Browse our comprehensive FAQ for commonly asked questions relating to:
There are no experience requirements for stormwater (industrial stormwater, construction stormwater, soil erosion and sedimentation control (SESC)) operator certifications.
There are the following minimum education requirements:
The minimum age for an operator applying for an industrial stormwater, construction stormwater, or soil erosion and sedimentation control (SESC)) exam is 18 years old.
Yes. In fact, EGLE has a memorandum of understanding with the Michigan Department of Corrections to allow for incarcerated individuals to earn stormwater and wastewater certifications.
Operators can qualify for industrial stormwater, construction stormwater, and/or soil erosion and sedimentation control (SESC) examinations even if they have a criminal record.
Individuals interested in becoming certified stormwater operators may obtain certification by completing EGLE-approved training and passing the required examination.
An operator may hold multiple wastewater and stormwater certifications (such as a municipal certification, industrial certification, industrial stormwater certification, construction stormwater certification, and/or a soil erosion and sedimentation control plan review and design certification).
Operators holding multiple wastewater and/or stormwater certification are required to fulfill all requirements of each certification types.
For stormwater operator certifications, including industrial stormwater, construction stormwater, soil erosion and sedimentation control (SESC)) certifications, the following is true:
Submit replacement certification requests (for updated information) to EGLE-WRD-OpCert@Michigan.gov.
You should include:
This is the process for municipal wastewater, industrial wastewater, industrial stormwater, construction stormwater, and SESC PRD operator certification.
Anyone who wants to obtain any stormwater certification (industrial stormwater, construction stormwater, soil erosion and sedimentation control (SESC)) and meets the minimum education requirements can register for an exam.
The next exam date varies depending on the type of stormwater operator certification you're interested in.
Exams are online (virtual) administered via an online platform (EvaExam).
All exams are multiple choice questions.
You will be sent a link the date you select at registration. You have 24 hours to open the exam. Once you access the link, you have two (2) hours to complete the exam.
This applies for all stormwater operator exams (industrial stormwater, construction stormwater, soil erosion and sedimentation control (SESC)).
The exam fee varies depending on the type of stormwater operator certification:
All are payable to the State of Michigan. Payment instructions will be provided during registration.
You can pay for your stormwater operator exam by:
*To pay by check or money order, please request a check payment form when you send us your completed application.
You have 90 days from the exam date to pay for it.
If payment is not received within 90 days, your test is considered an automatic failure, and you will not be allowed to retest until any previous exam fees have been paid.
The Industrial Stormwater Certified Operator Training Manual can be found on the Industrial Stormwater webpage at Michigan.gov/IndustrialStormWater.
Preliminary results will be sent to you via email within two to four weeks after you complete the exam.
Your formal certificate and results will be mailed to your home address within one month following the release of the preliminary results.
This applies for all stormwater operator exams (industrial stormwater, construction stormwater, soil erosion and sedimentation control (SESC)).
If you need to reschedule your stormwater exam date or if you cannot attend your scheduled exam date, contact Marian Maier at MaierM3@Michigan.gov.
You can pay for your stormwater operator certification renewal by:
*To pay by check or money order, please request a check payment form when you send us your completed renewal documentation.
The renewal fee varies depending on the type of stormwater operator certification:
All are payable to the State of Michigan.
Submit replacement stormwater operator certification requests to EGLE-WRD-OpCert@Michigan.gov.
You should include:
This is the process for municipal wastewater, industrial wastewater, industrial stormwater, construction stormwater, and SESC PRD operator certification.
Fill out the appropriate renewal form and pay the $95 renewal fee.
Email completed renewal materials to EGLE-WRD-OpCert@Michigan.gov.
Yes. Your renewal certificate will be mailed to your home address within 4-6 weeks of submitting your renewal paperwork.
Certificates expire July 1 for stormwater (industrial stormwater, construction stormwater, soil erosion and sedimentation control (SESC)) operator certifications. If you have not renewed your license on or before July 1, your certification is considered expired.
If your stormwater operator certification lapsed, you have until August 31 to submit the renewal paperwork and get your certificate renewed without having to retake the exam.
If you haven't submitted your renewal paperwork by September 1, your certificate is terminated and you will have to retake the exam to regain your certification.
People with an expired certificate are eligible for employment at a sewerage system; however, they cannot serve as the “certified operator."
Any site where an earth change over one (1) acre in size will be made, with a point source discharge to the water of the state, must be under the oversight of a certified Construction Stormwater (CSW) Operator.
Sites with an earth change over five (5) acres in size with a point source discharge to waters of the state will not be issued a Notice of Coverage until they have a certified CSW Operator for the site. The certified operator can be anyone, from the landowner to an excavator, as long as they hold a valid CSW operator certificate.
If you are working for a Part 91 Enforcing Agency or Authorized Public Agency (see Part 91 Agency list), all individuals responsible for making decisions related to soil erosion and sedimentation control are required to have a valid certificate of training. EGLE has determined that the Construction Stormwater Operator Certification is equivalent to inspector level training for Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control. The Construction Stormwater Operator Certification is also the prerequisite for SESC Plan Review & Design Training. All employees or contractors for the Part 91 Agency who are responsible for making Soil Erosion related decisions for the Part 91 agency are required to have, at a minimum, inspector level training.
Individuals who work for a Part 91 Enforcing Agency or Authorized Public Agency (see Part 91 Agency list), and responsible for plan review and/or design, permit issuance determinations, and decisions on enforcement actions are required to have a valid SESC Plan Review & Design Training certificate.
At a minimum, at least one individual must have SESC Plan Review & Design Training. Consultants or others may take SESC Plan Review & Design Training to further their understanding of the Part 91 plan review and design expectations; however, the ability to make decisions under the certification is contingent upon employment or contracting with a Part 91 agency.
No. Provided you have maintained a valid Construction Stormwater Operator Certification, you do not need to retake the examination at this time. If you fail to renew your certification, you will be required to retake the exam.
Yes. If you have a valid Construction Stormwater Operator Certification at the time you register and take the SESC Plan Review & Design exam, you may take the SESC Plan Review & Design Training.
You can find detailed information about the CSW operator certification and the SESC Plan Review & Design certification by going to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) Water Resources Division’s (WRD’s) soil erosion webpage, Michigan.gov/SoilErosion, and selecting the first or second link under the heading “Training ” titled: “Training: Construction Stormwater” or “ Training: Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan Review and Design”.
You can also visit the operator certification webpage.
If you only need operator/inspector training, then you can go by the Construction Stormwater Operator certificate and expiration date.
No, if an individual needs both a CSWO & SESC PRD certifications, there are two options
Option 1. Register for the exams in different exam cycles.
Option 2. Register for both the CSWO and SESC PRD in the same exam cycle.
No, SESC training requirements have always had an operator/inspector component. Based on feedback from individuals required to obtain certifications in Construction Stormwater and training in Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control, EGLE decided to create an inspection level certification that include Construction Stormwater Operator elements and separate it from the plan review and design elements of Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control.
This separation was to allow individuals who only inspect sites and who will never design or review a SESC plan to have a single exam which covers both SESC inspector training and Certified Stormwater Operator Training. Individuals who are required to obtain SESC Plan Review & Design Training because they do SESC plan review and design, must have a good understanding of how the SESC measure’s function and how they must be maintained; therefore, EGLE decided that the Certified Stormwater Operator certification exam is a prerequisite for the more advanced Plan Review & Design Training. SESC Plan Review & Design certification has always included an inspector requirements portion and a plan review and design portion, it has now just been separated into two parts.
Yes, the permittee must maintain copies of inspection logs for 3 years.
Yes. If the person performing the inspections is working for a Part 91 Agency, one (1) inspection can count for both Construction Stormwater Operator requirements and SESC Inspector requirements. This situation commonly occurs with Authorized Public Agencies. Private construction sites can utilize the Part 91 Agency Inspector as the Construction Stormwater Operator if the Part 91 Agency agrees to perform this service. In those cases, the SESC inspection would count as a Construction Stormwater inspection and vice versa.
NOTE: The inspection frequency for Stormwater Operators can be more frequent than that required of Part 91 SESC inspectors. Stormwater Operator inspections must be conducted at least once weekly and within 24 hours of any precipitation event that result in a discharge of storm water from the site.
Depending on whether you work for a Part 91 Agency, you may review and approve your own soil erosion plans or issue a permit to your agency. It is important to note, however, that only a person employed by or contracting for a Part 91 Agency can utilize his or her SESC Plan Review & Design certification in such a manner. SESC Plan Review & Design certification for individuals who do not work for a Part 91 Agency is informational only.
Questions related to who might need training should be directed to EGLE WRD district staff.
Questions related to operator certification should contact EGLE-WRD-OpCert@Michigan.gov.
