Original data study
What does a water or wastewater operator certification exam cost, state by state?
How this was collected
We read the published fee schedule of each state's certifying agency (the state water board, environmental department, or health department that holds Safe Drinking Water Act primacy) and record one figure per licensed discipline: water treatment, water distribution, wastewater treatment, and wastewater collection. We prefer the one-time examination fee, because that is the charge every state publishes in comparable form; where a state charges no separate exam fee we record its application or certification fee instead and label the row that way. Every figure keeps the agency's own wording and its own verification date. Only figures stated as one single flat amount feed the statistics below. A state that publishes a range, a per-grade or per-class schedule, an amount set per license type, or a fee that stacks with a separate testing-center charge is listed in full with its own wording but excluded from the math, rather than averaged into a number nobody could actually pay.
Newest row in this dataset verified .
What the data shows
Flat fees analyzed
64
Lowest
$25
Median
$85
Highest
$325
Average
$96
The table below lists 130 published fee records across 43 jurisdictions. 66 of them publish a range, a per-grade schedule, an amount set per license type, or a fee that stacks with a separate charge, instead of one single flat figure, so they are shown in full but left out of the statistics above.
21 rows sit more than 75 percent above or 60 percent below the median. The furthest from it: Alabama water treatment exam fee ($325 flat examination fee (Form 505), all grades); Alaska water treatment exam fee ($150 per exam); North Dakota water treatment exam fee ($150 per examination, nonrefundable once received, unless the application itself is rejected); North Dakota water distribution exam fee ($150 per examination, the same statewide fee as every discipline.); North Dakota wastewater treatment exam fee ($150 per examination, the same statewide fee as water treatment and distribution.).
Full data table
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama water treatment exam fee | $325 flat examination fee (Form 505), all grades | Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) |
| Alabama water distribution exam fee | $325 flat examination fee (Form 505), all grades | Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) |
| Alabama wastewater treatment exam fee | $325 flat examination fee (Form 505), all grades | Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) |
| Alabama wastewater collection exam fee | $325 flat examination fee (Form 505), all grades | Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) |
| Alaska water treatment exam fee | $150 per exam | Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Operator Certification and Training Program |
| Alaska water distribution exam fee | $150 per exam | Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Operator Certification and Training Program |
| Alaska wastewater treatment exam fee | $150 per exam | Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Operator Certification and Training Program |
| Alaska wastewater collection exam fee | $150 per exam | Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Operator Certification and Training Program |
| Arizona water treatment exam fee | $75 for the Grade 1 and Grade 2 exams; higher grades cost more (exact Grade 3 and 4 amounts are set in ADEQ's FY26 fee schedule and should be confirmed directly with ADEQ before applying) | Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Operator Certification Program |
| Arizona water distribution exam fee | $75 for the Grade 1 and Grade 2 exams; higher grades cost more (exact Grade 3 and 4 amounts are set in ADEQ's FY26 fee schedule and should be confirmed directly with ADEQ before applying) | Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Operator Certification Program |
| Arizona wastewater treatment exam fee | $75 for the Grade 1 and Grade 2 exams; higher grades cost more (exact Grade 3 and 4 amounts are set in ADEQ's FY26 fee schedule and should be confirmed directly with ADEQ before applying) | Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Operator Certification Program |
| Arizona wastewater collection exam fee | $75 for the Grade 1 and Grade 2 exams; higher grades cost more (exact Grade 3 and 4 amounts are set in ADEQ's FY26 fee schedule and should be confirmed directly with ADEQ before applying) | Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Operator Certification Program |
| Arkansas water treatment exam fee | $25 examination/re-examination fee | Arkansas Department of Health (drinking water) and Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (wastewater) |
| Arkansas water distribution exam fee | $25 examination/re-examination fee | Arkansas Department of Health (drinking water) and Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (wastewater) |
| California water treatment exam fee | $50 (Grade 1) to $155 (Grade 5); re-exam fee $30 to $120 | State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) |
| California water distribution exam fee | $50 (Grade 1) to $155 (Grade 5); re-exam fee $30 to $120 | State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) |
| California wastewater treatment exam fee | $220 (Grade I) to $665 (Grades IV and V); re-exam fee $155 to $538 | State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) |
| California wastewater collection application fee | $232 (Grade 1) to $277 (Grade 4) for CWEA members; $491 to $536 for non-members, including a $50 non-refundable administrative fee. No separate exam fee beyond this application fee. | State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) |
| Colorado water treatment exam fee | $104, paid to PSI when the exam is scheduled | Colorado Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment), administered through contractor Colorado Certified Water Professionals (CCWP) |
| Colorado water distribution exam fee | $104, paid to PSI when the exam is scheduled | Colorado Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment), administered through contractor Colorado Certified Water Professionals (CCWP) |
| Colorado wastewater treatment exam fee | $104, paid to PSI when the exam is scheduled | Colorado Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment), administered through contractor Colorado Certified Water Professionals (CCWP) |
| Colorado wastewater collection exam fee | $104, paid to PSI when the exam is scheduled | Colorado Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment), administered through contractor Colorado Certified Water Professionals (CCWP) |
| Connecticut water treatment exam fee | $106, paid to PSI at the time the exam is scheduled | Connecticut Department of Public Health, Drinking Water Section (drinking water); Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (wastewater) |
| Connecticut water distribution exam fee | $106, paid to PSI at the time the exam is scheduled | Connecticut Department of Public Health, Drinking Water Section (drinking water); Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (wastewater) |
| Connecticut wastewater treatment exam fee | $114, paid separately to the testing agency | Connecticut Department of Public Health, Drinking Water Section (drinking water); Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (wastewater) |
| Delaware water treatment exam fee | Renewal fee is $100 per 2-year license period; initial exam and application fees are set separately by DPH | Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Drinking Water (drinking water); Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Water (wastewater) |
| Delaware wastewater treatment exam fee | $100 non-refundable exam fee, due at time of registration | Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Drinking Water (drinking water); Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Water (wastewater) |
| Florida water treatment application fee | $100 for Class A, B, or C; $50 for Class D | Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Operator Certification Program |
| Florida wastewater treatment application fee | $100 for Class A, B, or C; $50 for Class D | Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Operator Certification Program |
| Hawaii water treatment exam fee | $70 examination fee | Hawaii State Department of Health, Safe Drinking Water Branch (water) and Wastewater Branch Board of Certification (wastewater) |
| Hawaii water distribution exam fee | $70 examination fee | Hawaii State Department of Health, Safe Drinking Water Branch (water) and Wastewater Branch Board of Certification (wastewater) |
| Hawaii wastewater treatment exam fee | $50 exam fee (certificate included on passing) | Hawaii State Department of Health, Safe Drinking Water Branch (water) and Wastewater Branch Board of Certification (wastewater) |
| Idaho water treatment exam fee | $30 annually for the license or certificate itself (not to exceed, by rule); a $35 reinstatement fee applies if a license lapses | State Board of Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) |
| Idaho water distribution exam fee | $30 annually for the license (not to exceed); $35 reinstatement if lapsed | State Board of Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) |
| Idaho wastewater treatment exam fee | $30 annually for the license (not to exceed); $35 reinstatement if lapsed | State Board of Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) |
| Idaho wastewater collection exam fee | $30 annually for the license (not to exceed); $35 reinstatement if lapsed | State Board of Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) |
| Illinois water treatment application fee | $10 initial exam request fee, plus $30 for full certification application review; a $10 restoration fee applies to a late renewal. | Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), Operator Certification Unit |
| Illinois water distribution application fee | $10 exam request fee plus $30 certification application review, same as treatment. | Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), Operator Certification Unit |
| Illinois wastewater treatment application fee | No fees are currently charged for wastewater operator certification in Illinois. | Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), Operator Certification Unit |
| Illinois wastewater collection application fee | No fees are currently charged for wastewater operator certification in Illinois, including the collection system track. | Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), Operator Certification Unit |
| Indiana water treatment application fee | $30 IDEM application fee per exam, plus a $45 Ivy Tech testing site fee (waived for the November exam sitting at the Indiana Government Center North in Indianapolis). | Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), Office of Water Quality |
| Indiana water distribution application fee | $30 IDEM application fee plus a $45 Ivy Tech testing site fee, same as treatment. | Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), Office of Water Quality |
| Indiana wastewater treatment exam fee | $30 license renewal fee. | Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), Office of Water Quality |
| Indiana wastewater collection application fee | $30 IDEM application fee plus a $45 Ivy Tech exam fee, same as treatment; $30 to renew. | Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), Office of Water Quality |
| Iowa water treatment exam fee | $30 per examination | Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR), Water Supply Operations Section |
| Iowa water distribution exam fee | $30 per examination | Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR), Water Supply Operations Section |
| Iowa wastewater treatment exam fee | $30 per examination | Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR), Water Supply Operations Section |
| Kansas water treatment exam fee | $25 examination fee, submitted with the application | Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Public Water Supply section |
| Kansas water distribution exam fee | $25 examination fee, same schedule as the combined water operator track | Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Public Water Supply section |
| Kansas wastewater treatment exam fee | $25 examination fee | Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Public Water Supply section |
| Kentucky water treatment application fee | $250 certification application fee; $200 renewal application fee every two years; $250 late renewal fee; $500 reciprocity and equivalency review fee; $100 to place a certificate on inactive status; $50 web surcharge if an application is not submitted online | Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC), Division of Water, Certification and Licensing Branch |
| Kentucky water distribution application fee | Same fee schedule as water treatment: $250 certification application, $200 renewal, $250 late renewal, $500 reciprocity and equivalency | Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC), Division of Water, Certification and Licensing Branch |
| Kentucky wastewater treatment application fee | Same fee schedule as the water disciplines: $250 certification application, $200 renewal every two years, $250 late renewal, $500 reciprocity and equivalency | Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC), Division of Water, Certification and Licensing Branch |
| Kentucky wastewater collection application fee | Same fee schedule as the other three disciplines: $250 certification application, $200 renewal every two years, $250 late renewal, $500 reciprocity and equivalency | Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC), Division of Water, Certification and Licensing Branch |
| Maryland water treatment exam fee | $50 examination fee; $100 to retake | Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Board of Waterworks and Waste Systems Operators |
| Maryland water distribution exam fee | $50 examination fee; $100 to retake | Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Board of Waterworks and Waste Systems Operators |
| Maryland wastewater treatment exam fee | $50 examination fee; $100 to retake | Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Board of Waterworks and Waste Systems Operators |
| Maryland wastewater collection exam fee | $50 examination fee; $100 to retake | Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Board of Waterworks and Waste Systems Operators |
| Michigan wastewater treatment exam fee | Municipal Class A, B, C, or D exam: $70. Municipal Class L1, L2, or SC exam: $45. Industrial Level 1 or 2 exam: $35. Industrial Level 3 exam: $40. | Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) |
| Minnesota water treatment exam fee | $32 nonrefundable exam fee, valid for all five certificate class levels | Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Drinking Water Protection Section, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) |
| Minnesota wastewater treatment application fee | $45 certification fee, due within 90 days of passing the exam | Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Drinking Water Protection Section, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) |
| Mississippi water treatment application fee | $50 for an initial certification in any classification | Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Bureau of Public Water Supply, and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Office of Pollution Control |
| Missouri water treatment application fee | $50 per exam application (nonrefundable and nontransferable), effective since January 1, 2022 | Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Water Protection Program, Operator Certification Section |
| Missouri water distribution application fee | $50 per exam application, nonrefundable | Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Water Protection Program, Operator Certification Section |
| Missouri wastewater treatment application fee | $50 per exam application | Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Water Protection Program, Operator Certification Section |
| Montana water treatment application fee | $70 application fee plus $70 per exam sat, non-refundable | Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Water Quality Division |
| Montana water distribution application fee | $70 application fee plus $70 per exam sat | Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Water Quality Division |
| Montana wastewater treatment application fee | $70 application fee plus $70 per exam sat | Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Water Quality Division |
| Nebraska water treatment application fee | $50 exam fee; $115 license fee for the biennium; Grade V (transient systems) costs $31 with no exam fee and never needs renewal | Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE), formed by a July 2025 merger; drinking water licensing sits with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) |
| Nebraska wastewater treatment application fee | $150 exam application; $125 retest fee | Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE), formed by a July 2025 merger; drinking water licensing sits with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) |
| Nevada water treatment application fee | $120 flat fee to issue a full certificate; a separate PSI exam fee of $69 applies to the computer-based exam route | Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), Bureau of Safe Drinking Water (drinking water) and Bureau of Water Pollution Control (wastewater, delegated to NWEA) |
| Nevada water distribution application fee | $120 flat fee to issue a full certificate; $69 PSI exam fee | Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), Bureau of Safe Drinking Water (drinking water) and Bureau of Water Pollution Control (wastewater, delegated to NWEA) |
| Nevada wastewater treatment application fee | $140 to test, paid to NWEA even though the underlying certification is mandatory under NDEP regulation | Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), Bureau of Safe Drinking Water (drinking water) and Bureau of Water Pollution Control (wastewater, delegated to NWEA) |
| New Hampshire water treatment application fee | $50 per exam for Grades I through IV (treatment and distribution); $50 for the Grade 1A combined treatment/distribution certificate | New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) |
| New Hampshire water distribution application fee | $50 per exam for Grades I through IV; $50 for the Grade 1A combined certificate | New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) |
| New Hampshire wastewater treatment application fee | $50 application and $50 renewal, both for a 2-year cycle | New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) |
| New Jersey water treatment exam fee | The $70 application fee covers the state exam; PSI's own testing-center fee has separately been quoted at roughly $102 by third-party candidate resources, though NJDEP's own published fee schedule lists only the $70 application, $50 initial license, $50 annual renewal, and $20 late-renewal fees. | New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) |
| New Jersey water distribution application fee | $70 application fee plus $50 initial license fee, same schedule as water treatment | New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) |
| New Jersey wastewater treatment application fee | $70 application fee plus $50 initial license fee, the same schedule that applies to every license type | New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) |
| New Jersey wastewater collection application fee | $70 application fee plus $50 initial license fee, the same schedule as every other New Jersey water or wastewater license | New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) |
| New Mexico water treatment exam fee | WS/DS Levels 1-2: $30 exam, $25 renewal. WS/DS Level 3: $30 exam, $30 renewal. Small Water: $25 exam, $20 renewal. | New Mexico Environment Department, Drinking Water Bureau, Utility Operator Certification Program (UOCP) |
| New Mexico water distribution exam fee | DS Levels 1-2: $30 exam, $25 renewal. DS Level 3: $30 exam, $30 renewal, the same fee bands as the equivalent WS levels. | New Mexico Environment Department, Drinking Water Bureau, Utility Operator Certification Program (UOCP) |
| New Mexico wastewater treatment exam fee | WW Levels 1-2: $30 exam, $25 renewal. WW Levels 3-4: $30 exam, $30 renewal, mirroring the water-side fee structure exactly. | New Mexico Environment Department, Drinking Water Bureau, Utility Operator Certification Program (UOCP) |
| North Carolina water treatment exam fee | $50 exam fee, submitted with the exam application and certification-school completion certificate at least 30 days before the desired exam date. | NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Division of Water Resources: Water Treatment Facility Operators Certification Board (drinking water); Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification Commission (wastewater) |
| North Carolina water distribution exam fee | $50 exam fee, same schedule as the other drinking water subclasses. | NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Division of Water Resources: Water Treatment Facility Operators Certification Board (drinking water); Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification Commission (wastewater) |
| North Carolina wastewater treatment exam fee | $101 examination processing and certificate fee, effective July 1, 2025 (up from $85 the prior year). A temporary certificate costs $237. | NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Division of Water Resources: Water Treatment Facility Operators Certification Board (drinking water); Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification Commission (wastewater) |
| North Carolina wastewater collection exam fee | $101 examination processing and certificate fee, same schedule as wastewater treatment (effective July 1, 2025). | NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Division of Water Resources: Water Treatment Facility Operators Certification Board (drinking water); Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification Commission (wastewater) |
| North Dakota water treatment exam fee | $150 per examination, nonrefundable once received, unless the application itself is rejected | North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ), Division of Municipal Facilities, Operator Certification & Training Unit |
| North Dakota water distribution exam fee | $150 per examination, the same statewide fee as every discipline. | North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ), Division of Municipal Facilities, Operator Certification & Training Unit |
| North Dakota wastewater treatment exam fee | $150 per examination, the same statewide fee as water treatment and distribution. | North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ), Division of Municipal Facilities, Operator Certification & Training Unit |
| North Dakota wastewater collection exam fee | $150 per examination, the same statewide fee as every discipline. | North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ), Division of Municipal Facilities, Operator Certification & Training Unit |
| Ohio water treatment application fee | $45 non-refundable application fee for any third-party certification application, any class. Does not include the separate exam fee paid to WPI/PSI. | Ohio EPA, Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, Operator Certification Program |
| Ohio water distribution application fee | $45 non-refundable application fee, same flat rate as every other Ohio discipline. | Ohio EPA, Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, Operator Certification Program |
| Ohio wastewater treatment application fee | $45 non-refundable application fee, the same flat rate across all four Ohio disciplines. | Ohio EPA, Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, Operator Certification Program |
| Ohio wastewater collection application fee | $45 non-refundable application fee, the same flat rate as the other three disciplines. | Ohio EPA, Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, Operator Certification Program |
| Oregon wastewater treatment exam fee | Certification fees range from $50 to $340 depending on the exam type and grade selected; the exact fee displays in the online application before payment. | Oregon Health Authority, Drinking Water Services (drinking water); Oregon DEQ, Wastewater Operator Certification Program (wastewater) |
| Pennsylvania water treatment exam fee | $35 per examination session (a four-hour testing period), separate from any third-party examination provider registration fee. | Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators |
| Pennsylvania water distribution application fee | $100 for a Class E distribution/consecutive-system certificate. | Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators |
| Pennsylvania wastewater treatment exam fee | $35 per examination session, same as water treatment. | Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators |
| Pennsylvania wastewater collection application fee | $100 for a Class E satellite collection system certificate. | Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators |
| Rhode Island water treatment application fee | $54.50 for the RIDOH paper exam, or $108 through a PSI computer-based vendor. No separate state license fee for drinking water. | Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), drinking water; RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Board of Certification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Facilities |
| Rhode Island wastewater treatment application fee | $10 for a first Rhode Island license application; $5 for each subsequent application for a higher grade once already licensed in the state. | Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), drinking water; RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Board of Certification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Facilities |
| South Carolina water treatment application fee | $50 nonrefundable application fee, set under S.C. Code Regs. Chapter 10-15 and referenced by 51-1 and 51-6. | South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), Environmental Certification Board |
| South Carolina water distribution application fee | $50 nonrefundable application fee. | South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), Environmental Certification Board |
| South Carolina wastewater treatment application fee | $50 nonrefundable application fee, tracked separately for the biological and physical/chemical tracks. | South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), Environmental Certification Board |
| South Dakota water treatment exam fee | $60 per exam, as of July 1, 2021. | South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), Board of Operator Certification |
| South Dakota water distribution exam fee | $60 per exam. | South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), Board of Operator Certification |
| South Dakota wastewater treatment exam fee | $60 per exam. | South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), Board of Operator Certification |
| South Dakota wastewater collection exam fee | $60 per exam. | South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), Board of Operator Certification |
| Tennessee water treatment application fee | $100 nonrefundable application fee, paid by check or money order to the Treasurer, State of Tennessee. | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Board of Water and Wastewater Operator Certification, Fleming Training Center |
| Tennessee water distribution application fee | $100 nonrefundable application fee. | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Board of Water and Wastewater Operator Certification, Fleming Training Center |
| Tennessee wastewater treatment application fee | $100 nonrefundable application fee. | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Board of Water and Wastewater Operator Certification, Fleming Training Center |
| Tennessee wastewater collection application fee | $100 nonrefundable application fee. | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Board of Water and Wastewater Operator Certification, Fleming Training Center |
| Texas water treatment application fee | $111 for a standard license application (any class); $74 for a Provisional Class D application, submitted through OLEA. | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Occupational Licensing Section |
| Texas water distribution application fee | $111 standard application ($74 Provisional D). | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Occupational Licensing Section |
| Texas wastewater treatment application fee | $111 standard application ($74 Provisional D). | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Occupational Licensing Section |
| Texas wastewater collection application fee | $111 standard application. | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Occupational Licensing Section |
| Utah wastewater treatment application fee | $50 computer-based exam application fee plus a roughly $106 PSI testing-center fee; $200 for a paper-based exam (effective July 1, 2024). | Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ): Division of Drinking Water (water) and Division of Water Quality (wastewater) |
| Utah wastewater collection application fee | Same fee structure as wastewater treatment: $50 plus roughly $106 PSI fee for computer-based, $200 for paper-based. | Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ): Division of Drinking Water (water) and Division of Water Quality (wastewater) |
| Vermont water treatment application fee | $45 to register a Class 1A or 1B system. The state-written exam for Classes 3, 4, and D costs $53 per sitting. | Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division, for water; Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), for wastewater, with DEC retaining technical classification and training-course approval |
| Vermont wastewater treatment application fee | $115 OPR application fee. PSI exam-seat fee is set at registration and not published by OPR. | Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division, for water; Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), for wastewater, with DEC retaining technical classification and training-course approval |
| Virginia water treatment application fee | Exam fees range from about $83 for entry classes to $124 for the most advanced classes. Renewal is $80 per license. | Virginia Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators, housed in the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) |
| Virginia wastewater treatment application fee | Exam fees range from about $83 for entry classes to $124 for the most advanced classes. Renewal is $80 per license. | Virginia Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators, housed in the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) |
| Washington water treatment application fee | $141 application fee, reviewed in 10 to 12 business days. The WPI standardized exam is included with the application; no separate exam fee. | Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Office of Drinking Water, for waterworks, with certification administration by Washington Certification Services (WCS) at Green River College; Washington Department of Ecology, Water Quality Program, for wastewater |
| Washington water distribution application fee | $141 application fee, same as treatment; the WPI exam is included. | Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Office of Drinking Water, for waterworks, with certification administration by Washington Certification Services (WCS) at Green River College; Washington Department of Ecology, Water Quality Program, for wastewater |
| Washington wastewater treatment application fee | $75 for Group I; $125 for Groups II through IV. PSI's exam-seat fee is set separately at registration and is not published by Ecology. | Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Office of Drinking Water, for waterworks, with certification administration by Washington Certification Services (WCS) at Green River College; Washington Department of Ecology, Water Quality Program, for wastewater |
| West Virginia water treatment application fee | No state fee for drinking water certification, per the compiled guide; specific exam registration fees are not published in the source reviewed. | West Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Office of Environmental Health Services, Certification and Training Program (municipal drinking water and wastewater); industrial wastewater operators are regulated separately by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection |
| West Virginia wastewater treatment application fee | Renewal runs $100 to $200 depending on class; specific exam registration fees are not published in the source reviewed. | West Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Office of Environmental Health Services, Certification and Training Program (municipal drinking water and wastewater); industrial wastewater operators are regulated separately by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection |
| Wisconsin water treatment application fee | Basic exams cost $25 each. Renewal is $45, or $70 if filed late. An application requires a Social Security number. | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), Operator Certification Program |
| Wisconsin wastewater treatment application fee | Basic exams cost $25 each; the Advanced wastewater exam costs $50. Renewal is $45, or $70 if late. | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), Operator Certification Program |
Limitations
- Fees are only one slice of the cost. Most states also charge for the certificate itself, for renewal, and in some cases for the required training course, and this study counts none of those.
- Several states price the exam by grade or class rather than charging one flat fee, so their rows appear with the published range and sit outside the averages. The statistics therefore describe flat-fee states, not a national average operator pays.
- Some states run one fee schedule across all four disciplines while others price drinking water and wastewater separately, so a state with a single shared fee contributes several identical rows and a state with separate schedules contributes different ones.
- Wastewater collection is not a state-mandated certificate everywhere. Where it is voluntary or run by an association rather than the state, it is marked unlicensed in our data and contributes no row.
- Figures come from published fee schedules, not from applicants' receipts, so third-party proctoring, retake, and processing charges can push real out-of-pocket cost higher.
Update history
- - Alabama water treatment exam fee verified against Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM)
- - Alaska water treatment exam fee verified against Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Operator Certification and Training Program
- - Arizona water treatment exam fee verified against Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Operator Certification Program
- - Arkansas water treatment exam fee verified against Arkansas Department of Health (drinking water) and Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (wastewater)
- - Colorado water treatment exam fee verified against Colorado Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment), administered through contractor Colorado Certified Water Professionals (CCWP)
- - Connecticut water treatment exam fee verified against Connecticut Department of Public Health, Drinking Water Section (drinking water); Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (wastewater)
- - Delaware water treatment exam fee verified against Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Drinking Water (drinking water); Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Water (wastewater)
- - Florida water treatment application fee verified against Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Operator Certification Program
- - Hawaii wastewater treatment exam fee verified against Hawaii State Department of Health, Safe Drinking Water Branch (water) and Wastewater Branch Board of Certification (wastewater)
- - Illinois water treatment application fee verified against Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), Operator Certification Unit
Read the methodology behind this data, see the full requirements for your state, or open the Water Cert Prep process calculator this study supports.