Operator Portal (coming soon)
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Program Overview
In Montana, all drinking water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, or water distribution systems must be operated under the supervision of a fully certified operator to ensure the proper management, operation, and maintenance of the system. DEQ administers both the water and wastewater operator certification programs and provides testing and program information services to ensure comprehensive, ongoing training is provided to Montana’s water and wastewater operator community.
Don't have an operator? Montana law requires all water and wastewater facilities be maintained by a Certified Operator. Email the Operator Certification Program at DEQ for information regarding what to do if you do not currently have a certified operator for your facility.
Become a Certified Operator
Education Requirements
- High School Diploma or College Diploma or Transcripts or GED. If no Education, a Competency Assessment must be taken.
- Two days of education in post-secondary engineering training or the equivalent may be substituted for each day of experience, up to one-half of the experience requirement.
Work Experience Requirements for Full Certification
- Class 4 - 1 year
- Class 3 - 1.5 years
- Class 2- 2 years
- Class 1 - 2.5 years
Certificates are issued for the following categories:
- Class 1A-4A: Water Distribution System Operator
- Class 1B-4B: Water Treatment System Operator
- Class 1C-3C: Wastewater System Operator
- Class 1D-4D: Industrial Wastewater Treatment Operator
- Class 2E-4E: On-site Wastewater System Operator
Applicants for reciprocity certification must show they have met certification requirements which are at least equivalent to the Montana requirements.
To apply for certification in Montana by reciprocity, an applicant must:
- Hold a valid water or wastewater certification in another state.
- Meet Montana’s minimum experience requirements for the type of certification you are requesting.
- Be in responsible charge of a system in Montana.
- Have an approved Montana certification application on file. To have your application approved, you must fully complete a Montana application for the classification and type that is comparable to the certification you currently hold in another state.
- Submit with your application:
- A letter outlining the requirements for the certification you hold in another state, how you met those requirements, and the amount of experience you have had with specific types of systems or treatment processes.
- Copies of your credentials of certification and any other supporting documents, including the name and phone number of the certification contact in the other state
- $70 reciprocity fee and $70 application fee for each water and wastewater application.
If your request for reciprocity is approved, you will receive the appropriate certification in the mail. Note that since other state agencies must be contacted to verify information, this process may take up to six weeks to complete.
WATER SYSTEM OPERATOR EXAMS | |
---|---|
Montana Water Distribution System Operator Exam | ABC Water Distribution System Operator Equivalent |
Class 1A | Class III Water Distribution |
Class 2A | Class II Water Distribution |
Class 3A | Class 1 Water Distribution |
Montana Water Treatment System Operator Exam | ABC Water Treatment System Operator Equivalent |
Class 1B | Class III Water Treatment |
Class 2B | Class II Water Treatment |
Class 3B | Class 1 Water Treatment |
Montana Small Water System Class 4AB | ABC Very Small Water System Operators |
WASTEWATER SYSTEM OPERATOR EXAMS | |
---|---|
Montana Municipal Wastewater Exam | ABC Wastewater Equivalent |
Class 1C | Class II Wastewater Treatment |
Class 3C | Small Wastewater System Operator |
Montana Industrial Wastewater Exam | ABC Industrial Equivalent |
Class 1D | Physical/Chemical Class IV |
Class 2D | Biological Class III |
Class 3D | Physical/Chemical Class II |
Class 4D | Biological Class I |
Class 2E-4E | No conversion |
See Training section below for a complete list of available materials.
- American Water Works Association (AWWA)
- Lagooniversity by Triplepoint Environmental (Wastewater)
- Operator Basics Training Series
- Risk and Resilience for Water and Wastewater Systems (4 hours)
- Sacramento State Online Water and Wastewater Training
- Veolia (Water Distribution, Wastewater Treatment, and Wastewater Collection)
Study Materials
- Drinking Water - Distribution Class
- Drinking Water - Treatment Class
- Very Small Water Systems Class
- Municipal Wastewater Treatment Class
- On-Site Wastewater Treatment
- Industrial Wastewater
- Formula Sheets and Conversion Tables
- Training Manuals
- Wastewater Standard Operating Procedures
Exam Prep
Please review the additional training resources available in the side panel.
- Association of Boards of Certification Testing Services
- American Water Works Association (AWWA) Exam Prep App
- 360water
Water Distribution Operator Exam References
The following are approved as reference sources for WPI’s standardized water distribution operator examinations. Operators should use the latest edition of these reference sources to prepare for the exam.
American Water Works Association (AWWA)
- *WSO: Water Distribution Series (Grades 1 & 2, Grades 3 & 4)
- **Water Quality & Treatment
- Water Distribution Operator Training Handbook
- Basic Science Concepts and Applications
- Water System Security, A Field Guide
- M68 Water Quality in Distribution Systems
*These WSO texts replace the previous AWWA title, Water Transmission and Distribution
**This WSO text replaces previous AWWA title, Water Quality, 3rd Edition
Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) and National Rural Water Association (NRWA)
California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) Foundation, Office of Water Programs
- Water Distribution System Operation and Maintenance
- Small Water System Operation and MaintenanceUtility Management
- Water Treatment Plant Operation, Volume Iand Volume II
- Utility Management
- Manage for Success
Water Treatment Operator Exam References
The following are approved as reference sources for WPI’s standardized water treatment operator exams. Operators should use the latest edition of these reference sources to prepare for the exam.
American Water Works Association (AWWA)
- *WSO: Water Treatment Series (Grade 1, Grade 2, Grades 3 & 4)
- **WSO: Water Distribution Series (Grades 1 & 2, Grades 3 & 4)
- ***Water Quality & Treatment
- Water System Security, A Field Guide
- Basic Science Concepts and Applications
- Water System Security: A Field Guide
*These WSO texts replace previous AWWA titles, Water Treatment, and Water Sources
**These WSO texts replace previous AWWA title, Water Transmission and Distribution
***This WSO text replaces previous AWWA title, Water Quality
Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) and National Rural Water Association (NRWA)
California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) Foundation, Office of Water Programs
- Water Treatment Plant Operation, Volume Iand Volume II
- Manage for Success
Wastewater Treatment Operator Exam References
The following are approved as reference sources for WPI’s standardized wastewater treatment operator examinations. Operators should use the latest edition of these reference sources to prepare for the exam.
California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) Foundation, Office of Water Programs
- Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Volume Iand Volume II
- Advanced Waste Treatment
- Utility Management
- Manage for Success
Michigan State University
National Environment Training Center for Small Communities (NETCSC)
- Protecting Your Community’s Assets: A Guide for Small Wastewater Systems
Water Environment Federation (WEF)
- *Operation of Water Resource Recovery Facilities, MOP 11
- **Safety, Health, and Security Standards for Water Resource Recovery, MOP 1, 7th Edition
- ***Activated Sludge and Nutrient Removal
- ****Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals
- Managing the Water and Wastewater Utility
*This WEF text replaces the previous WEF title, Operation of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants – Manual of Practice No. 11
**This WEF text replaces the previous WEF title, Safety & Health in Wastewater Systems, Manual of Practice No. 1
***This WEF text replaces the previous WEF titles, Activated Sludge: Manual of Practice OM-9, and Operation of Nutrient Removal Facilities
****During the exam development process in 2017 & 2018, WPI’s Subject Matter Expert volunteer exam item writers had the opportunity to evaluate and incorporate information from the first volume of the Water Environment Federation’s Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals which at the time was set for release in August 2018.
Please review the Upcoming Training and Exams panel to the right for upcoming exams, as our offices are currently scheduling limited in-office exams. To register for an exam, contact Jen VandenBos at (406) 444-4584. New applicants must submit an application a minimum of 30 days before an exam date. Please allow 4-6 weeks to receive exam results in the mail.
Temporary and Contracted Operators
DEQ may issue a Temporary Operator Certification to an operator responsible for a specific system who does not meet the full certification requirements. A temporary certificate can be granted upon:
- (a) Written request to DEQ by the system owner and verification by the owner that the system is unable to employ a fully certified operator; and
- (b) A finding by DEQ that the operator has the basic knowledge necessary to operate the system and that public health will be protected.
The department shall base its decision on:
- the results of any on-site inspection of the system;
- review of the plans and specifications of the system;
- review of the operator's records, experience and training; and examination of any other reasonably available and relevant information.
A temporary certificate is effective for six months from the date of issuance, or until the operator becomes fully certified, whichever occurs first. A temporary certificate is valid only for the person to whom it is issued, for the system identified on the certificate, and for the period of time identified on the certificate.
Certified Operators
Certification Renewals
Certified operators must renew their certificates yearly. Every even-numbered year, appropriate CEC requirements must be met by May 31. A surplus of CECs earned during one biennium will not be applied to the following biennium. All training classes must be approved by DEQ.
Renewal fees
Drinking Water Certificate: $30
Wastewater Certificate: $40
Course Approval
Before CECs can be earned for a course, the course must be approved for credit by the Montana Certification Office by submitting an Individual Course Application.
Courses Approved for Dual CECs
Operators who hold certification in both water and wastewater can earn CECs for both certifications when attending a course DEQ has approved as a dual CEC course.
Courses Only Approved for One-Half CECs
Training not directly applicable to water or wastewater plant operation can be approved for training but may only earn one-half the amount of CECs. Remember a CPR class is only good for credit the first time you take it.
CEC Requirements by Class:
Class | Experience Needed | FC CEC Requirements | OT CEC Requirements |
---|---|---|---|
Class 1 | 2.5 Years | 20 Hours (2.0) | 10 Hours (1.0) |
Class 2 | 2 Years | 10 Hours (1.0) | 5 Hours (.50) |
Class 3 | 1.5 Years | 10 Hours (1.0) | 5 Hours (.50) |
Class 4 | 1 Year | 10 Hours (1.0) | 5 Hours (.50) |
Class 5 | NA | 4 Hours (.40) | 2 Hours (.20) |
- There is no longer a Class 5AB operator (class 4 & 5 are now combined)
- American Water Works Association (AWWA)
- Lagooniversity by Triplepoint Environmental (Wastewater)
- Operator Basics Training Series
- Risk and Resilience for Water and Wastewater Systems (4 hours)
- Sacramento State Online Water and Wastewater Training
- Veolia (Water Distribution, Wastewater Treatment, and Wastewater Collection)
- FEMA (ICS-100, 1CS-200, IS-700.b, IS-800.C are approved)
*Completion certificates can be emailed to OperatorCertification@mt.gov
Quick Links
Upcoming Training and Exams
WEFTEC 2024 (New Orleans, LA) - October 5 - 9, 2024
MAP - Math Exam Prep for Operators (Bozeman) - October 7, 2024
MW2OI Fall Water School (Bozeman) - October 8-10, 2024
Operator Certification Exams (Bozeman) - October 10, 2024
(please note: DEQ office must receive applications a minimum of 30 days prior to taking an exam. Deadline for application is September 11th)
MRWS 45th Technical Conference and Exhibition (Great Falls) - March 12 - 14, 2025
Operator Certification Exams (Great Falls) - March 14, 2025
Contacts
General Questions? Send us a message!
Operator Certification Supervisor
Libby Murray-Henrikson (406) 444-6781
Operator Certification Technicians
Marleigh Steinke - (406) 444-3434
Jen VandenBos (406) 444-4584