewater Stabilization Pond Operator course.
Class 3: Biological Wastewater Treatment System Operator, Class 3 , No prior certification required. Complete the 40-hour Basic Wastewater course.
Class 2: Biological Wastewater Treatment System Operator, Class 2 , Requires a Class 3 Wastewater license. Complete 48 hours of Advanced Wastewater training.
Class 1: Biological Wastewater Treatment System Operator, Class 1 , Requires a Class 2 Wastewater license. No further coursework required beyond the experience requirement.

Exam: Written exam delivered through PSI/AMP (goamp.com); Class 1 and Class 2 applicants must complete their experience before testing, Class 3 and Class 4 applicants may test first.
Education minimum: High school diploma or GED for every class. Class 4 adds a 6-hour Basic Wastewater Stabilization Pond course, Class 3 a 40-hour Basic Wastewater course, Class 2 (requires a valid Class 3) 48 hours of Advanced Wastewater training, Class 1 (requires a valid Class 2) no further coursework.
Experience minimum: Same table as water treatment: 1 month (Class 4) up to 36 months (Class 1) on a high-school-diploma path, shortened by a relevant bachelor's degree or an existing Class 1 certificate in another category.
Continuing education: 24 points per two-year renewal for Class 1, 18 for Class 2, 12 for Class 3, 6 for Class 4, at least half from Water- or Wastewater-approved courses.
Renewal cycle: 2 years
Reciprocity: Same certification-by-endorsement pathway as water treatment (Rule 750-4-.03).

Georgia also certifies a separate Industrial Wastewater Treatment System Operator category and a Wastewater Laboratory Analyst category through the same Board, not detailed here because this site covers the four core disciplines.

Wastewater collection

Wastewater Collection: Wastewater Collection System Operator , No prior certification required. Complete the 27-hour Wastewater Collection Systems O&M course.

Exam: Written exam delivered through PSI/AMP (goamp.com); applicants may test before completing the experience requirement but may not apply for the certificate until the experience is complete.
Education minimum: High school diploma or GED, plus the 27-hour Wastewater Collection Systems O&M course. No prior certification required to start.
Experience minimum: 3 months of relevant experience with a high school diploma or GED.
Continuing education: 12 continuing education points per two-year renewal, at least half from Water- or Wastewater-approved courses.
Renewal cycle: 2 years
Reciprocity: Same certification-by-endorsement pathway as water treatment (Rule 750-4-.03).

A single-level certificate, not a Class 1 to 4 ladder, mandatory in Georgia unlike the voluntary collection credential some other states use.

Georgia runs one Board and one shared licensing ladder for water and wastewater treatment operators, plus two separate single-level certificates for distribution and collection systems, a simpler structure than states that split drinking water and wastewater into different agencies entirely.

One Board, one Class 4 to Class 1 ladder

The Georgia Board of Examiners for Certification of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Laboratory Analysts certifies both water treatment and wastewater treatment operators on the same four-step scale, Class 4 (entry) through Class 1 (highest). Class 4 needs only a 6-hour course; Class 3 needs the 40-hour Basic course; Class 2 needs a valid Class 3 plus 48 hours of Advanced training; Class 1 needs a valid Class 2 and no further coursework, just experience. The required experience shrinks with a relevant bachelor’s degree, and shrinks further if the applicant already holds a Class 1 certificate in the other discipline (water or wastewater), a real cross-discipline credit most states do not offer.

Distribution and collection are separate, single-level certificates

Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Systems are each a single certificate, not a graded ladder: a 27-hour O&M course plus 3 months of relevant experience qualifies an applicant to test for either. Both require the exam before the certificate can be issued, same as the treatment classes.

Exam, renewal, and continuing education

Every Georgia water and wastewater exam, across all disciplines, is delivered through PSI/AMP at goamp.com, and applicants must apply for the certificate within 12 months of passing. All certificates renew every 2 years. Continuing education points scale with the class held: 24 points per renewal for a Class 1 operator, 18 for Class 2, 12 for Class 3 and for Water Distribution/Wastewater Collection, 6 for Class 4, with at least half of the points from a Water- or Wastewater-approved course. First-time certificate holders skip continuing education for their first renewal period.

Moving to Georgia

Georgia grants certification by endorsement under Rule 750-4-.03: an applicant holding a current, valid certificate from another jurisdiction whose requirements are substantially similar to Georgia’s can receive a Georgia certificate without retesting, by submitting a Board-approved endorsement application, a verification letter from the issuing jurisdiction, proof of a high school diploma or GED, and a non-refundable application fee. Transitioning military members and military spouses get expedited processing. See reciprocity between states for how this compares elsewhere.

Where to go from here

Practice the pounds formula, chlorine dosing, and CT disinfection math the Class 2 and Class 1 exams lean on with the operator-math trainer, and try the same formulas on the job with the process calculator.

Sources: Georgia Rural Water Association, "Requirements for Becoming a Certified Water or Wastewater Operator in Georgia" (grwa.org, updated 3/15/2022); Georgia Secretary of State Rules and Regulations, Department 750, Chapter 750-4 (Applications, certification by endorsement) and Chapter 750-6 (Expiration, Renewal, and Continuing Education), current rules retrieved 2026-07-29 (rules.sos.ga.gov). Authored by the Water Cert Prep editorial team. Not legal advice. Reviewed 2026-07-29.