Recertification is a mandatory process that assures certificants actively maintain their knowledge and skills. This process must be completed before the end of every 2-year certification cycle.
Basic Requirements for Recertification
To be eligible for recertification, a PO certificant must:
- Complete and document the required number of approved continuing education contact hours over the course of the certification cycle
- Reaffirm adherence to the Professional Operator Code of Conduct
- Pay all applicable fees as outlined in Fees
Each certification’s specific continuing education requirements can be found in Continuing Education Requirements for Recertification in this section.
Recertification Cycle
The first recertification cycle begins on the date of initial certification and expires two years after that initial date of certification. The initial certification date and expiration date are printed on the PO certificate.
Application Timeline and Process
Each certificant is responsible for ensuring recertification requirements are met prior to the expiration of his/her certification. This includes submitting documentation of continuing education and notice of changes in contact information (if applicable). This information and documentation should be submitted through the online PO Certification Portal. Payment must also be made as described in Fees. Certificants are encouraged to file a recertification application at least 90 days before their certificate expires. Certificants who apply for recertification 90 days or more in advance will receive a discount. Applications will not be accepted after the expiration date of the certification.
Notification of Recertification
Applicants will receive notification of the status of their recertification application within approximately 30 days of submission.
If the recertification application is approved, the certificant will receive a new certificate with a new expiration date. If the application for recertification is denied, the certificant will receive a letter or email explaining the reason. Certificants will have 90 days to supply additional information if it is requested. The Appeals section explains the grounds for appeals and the appeal procedure.
Continuing Education
Over the course of the two-year certification cycle, a certificate must complete and submit documentation of the number of contact hours of continuing education required for the class level of his or her certification level.
Fifty percent of the continuing education hours submitted for recertification credit may not be applied to any other PO recertification.
Contact Hours Equivalencies
Post-secondary and continuing education can be converted to contact hours. We understand that many post-secondary or continuing education units exist and will do everything possible to equate units when reviewing applications and submitting documents fairly.
Approved Topics for Recertification
All continuing education submitted for recertification credit must be on approved topics. Recertification credit will not be given for presentations, writing/publishing articles, or teaching courses. Annual meetings, conferences, and workshops that meet approved topic guidelines may be accepted for continuing education credit if a certificate of attendance with contact hours is provided.
Recertification credit will not be given for presentations, writing/publishing articles, or teaching courses.
Annual meetings/conferences/workshops that meet approved topic guidelines may be accepted for continuing education credit if a certificate of attendance with contact hours/CEUs is provided.
Approved Topics for Water Treatment Recertification
Chemical Addition and Disinfection
Examples: arsenic removal ● chemical pretreatment ● chemical treatment ● chlorine dioxide disinfection ● chlorine gas disinfection ● corrosion control ● disinfecting water storage vessels ● fluoridation ● oxidation ● ozone disinfection ● pH adjustment ● sodium hypochlorite disinfection ● ultraviolet disinfection
Coagulation and Flocculation
Examples: chemical coagulants ● flocculation tanks ● rapid mix units
Clarification and Sedimentation
Examples: dissolved air flotation ● inclined-plate sedimentation ● sedimentation basins ● tube sedimentation ● up-flow solids-contact clarification
Filtration
Examples: adsorption processes ● cartridge filters ● diatomaceous earth filters ● direct filtration ● gravity filtration ● membranes (ultra, nano, RO) ● microscreens ● pesticide/herbicide reduction ● pressure filtration ● slow sand filters
Residuals Disposal
Examples: belt filter presses ● centrifuges ● discharge to lagoons ● discharge to lagoons and then raw water source ● discharge to raw water ● disposal to sanitary sewer ● land application ● mechanical dewatering ● on-side disposal ● solids composting
Additional Treatment Tasks
Examples: aeration ● backwash aids ● cation exchange softening ● chemical precipitation softening ● coagulation aids ● copper sulfate treatment ● dechlorination ● electrodialysis ● filter aids ● ion-exchange/softening ● iron/manganese removal ● iron manganese/softening ● lime-soda ash softening ● nitrate removal ● packed tower aeration ● powdered activated carbon ● taste/odor control ● zebra mussel control
Examples: algae identification ● asbestos ● bacteriological sampling procedures ● biological ● chemical ● chlorine ● coliform bacteria ● complete chain-of-custody ● corrosivity ● disinfectant by-products ● dissolved oxygen ● hexavalent chromium ● inorganic minerals ● jar test ● jar testing ● Langelier index ● metals ● organics ● pH ● physical parameters ● radiological parameters ● saturation index ● solids ● streaming current analysis ● water microbiology
Examples: drinking water standards/rules ● regulations ● sanitary surveys/plant/system inspections ● 40 CFR 141 A-I, K, L, P, Q, T, U, V ● 40 CFR 141 W ● 40 CFR 143
Evaluate Operation of Equipment
Examples: basic electricity for operators ● cathodic protection ● check speed ● inspect for abnormal conditions ● measure temp ● read charts ● read meters ● read pressure gauges
Operate Equipment
Examples: blowers/compressors ● booster pumping stations ● chemical feeders ● computers ● cross connection/backflow prevention equipment ● drives ● electronic testing equipment ● engines ● fittings ● flow monitoring/level sensing equipment ● gates ● generators ● hand tools ● hydrants ● hydraulic equipment ● instrumentation ● intake structures ● lift stations ● mechanical process equipment ● metering ● mixers ● motors ● pneumatic equipment ● power tools ● programmable logic controllers ● pumps ● stand-by/aux/support equip ● switchgear ● valves
Perform Maintenance
Examples: blowers/compressors ● bulk chemical storage systems ● calibration of chemical feeders ● chemical feeders ● drives ● electrical grounding ● engines ● gates ● generators ● hydrants ● hydraulic equipment ● instrumentation ● lockout/tagout ● motors ● pipes ● pneumatic equipment ● pumps ● treatment units ● valves
Manage Facility
Examples: administer safety program ● capacity, management, operation and maintenance ● community/public relations ● develop budget ● energy efficiency/ energy conservation at water/wastewater facilities ● federal/state financing programs ● finance, budget, rate setting ● hazard communication/right-to-know ● legal issues for water/wastewater utilities ● planning/organization/project management ● plant optimization ● respond to complaints ● supervision and personnel management / communication skills ● training/teaching skills
Respond to Emergencies
Examples: emergency response planning/security training ● facility upset ● natural disasters ● spill response ● system contamination
Safety Procedures
Examples: calibration of atmospheric testing devices ● chemical hazards and chemical spill response ●chemical storage/handling ● chlorine safety ● confined space entry ● electrical hazards ● excavations ● general safety and health ● health and safety program implementation ● lab safety ● lockout/tagout ● pathogens ● personal protective equipment ● risk management ● safe handling of materials ● water/blood-borne pathogens
Records
Examples: compliance ● corrective actions ● customer complaints ● facility operation ● laboratory ● maintenance ● monitoring/reporting/records management
Examples: algae control ● bacteriological ● biological ● chemical ● chemical treatment ● identify and evaluate potential sources of source water contamination ● monitor, evaluate, and adjust source water ● physical ● stratification control ● surface water/groundwater/watershed protection ● aquifer storage/recovery ● groundwater basics/aquifers ● water source treatment/characteristics ● well maintenance/rehab ● well operation (yield, drawdown)
Examples: basic computers ● basic hydraulics ● basic knowledge of groundwater treatment ● distribution systems ● electrical controls/SCADA ● flow measurement: open channel/pipe ● math for operators ● motor control centers ● plant/distribution storage ● problem solving/troubleshooting/decision making ● process optimization ● process water ● reservoirs and clearwells ● variable frequency drives ● water chemistry ● water conservation ● water efficiency ● water microbiology
Approved Topics for Water Distribution Recertification
Examples: assess system demand ● flow measurement: open channel and pipe ● geographic information systems ● install joint restraints ● install shoring ● install thrust blocks ● instrumentation ● layout system ● level sensing equipment ● map system ● mapping, locating, tracer wire ● metering ● perform pressure readings ● plant and distribution storage ● preparedness contingency plan ● programmable logic controllers ● read blueprints ● select materials ● select pipes ● size mains ● write plans ● water audits
Monitor Disinfection
Examples: calcium hypochlorite disinfection ● chlorine gas disinfection ● sodium hypochlorite
Evaluate Disinfection
Examples: calcium hypochlorite disinfection ● chlorination optimization ● chlorine gas disinfection ● sodium hypochlorite
Adjust Disinfection
Examples: calcium hypochlorite disinfection ● chlorine gas disinfection ● dechlorination ● sodium hypochlorite
Inspect Source Water
Examples: Identify and evaluate potential sources of source water contamination ● wells
Collect and Preserve Samples
Examples: bacteriological sampling procedures ● chlorine demand ● chlorine residual ● coliforms ● lead/copper ● nitrate ● nitrite ● pH ● radionuclides ● synthetic organic chemicals ● temperature ● volatile organic chemicals
Perform Laboratory Analysis
Examples: chlorine demand ● chlorine residual ● pH ● temperature
Interpret Laboratory Analysis
Examples: chlorine demand ● chlorine residual ● coliforms ● hardness ● iron ● lead/copper ● nitrate ● nitrite ● pH ● radionuclides ● synthetic organic chemicals ● temperature ● turbidity ● volatile organic chemicals
Examples: backflow prevention devices ● hydrants ● meters ● piping ● service connections ● taps ● valves ● water mains
Examples: blowers/compressors ● booster pumping stations ● chemical feeders ● chemical storage ● chlorinators ● computers ● cross connection/backflow prevention equipment ● drives ● electrical motors ● electronic testing equipment ● engines ● generators ● hand tools ● heavy equipment ● hydrants ● hydraulic equipment ● instrumentation ● leak correlators/detectors ● motor control centers ● motors ● pipe locators ● pneumatic equipment ● power tools ● pumps ● samplers ● SCADA ● switchgear ● stand-by/auxiliary/support equipment ● tapping equipment ● telemetry system ● valve locators ● valves ● variable frequency drives ● well operation (yield, drawdown)
Examples: blowers/compressors ● cathodic protection ● chemical feeders ● chlorinators ● corrosion control ● cross connection control ● disinfecting water storage facilities ● drives ● electric grounding ● electrical motors ● engines ● evaluate operation of equipment ● exercising programs ● facility inspection ● flushing, pigging, and swabbing ● generators ● hydrants ● hydraulic equipment ● hypochlorinators ● instrumentation ● lockout/tagout ● leak detection ● meters ● new main and repair disinfection ● pressure sensors ● pumps ● service connection ● service line and curb box maintenance ● service pipes ● thawing ● valves ● water mains ● water storage facility ● well maintenance and rehabilitation
Manage System
Examples: administer safety program ● administration/management ● capacity, management, operation, and maintenance ● compliance ● conduct cross-connection surveys ● construction inspection / documentation/design build ● construction standards ● develop operation and maintenance plan ● develop/maintain site plan ● distribution system optimization ● emergency response planning and security training ● energy efficiency/energy conservation at water/wastewater utilities ● federal and state financing programs ● finance, budget, rate setting ● legal issues for water/wastewater utilities ● participate in sanitary surveys ● planning/organization/project management ● regulatory reporting ● risk management ● supervision and personnel management/communication skills ● training/teaching skills
Promote Public Relations
Examples: community/public relations ● private property issues/service laterals ● promote customer service program ● respond to complaints
Safety Program
Examples: backhoe operator ● chemical safety ● chlorine safety ● confined space entry ● electrical hazards ● excavation, shoring, and trenching ● general safety ● hazard communication/right-to-know ● health and safety program implementation ● lockout/tagout ● personal protective equipment ● public protection ● safe handling of materials ● spill response ● traffic control/work zone safety ● water/blood-borne pathogens
Recordkeeping
Examples: compliance ● corrective actions to system deficiencies ● equipment repair/replacement ● laboratory ● maintenance ● records and reports: monitoring/reporting/records management ● system operation
Examples: aquifer storage/recovery ● basic computers ● basic electricity for operators ● basic hydraulics ● basic knowledge of groundwater treatment ● basic knowledge of water treatment ● chemical treatment ● corrosion control ● distribution systems ● drinking water standards/rules ● fire flow testing ● groundwater basics/aquifers ● math for operators ● pipe, valves, fittings ● problem solving/troubleshooting/decision making ● surface water treatment ● system control/monitoring ● taste/odor control ● trenchless construction/technologies ● water chemistry ● water microbiology ● water source characteristics ● water source treatment/characteristics ● well characteristics ● wellhead/source water protection
Approved Topics for Wastewater Collection Recertification
Examples: backhoe operator ● blowers/compressors ● boring equipment ● cathodic protection devices ● chemical feeders ● cleaning equipment ● computers ● electrical controls ● engines ● excavating equipment ● flow monitoring equipment ● generators ● hand tools ● heavy vehicles ● high velocity cleaners ● inspection equipment ● motors ● overflows and bypass control ● power tools ● pumps ● rodding equipment ● safety equipment ● stand-by/auxiliary/support equipment ● tapping equipment ● valves ● variable speed drives
Perform Maintenance on Equipment
Examples: blowers/compressors ● calibration of chemical feeders ● cleaning equipment ● electrical controls ● engines ● excavating equipment ● flow monitoring equipment ● generators ● hand tools ● heavy vehicles ● high velocity cleaners ● inspection equipment ● motors ● power tools ● pumps ● rodding equipment ● safety equipment ● tapping equipment ● valves ● variable speed drives
Evaluate Operation of Equipment
Examples: energy efficiency/energy conservation at water/wastewater facilities ● generators/switchgear ● hydraulic and pneumatic equipment ● inspect equipment for abnormal conditions ● measure temperature of equipment ● read charts ● read gauges ● read meters ● troubleshoot electrical equipment
Clean System
Examples: dye testing ● hydraulic cleaning ● inspect system ● inspection/condition assessment ● inspection equipment ● issues/service laterals ● jet rodding ● physical inspection ● private property ● remove stoppage ● rodding ● root control ● sanitary surveys/plant/system inspections ● televising
Rehabilitate and Repair System
Examples: capacity, management, operation and maintenance ● cathodic protection ● cleaning/flushing/pigging ● manhole ● leak detection ● lift station fitting and piping ● manholes ● pipe, valves, fittings ● rehabilitation ● right-of-way management/maintenance ● sewer lines ● taps ● trenchless technologies for pipe rehabilitation
Electrical
Examples: engines/drives ● fuses ● motor control centers ● motors ● relays ● starters ● variable frequency drives
Electronic
Examples: alarms ● controllers ● gas detection ● level detection ● remote transmitting units
Mechanical
Examples: piping ● pressure relief valves ● pre-treatment ● pumps ● screens/grinders/comminutors ● valves ● wet wells
Examples: aeration for hydrogen sulfide control ● biological filters for odor control ● chemical addition for hydrogen sulfide control ● chemical storage/feed systems ● cross connections ● cross connection/backflow prevention equipment ● electrical controls/SCADA ● fats, oil and grease removal ● flow measurement: open channel/pipe ● flow monitoring ● force mains ● gravity sewers ● grit removal ● infiltration, inflow, exfiltration ● instrumentation ● level sensing equipment ● lift stations ● manholes ● measuring and control systems ● odor control ● programmable logic controllers ● pressure sewers ● sampling/analysis ● septage receiving and treatment ● service lines/connections ● SSO/CSO reduction ● stormwater separation ● wastewater sources/characteristics ● vacuum sewers
Administer System
Examples: administer safety compliance program ● community/public relations/complaint response ● compliance ● construction inspection/ documentation/ design build ● develop budget ● develop capital improvement plan ● develop operation and maintenance plan ● evaluate employee performance ● federal/state financing programs ● finance, rate setting ● FOG management programs ● hire employees ● industrial pretreatment programs/source control ● legal issues for water/wastewater utilities ● maintain records ● monitoring/reporting/records management ● nine minimum controls for combined systems for combined systems ● perform workplace safety evaluations ● plan and organize work activities ● project management ● record and evaluate data ● regulations ● respond to public complaints ● risk management ● sewer use ordinances and moratoriums ● supervise employee work activities ● supervision and personnel management/ communication skills ● surface water/groundwater/watershed protection ● wet weather control procedures ● write reports
Safety Procedures
Examples: calibration of atmospheric testing devices ● chemical spill ● chlorine safety ● confined space entry ● electrical hazards ● fires ● first aid ● hazard communication/right-to-know ● hazardous material ● infectious disease ● lifting ● lockout/tagout ● personal protection equipment ● respiratory protection ● safe handling of materials ● shoring ● traffic control ● trenching/excavation ● water/blood-borne pathogens
Emergency Plans
Examples: combined sewer overflows ● disasters ● emergency response planning/security training ● manhole hazards ● sanitary sewer overflow ● system failure ● spill response
Examples: basic computers ● basic electricity for operators ● basic hydraulics ● geographic info systems (GIS) ● math for operators ● problem solving/troubleshooting/decision making ● training/teaching skills ● water chemistry ● water microbiology
Approved Topics for Wastewater Treatment Recertification
Examples: color ● flow ● foam ● influent/sidestream characterization ● mixing ● odor ● sampling/analysis ● solids concentration ● SSO/CSO reduction ● temperature ● volume/loading
Apply Safety Procedures
Examples: blood borne pathogens ● waterborne pathogens ● chlorine safety ● confined space ● electrical hazards ● hazard communication/right-to-know ● lab safety ● lockout/tagout ● personal protective equipment/respiratory protection ● safe handling of materials ● spill response
Chemical Hazards
Examples: chemical hazard communication ● chemical spill response
Personal Protective Equipment
Examples: other personal protective equipment ● respiratory protection ● self-contained breathing apparatus
General Safety and Health
Examples: confined space entry ● emergency eyewash/shower ● fire suppression ● first aid ● health and safety program implementation ● lifting ● personal hygiene ● slips, trips, and falls
Establish and Follow Emergency Preparedness Plan
Examples: emergency response planning/security training ● facility upset ● major spill response ● natural disasters
Record Information
Examples: compliance ● corrective actions ● facility operation ● financial ● laboratory ● maintenance ● records and reports: monitoring/reporting/records management ● respond to complaints ● write reports
Evaluate Equipment
Examples: calibrate chemical feeders ● check and evaluate capacity of equipment ● check speed of equipment ● electrical grounding ● inspect equipment for abnormal conditions ● measure and evaluate head loss ● measure temperature of equipment ● pipe, valves, fittings ● read and evaluate charts ● read and evaluate gauges ● read and evaluate meter results
Perform Preventative and Corrective Maintenance
Examples: aerators ● backflow prevention devices ● bar screens ● bioreactors ● blowers and compressors ● boilers ● cathodic protection systems ● chemical feeders ● chlorinators ● clarifiers ● comminuters ● corrosion control ● dewatering equipment ● digesters (aerobic/anaerobic) ● drives ● engines ● fittings/piping ● flow measuring devices ● gates ● generators ● grit collectors ● heat exchangers ● hydraulic equipment ● hypochlorinators ● instrumentation ● lockout/tagout ● motors ● off-gas equipment ● ozonators ● pneumatic equipment ● pumps ● safety equipment ● screw conveyors ● valves
Examples: aeration equipment ● backflow prevention devices ● backhoe ● belt filter presses ● blowers and compressors ● blowers and compressors ● boilers ● cathodic prevention systems ● centrifuges ● chemical feeders ● chemical storage ● computers ● cross connection/backflow prevention equipment ● digesters and gas collection ● drives ● electrical controls/SCADA ● electronic testing equipment ● engines ● flow measuring devices ● flow monitoring/level sensing equipment ● gates ● generators ● hand and power tools ● heat exchangers ● heavy vehicles ● hydraulic equipment ● instrumentation ● mechanical process equipment ● mixers ● motor control centers ● motors ● odor control ● off-gas equipment ● pneumatic equipment ● programmable logic controllers ● pumping/lift stations ● pumps ● pure oxygen generators ● stand-by/aux/support equip ● switchgear ● valves ● variable frequency drives
Preliminary Treatment
Examples: comminution ● flow equalization ● grinders ● grit removal ● plant pumping of main flow ● screening ● septage receiving and treatment ● wet weather control procedures
Primary Treatment
Examples: clarifiers ● fats, oil, and grease removal ● sedimentation
Secondary Treatment
Examples: complete mix activated sludge ● contact stabilization activated sludge ● conventional activated sludge ● coupled systems: TF/AS, TF/SC ● extended aeration activated sludge ● fixed-film bioreactor ● natural systems – lagoons, constructed wetlands, etc. ● oxidation ditches ● pure oxygen activated sludge ● rotating biological contactors ● secondary clarifiers ● sequencing batch reactors ● stabilization ponds (with or without aeration) ● step-feed activated sludge ● trickling filter
Tertiary Treatment
Examples: advanced biological/chemical treatment ● advanced chemical/physical waste treatment ● advanced waste treatment – chemical recover, carbon regeneration ● advanced waste treatment – nutrient removal ● ion exchange for advanced waste treatment ● media filtration ● membrane processes: membrane bioreactors and effluent filtration ● reverse osmosis, electrodialysis and other membrane filtration ● sand/media filters
Disinfection
Examples: chlorination ● dechlorination ● hypochlorination ● ozonation ● ultraviolet irradiation
Chemical Addition
Examples: chemical storage/handling ● dry chemical addition ● gaseous chemical addition ● liquid chemical addition
Effluent Discharge
Examples: effluent discharge for reuse ● effluent discharge to receiving stream ● TMDLs
Solids Handling
Examples: aerobic digestion ● anaerobic digestion ● belt press ● centrifuge ● compost ● condition ● drying bed ● incinerate ● land apply ● landfill ● pressure filter ● stabilize ● storage ● thicken
Examples: alkalinity ● ammonia nitrogen ● biological analyses ● biochemical oxygen demand ● chemical analyses ● chemical oxygen demand ● chlorine residual ● complete chain-of-custody ● conductivity ● dissolved metals ● dissolved oxygen ● e. coli ● fecal coliform bacteria ● general sampling practices ● heavy metals ● hexavalent chromium ● ortho-phosphate ● oxidation-reduction potential ● oxygen uptake/respiration ● pH ● physical analyses ● protozoan analysis ● settleable solids ● total dissolved solids ● total phosphorus ● total solids ● total suspended solids ● turbidity ● temperature ● volatile acids ● volatile organic chemicals ● whole effluent toxicity ● volatile suspended solids
Examples: basic computers ● basic electricity for operators ● basic hydraulics ● capacity, management, operation and maintenance ● community/public relations/complaint response ● energy efficiency/ energy conservation at water/wastewater facilities ● finance, budget, rate setting ● flow measurement: open channel/pipe ● FOG management programs ● industrial pretreatment programs/ source control ● legal issues for water/wastewater utilities ● math for operators ● overflows and bypass control ● planning/organization/project management ● problem-solving/ troubleshooting/decision making ● process control techniques ● process optimization ● regulations ● risk management ● sanitary surveys/plant/system inspections ● sewer use ordinances and moratoriums ● supervision and personnel management/communication skills ● training/teaching skills ● water chemistry ● water microbiology
Documentation of Continuing Education
Documentation of continuing education should contain the name of the person who completed the education, course title, instructor or sponsoring agency, date of completion, and number of contact hours.
Granting Credit
All continuing education submitted for credit is subject to C2EP review and approval. Credit is granted only after the continuing education activity has been completed and documented. Contact hours from a single course taken more than one time during a 2-year cycle will be given credit only once. All hours must be earned within the 2-year lifetime of the certification.
Credit Denial
C2EP reserves the right to deny credits for any continuing education that fails to meet the requirements. C2EP will consider the number of hours indicated on the submitted continuing education documentation. However, C2EP reserves the right to make all final decisions on the number of hours given credit for each continuing education activity. C2EP will notify anyone whose credits are reduced or denied.
Failure to Satisfy Recertification Requirements
Certificants must apply for recertification before their certification expiration date. An expired certificate is not renewable. Anyone whose certification has expired may not represent himself or herself as certified by C2EP and may not use the PO logos or marks unless he or she becomes recertified by C2EP.
To be recertified, former certificants must submit an application for initial certification. They must also satisfy all requirements of the initial certification, including either passing the appropriate certification exam or qualifying by the Alternate Path to Entry.
PO Certification Portal (Certemy)
Similarly to applying for Professional Operator certification for the first time, the PO Portal (Certemy) is your gateway to recertification, submitting CEUs/contact hours, completing new applications, and checking the status of existing applications. Go To Portal
