Water Operation Companies and Water Operators Licensing and Registration

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) promulgated new and revised rules on September 27, 2007 which will affect many licensing programs.

Please review the URL below to become acquainted with the newly adopted Chapter 30 rules for Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 30, Subchapter K: Public Water System Operators and Operations Companies, Rules 30.381 - 30.402.

• Operation Companies for Public Water Systems
  Every operations company for a public water system must hold a valid registration
• Public Water System Operators
  All public water system operators who perform process controls when producing, treating, or distributing drinking water must possess a license. Any operator employed by a public water system operations company must hold a license
• How to Contact the Water Operator Licensing Program

Water Operator Licensing Program

The Water Operator Licensing Program staff can answer routine operator inquiries. Below is the phone number and other means for contacting the program:

• Location - The second floor in building A of the TCEQ complex located at 12100 Park 35 Circle in Austin, Texas
• Office Hours - 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).
• Phone number -512/239-6133. Press #1 for New Applications or Exams
  Press #2 for Renewals
• Fax - 512/239-6272
• Email address licenses@tceq.state.tx.us
• Mailing Address - TCEQ, Water Operator Licensing Program, MC-178, PO Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087

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Public Water System Operations Companies

• How does an operations company register with the TCEQ?
• How often must an operations company report to the TCEQ?

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How does an operations company register with the TCEQ?

Submit the registration form (PDF) (Help with PDF) with the appropriate fee listed below. If an operations company is bought or sold or a name change occurs, the "new" company must apply for a new registration.

How often must an operations company report to the TCEQ?

When a public water system operating company submits an application to obtain or renew a registration, it must submit a report (PDF) (Help with PDF) to the executive director. Governmental entities or quasi-governmental entities, such as river authorities, that contract to operate a public water system must also submit a yearly report. The report must include:

• the public water system operating company name, registration number, location, and mailing address
• the public water system identification number and name for each system operated
• the dates of operation during the reporting period
• the names and license numbers of all licensed operators employed by the operations company
• the names of the licensed chief operators and licensed supervisors
• any additional information required by the executive director

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Public Water System Operators

• Why do I need a license?
• How do I become licensed?
• What type of training must I complete for a license?
• What do I need to know about an application?
• What if my application is deficient?
• What do I need to know for an exam?
• What is acceptable experience?
• What is not considered as acceptable experience?
• How will my experience be verified?
• If I hold a license in another state, can I transfer it to Texas?
• How do I renew my license?
• What are some of my responsibilities to the TCEQ?
• I lost my license or pocket card-how do I replace it?

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Why do I need a license?

To assure the public that their drinking water is safe; meets all drinking water quality standards; and is properly produced, treated, and distributed by a competent public water system operator.

Additionally, the law requires it. Please see this link for facility staffing requirements Title 30 TAC, Chapter 290.46(e)(1)

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How do I become licensed?

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 a qualifying exam.

GED = General Equivalency Diploma
HS = High School Diploma

What type of training must I complete for a license?

Required and elective courses are available as classroom training, on-line training, and correspondence training.

List of online courses (PDF)

List of correspondence courses (PDF)

All courses listed below are 20-hour courses, except Intermediate Water Laboratory, which is a 32-hour course and Water Technology which is a 40 hour course.

R = Required for initial license
E = Elective for initial license
N/R = Not Required for initial license, but will apply toward total training hours

These training courses may also be applied toward continuing education (CEU's) credit hours for renewal, except for the Basic Water Operations course, which will not apply toward renewal continuing education (CEU's) credit hours for Class A and Class B operators.

What do I need to know about an application?

• Where can I obtain an application?
• What do I need to provide with an application?
• When do I pay the application fee?
• If I qualify for a higher-level of license, must I apply for all lower levels first?

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Where can I obtain an application?

Applications are available through the TCEQ's Water Operator Licensing Program in the Austin central office or at any TCEQ regional office. The application must be completed in full, signed, dated, and submitted with the appropriate application fee (check or money order only). All fees are non-refundable.

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What do I need to provide with an application?

In addition to the standard information (name, address, social security number), you will need to submit supporting documentation such as:

• copy of certificate of completion for each correspondence course
• copy of certificate of completion for unverified training
• copy of college transcripts used for experience substitution
• copy of current out-of-state license (if applying for reciprocity)

All statements and qualifications provided by each applicant are subject to verification.

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When do I pay the application fee?

You must pay the application fee when you arrive to take the water operator exam. The application fee is valid for one year or four exams, whichever comes first.

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If I qualify for a higher level of licensing, must I apply for all lower levels first?

No, it is not necessary to apply for a lower level license if the requirements of a higher level are satisfied. However, to apply for licensing as a Class A Water Operator, you must be pre-approved by our Austin central office program staff before taking the exam.

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What if my application is deficient?

Applicants who are deficient after an initial review by the staff may be asked to submit supplemental information for consideration if the staff determines that the original application did not contain all relevant information. The applicant must submit this information within 120 days of notification of deficiency, or the examination,application and fee will become invalid.

Application fees are not refundable

What do I need to know for an exam?

• What does the exam cover?
• What do I need to study?
• What are the special considerations for Class A water operator exams?
• Where and when are exams held?
• What is the minimum passing score?
• If I fail, how many times may I retake the test?
• How long do I have to retake the test?

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What does the exam cover?

• Class A Water Operators
• Class B Water Distribution Operators
• Class B Groundwater Operators
• Class B Surface Water Operators
• Class C Water Distribution Operators
• Class C Groundwater Operators
• Class C Surface Water Operators
• Class D Water Operators

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What do I need to study?

Study materials for each type and level of licensing include:

• training manuals for the corresponding required training courses
• the rules, Title 30 TAC Chapter 30 , regulating licensing of public system personnel
• the rules, Title 30 TAC Chapter 290 , regulating the operation of public water systems

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What are the special considerations for Class A water operator exams?

Class A exams must be scheduled by the applicant through the Austin central office after their application for licensing has been approved. Class A exams are conducted in the Austin central office or at the TWUA annual and regional schools.

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Where and when are exams held?

Exams are regularly scheduled and administered in the Austin central office and TCEQ regional offices in accordance with an established exam schedule.

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What is the minimum passing score?

All applicants for licensing, except individuals applying for licensing by reciprocity, must pass the appropriate exam with a minimum score of 70 percent. Within four weeks of the exam, applicants can check their exam results on the web. In six weeks applicants will receive their examination results by mail.

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If I fail, how many times may I retake the test?

You may retake the test a maximum of three times within one year of the original examination date. To retest, you must wait a minimum of 60 days between each examination and you must present your exam analysis to program staff at the exam site as proof of eligibility to retest. After the fourth test in the one year period, you will need to submit a new application and fee.

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How long do I have to retake the test?

You must retake the test within one year of the original examination date before submitting a new application and fee.

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What is acceptable experience?

• Class A
• Class B
• Class C

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Class A Experience

• must be in public water system operations
  • If you are a college graduate:
    • with a masters degree, all four years must be "hands-on" experience
    • with a bachelors degree, all five years must be "hands-on" experience
  • If you are a high school graduate or obtained a GED:
    • at least six years of the eight years required must be "hands-on" experience
    • two years of experience may be substituted with:
      • additional TCEQ approved water operator training
      • college hours
• For laboratory experience to be fully acceptable towards operator licensing, the laboratory must be owned and operated by the public water system and the laboratory personnel must consult on a daily basis with a public water system's licensed operator personnel.

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Class B Experience

• must be in public water system operations
• must be in the same field as the license (e.g., surface water experience for the surface water field) applied for:
  • If you are a college graduate:
    • all two and one-half years must be "hands-on" experience
  • If you are a high school graduate or obtained a GED:
    • at least three years of the five years required must be "hands-on" experience
    • two years of experience may be substituted with:
      • related experience (e.g., groundwater experience for the surface water field)
      • additional TCEQ approved water operator training
      • college hours
• For laboratory experience to be fully acceptable toward operator licensing, the laboratory must be owned and operated by the public water system and the laboratory personnel must consult on a daily basis with a public water system's licensed operator personnel.

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Class C Experience

• must be in public water system operations
• must be in the same field as the license (e.g., surface water experience for the surface water field) applied for:
  • at least one year of the two years required must be "hands-on" experience
  • one year of experience may be substituted with:
    • related experience (e.g., groundwater experience for the surface water field)
    • additional TCEQ approved water operator training
    • college hours
• For laboratory experience to be fully acceptable toward operator licensing, the laboratory must be owned and operated by the public water system and the laboratory personnel must consult on a daily basis with a public water system's licensed operator personnel.

What is not considered as acceptable experience?

Experience will not count for:

• The following support personnel (unless they conduct routine, on-site operational activities for a public water system):
  • secretaries
  • utility relations staff
  • meter readers
  • radio dispatchers
  • bookkeepers
• Administrative officials (unless they conduct routine, on-site operational activities for a public water system):
  • mayors
  • city managers
  • utility board members

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How will my experience be verified?

You will need to provide references on your application who are involved with routine, on-site operation of a public water system.

The following are NOT ACCEPTABLE references (unless they conduct routine, on-site operational activities for a public water system):

• secretaries
• utility relations staff
• meter readers
• radio dispatchers
• bookkeepers
• mayors
• city managers
• utility board members

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If I hold a license in another state, can I transfer it to Texas?

Texas issues licenses of reciprocity on a case-by-case basis with all other states.

To be considered for reciprocity:

• You must hold a current water operator license
• Your license must have been obtained by exam
• The license must be mandatory under the other state's laws
• The equivalent education, training, experience, and fee requirements for the type and class of Texas license being applied for have been met.

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How do I renew my license?

You will be mailed a renewal notification to the last known address on file at least 60 days before your license expires. This notification will give you instructions for renewing your license using the Texas Online license renewal process.

If you are unable to renew on-line, please contact our office immediately to receive a printed renewal application. You can contact the TCEQ Licensing Section at licenses@tceq.state.tx.us or phone (512)239-6133. Please be sure to include your full name and license number with your request. Remember it is your responsibility to timely submit a renewal application.

_*****IMPORTANT_*****

The Eight(8) year Class A Water Licenses issued before June 1, 2001, must obtain 80 hours of continuing education credit in order to renew.

A 30-day grace period will no longer be accepted to obtain the training credit hours required for renewal.

Credit is given for attendance at TCEQ approved training courses, correspondence courses, seminars, and association meetings on the basis of one credit hour per hour of attendance.

To check how many credit hours you currently have on file. click here.

Renewal applications are mailed to the operator's address on file. The TCEQ is not responsible for undelivered mail.

What are some of my responsibilities to the TCEQ?

The operator is responsible for:

• Notifying the Austin central office of any address changes;
• Maintaining personal training records, including:
  • Name of training course
  • Location of training course
  • Name of training provider and
  • Date of training course

I lost my license or pocket card-how do I replace it?

To replace a lost or stolen license, mail a request for a duplicate license, along with a check or money order(made payable to TCEQ)for $20, to:

Water Operator Licensing, MC 214
TCEQ
P.O. Box 13088
Austin, TX 78711-3088

Please include the following with your request:

• Name
• TCEQ license number for the license you are requesting

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