Operator Certification and Renewal
How to Apply for an Operator Certification Exam:
- Download and submit the Application for Certificate of Competency (CN-0704) sixty days before the scheduled examination date.
- Mail application, proof of education, proof of citizenship, and all other supporting documentation with the $100.00 application fee to:
Julian R. Fleming Training Center
2022 Blanton Drive
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
- Make check or money order payable to Treasurer, State of Tennessee
- Applications can not be accepted via email or fax.
- Submitted applications must be the original, signed form and not a scanned copy.
Certification Exam Dates and Locations
Spring 2025
Application Deadline: Postmarked by March 1, 2025
Board Meeting: April 3, 2025
Applications must include proof of completion or enrollment for required Board Sanctioned Training after two (2) failed exam attempts, where necessary or they will be considered incomplete and denied.
- 0400-49-01-.02-(9)
Scheduling Begins: April 17, 2025
The examination testing window will begin April 28, 2025 and continue through June 27, 2025
Location: Computer Based Testing Only
Fall 2025
Application Deadline: Postmarked by August 9, 2025
Board Meeting: September 11, 2025
Applications must include proof of completion or enrollment for required Board Sanctioned Training after two (2) failed exam attempts, where necessary or they will be considered incomplete and denied.
- 0400-49-01-.02-(9)
Scheduling Begins: September 18, 2025
The examination testing window will begin September 29, 2025 and continue through November 21, 2025
Location: Computer Based Testing Only
Electronic Exam Information
The Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Board only offers computer-based certification examinations.
Exams are administered at one of the Computer Based Test (CBT) Exam Centers owned and operated by PSI. Once an applicant is approved by the Board to take the exam, PSI will notify the applicant directly by e-mail.
You must provide a valid e-mail address on your application to receive notification with instructions on how to schedule your exam.
- View the PSI Test Center Experience Video
- View the PSI Candidate Bulletin
- View PSI Test Center Closures
Understanding Scaled Scoring in Certification Examinations
In the world of certification exams, ensuring fairness and consistency is vital. One effective method to achieve these objectives is through scaled scoring, which transforms raw test scores into a standardized scale, facilitating equitable comparisons across different test forms and administrations. Below, we will delve into the concept of scaled scoring, its implementation, and its advantages.
What Are Raw Scores?
To understand scaled scoring, it is important to have basic knowledge of raw scores. A raw score represents the total number of test items a candidate answers correctly. For example, in a 100-item test, if a candidate answers 70 questions correctly, their raw score is 70. Traditionally, a specific raw score, such as 70, might be set as the passing threshold. However, this approach can present challenges, especially when multiple test forms or varying test lengths are involved.
Challenges with Raw Scores
When multiple forms of a test exist, even with efforts to maintain equivalent difficulty levels, slight variations are inevitable. Consequently, different forms might require different raw cut scores to account for these variations. For instance, Form A might have a cut score of 70, while the slightly easier Form B might have a cut score of 71. This discrepancy can lead to confusion among candidates, especially if two individuals achieve the same raw score on different forms but receive different pass/fail outcomes.
Additionally, for organizations offering multiple credentials with tests of varying lengths (e.g., 80, 100, or 150 items), reporting raw scores can result in multiple score scales and cut scores, further complicating score interpretation for candidates and stakeholders.
What Is Scaled Scoring?
A scaled score is a score that has been transformed from a raw score (i.e., the number of correct answers) to a standardized scale. This transformation is similar to converting from Celsius to Fahrenheit. The temperature has not changed, only the degrees reported have. Scaled scores indicate the same level of performance, regardless of which exam form a test taker has received.
Scaled scores are used to allow for direct comparisons of exam scores. Any differences in exam difficulty are accounted for using scaled scores. With different exam forms being developed on a regular basis, differences in the difficulty of individual exam questions can result in variances in the difficulty of an exam form. When there are variations in the difficulty of exam forms, the same raw score may represent different levels of knowledge or competency. For example, a higher raw score on an easier exam form may represent the same knowledge or competency as a lower score on a more difficult exam form.
How Are Scaled Scores Set?
To address these differences in exam forms, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) can use a process known as equating, which applies the same passing standard to exam forms that vary in difficulty. Equating is a statistical procedure that adjusts the cut score to reflect differences in form difficulty, thus maintaining an equivalent passing standard. Equating ensures that:
- Test takers who take an easier form are not given an unfair advantage, and
- Test takers who take a more difficult form are not penalized.
These evaluations inform the minimum score required to pass the exam.
Benefits of Scaled Scoring
- Simplified Score Interpretation: Candidates and stakeholders can more easily understand and interpret scores when a consistent scale and cut score are used across all test forms.
- Fairness Across Test Forms: Scaled scoring accounts for minor variations in test form difficulty, ensuring that all candidates are held to the same standard, regardless of the specific form they encounter.
- Consistency Across Multiple Credentials: For organizations offering various credentials with tests of differing lengths, scaled scoring provides a unified score scale and cut score, reducing potential confusion.
- Enhanced Communication: A standardized scoring scale facilitates clearer communication of results to candidates and other stakeholders, minimizing misunderstandings.
Conclusion
Scaled scoring is a fundamental practice in certification testing, promoting fairness, consistency, and clarity in score reporting. By converting raw scores to a standardized scale, testing programs can ensure that all candidates are evaluated equitably, regardless of the specific test form or credentialing exam they undertake. This approach not only simplifies score interpretation but also upholds the integrity of the certification process.
To view available test dates and times, visit the PSI webpage dedicated to the Tennessee Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Board.
- Select your exam type
- Select the "Continue" button pictured in the image to the right
- Enter your City or postal code into the search bar and choose the correct information that populates
- Select the "Find" button
- Select "View available time slots" under the location you choose
You can now navigate the calendar for that location. Available times will display for the selected date.
Operator Certification Renewal
Each certificate expires on December 31st and is renewed annually. A renewal application is sent to the operator's email address each December.
Due dates for returning the renewal application and fees are as follows:
Discounted annual renewal fee for each operator certificate
$50 - Payment prior to February 1
Standard annual renewal fee for each operator certificate:
$100 - Payment from February 1 through June 30
FTC Public Portal to pay annual renewal fees online and view your certificate(s) information.
Continuing Education Information
Continuing Education Requirements
Completion of the required number of continuing education hours every three years is required to maintain certification
| Certification Title | Number of CE Hours Needed |
|---|---|
| Biological/Natural System | 6 hours every 3 years |
| Collection 1 | 6 hours every 3 years |
| Collection 2 | 6 hours every 3 years |
| Distribution 1 | 6 hours every 3 years |
| Distribution 2 | 6 hours every 3 years |
| Small Water System | 6 hours every 3 years |
| Water Treatment 1 | 6 hours every 3 years |
| Water Treatment 2 | 6 hours every 3 years |
| Water Treatment 3 | 12 hours every 3 years |
| Water Treatment 4 | 12 hours every 3 years |
| Wastewater Treatment 1 | 6 hours every 3 years |
| Wastewater Treatment 2 | 6 hours every 3 years |
| Wastewater Treatment 3 | 12 hours every 3 years |
| Wastewater Treatment 4 | 12 hours every 3 years |
How to Receive Credit
Please submit documentation of course completion in one of the following ways:
- Online: TDEC Customer Account
- Email: FTCOperator.Renewal@tn.gov
- Mail:
2022 Blanton Dr.
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
How to View your Expiration
State Approved External Providers
Tennessee's Rules Governing Water and Wastewater Operator Certification
Tennessee offers 14 types of Water and Wastewater Operator Certifications:
- certain experience requirements
- a high school education or equivalent, and
- a score of 70% or higher on the certification examination
Most Recent Revisions:
0400-49-01-.02
(9)
(a) Any person seeking to apply to sit for a Grade III or Grade IV examination who failed to achieve a satisfactory score on two previous examinations for the same operator classification for which the person is seeking to apply shall complete 30 hours of Board-sanctioned comprehensive training before the Board will consider the application.
(b) A person seeking to apply to sit for a Grade I or Grade II examination who failed to achieve a satisfactory score on two previous examinations for the same operator classification for which the person is seeking to apply shall complete 18 hours of Board-sanctioned comprehensive training before the Board will consider the application.
(c) A person seeking to apply to sit for a Small Water Systems or a Biological/Natural Systems examination who failed to achieve a satisfactory score on two previous examinations for the same operator classification for which the person is seeking to apply shall complete 18 hours of Board-sanctioned comprehensive training before the Board will consider the application.
0400-49-01-.10
(5) A certified operator shall only receive credit for a continuing education course that is completed in its entirety. A certified operator attending the same continuing education course more than once in two consecutive continuing education periods shall only receive credit for the operator’s first attendance.
Public Dataviewers
To support essential drinking water and wastewater utilities and systems in Tennessee, a list of certified water and wastewater operators is available through the TDEC Division of Water Resources (DWR) Dataviewer. This listing can be searched and filtered to identify certified individuals from across the state, helping utilities locate operator support as needed.
While the Fleming Training Center’s Dataviewer previously included operator information, it is now limited to viewing active and inactive backflow prevention assembly testers (cross connection testers only). For operator certification details, users should refer to the DWR Dataviewer instead.
TDEC manages a variety of critical work through active databases. To promote greater transparency, accountability, and access to public information, the department provides public interfaces called dataviewers on our website. These dataviewers reflect overnight updates to the agency’s consolidated state databases, and any changes made are typically available the following day.
Contact Information
Reanna Harron | Certification Coordinator
(615) 898-6501
Reanna.Harron@tn.gov
Carl Hollis | CEU Coordinator
(615) 898-6502
Carl.Hollis@tn.gov
Location Information
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM CST
2022 Blanton Dr.
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
(615) 898-8090
FTCOperator.Renewal@tn.gov
This Page Last Updated: May 22, 2025 at 10:12 AM