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Drinking Water Operator Certification Exam Dates

The IDEM Office of Water Quality, Drinking Water Branch, is offering drinking water operator certification examinations by computer based testing at 24 Ivy Tech locations throughout the state. Applications may be submitted to IDEM. There is a $30 (nonrefundable) fee per grade of certification examination being requested. For individuals who qualify, Ivy Tech has a testing site fee of $40 per grade of certification examination administered.

There will be an annual pencil and paper exam session offered in November. The next pencil and paper exam is scheduled for Thursday, November 7, 2024, to be held at the Indiana Government Center, Indianapolis, Indiana. The application postmark deadline is September 23, 2024.

Requirements:

Must meet all the following:

  1. Education: All grades require a minimum of high school diploma or its equivalent
  2. Experience: Hands-on operation in the class system applied for, as follows:
    • DSS - 1 year
    • DSM -1 year
    • DSL - 1 year
    • WT1 - 1 year
    • WT2 - 1 year
    • WT3 - 2 years*
    • WT4 - 2 years*
    • WT5 - 3 years**

* 1 year experience may be substituted by education at the college level in an area related to drinking water.
** 2 years experience may be substituted by education at the college level in an area related to drinking water.

Contact:

For more information, contact the Office of Water Quality and ask for information on Drinking Water Operator Certification Exams.

Water Supply Classifications

Class DSS – Distribution System serving a population of fewer than 3,301 and consist of only pressure or storage tanks

Class DSM – Distribution System serving a population of 3,301-10,000 and no mechanical means of movement of water other than pressure or storage tanks, booster pumps to storage tanks or serve a population less than 3,301 and consist of one of the following:  pumps, not including well pumps, before the entry point to the distribution system; or booster pumps to storage tanks

Class DSL – Distribution System serving a population of 10,001or more or consist of booster pumps to the distribution system, or mechanical devices for movement of water beyond storage

Class WT 1 – Community purchase or ground water plants serving a population fewer than 501 and have ion exchange softening process for cation removal, or in-line filtration device with no chemical treatment, or both

Class WT 2 – Ground water or purchase water plants regardless of population served which either uses chemical feed or have one or both of the following: an ion exchange softening process for cation removal if the population served is greater than 500 and less than 3,301; or an inline filtration device if the population served is greater than 500 and less than 3,301

Class WT 3 – Ground water or purchase water plants with chemical treatment and have either pressure or gravity filtration, ion exchange process if the population served is greater than 3,300, lime soda softening, reverse osmosis, or inline filtration if the population served is greater than 3,300

Class WT 4 – Surface water plants or ground water plants under the direct influence of surface water serving a population fewer than or equal to 10,000

Class WT 5 – Surface water plants or ground water plants under the direct influence of surface water serving a population equal to or greater than 10,001

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