For municipal wastewater operators, education and experience requirements vary by classification. The requirements for each classification are described in the Board Policy on Certification: Minimum Requirements for Municipal Wastewater Operators.

• Visit wastewater operator course information to learn more about Board Approved Semester Hour Equivalent (SHE) Courses that can be used to qualify for the A and B examinations.

For industrial wastewater operators, classifications are associated with the waste treatment occurring at the facility as:

• Physical (A),
• Chemical (B), and/or
• Biological (C).

Sub-categories for industrial wastewater classifications are identified as:

• Level 1,
• Level 2, or
• Level 3

Those levels correspond with the amount of education required for that classification. Education and experience requirements for each of the classifications are further described in Industrial/Commercial Certification Practices.

The minimum age for an operator applying for a municipal or industrial wastewater operator certification 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 stormwater (industrial stormwater, construction stormwater, soil erosion and sedimentation control (SESC)) and wastewater examinations even if they have a criminal record.

Individuals interested in becoming a certified industrial wastewater or municipal wastewater operator 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. 

Wastewater operator certification page

For municipal wastewater certifications and industrial wastewater certifications, the following is true:

• Individuals renewing a wastewater certificate are issued certificates on a 3-year renewal cycle, provided they have met these requirements:
  • Continuing education renewal requirement for the highest level of certification held,
  • Submitted the completed renewal application, and
  • Paid the renewal fee.
• A certificate will expire on one of the quarterly expiration dates, as shown below, regardless of the calendar year:
  • January 15
  • April 15
  • July 15
  • October 15

Submit replacement certification requests (for updated information) to EGLE-WRD-OpCert@Michigan.gov.

You should include:

• Operator’s full name
• Certification number(s)

This is the process for municipal wastewater, industrial wastewater, industrial stormwater, construction stormwater, and SESC PRD operator certification. 

The next exam date varies depending on the type of wastewater operator certification you're interested in.

View all upcoming certification exam dates

Exams for both municipal wastewater and industrial wastewater operator classifications are administered in person twice a year.

All classification exams, except for the Municipal A and B classifications, use multiple-choice Scantron format.

The Municipal A and B exams are essay style questions, requiring full written answers.

The exam fee varies depending on the type of wastewater operator certification:

• Industrial wastewater operator certification exam fees:
  • Level 1 and 2 exams: $35 per exam
  • Level 3 exam: $40
• Municipal wastewater operator certification exam fees:
  • Class A, B, C, or D: $70 per exam
  • Class L1, L2, or SC: $45 per exam

All are payable to the State of Michigan. Payment instructions will be provided during registration.

You can pay for your wastewater operator exam by:

• Credit card
• Check (paper)*
• Money order*

*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 Laboratory Training Manual for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators can be found here.

The Board of Certification must provide recommendation to the Department on the issuance or denial of certificates, so a Board meeting must be held before results are released.

The Board typically meets approximately one month following each exam date, and results are also usually mailed the same week as the Board meeting.

Operators can reasonably expect their results in the mail approximately 6-8 weeks following an exam date.

If you need to reschedule your wastewater exam date or if you cannot attend your scheduled exam date, contact our team at EGLE-WRD-OpCert@Michigan.gov.

You can pay for your wastewater operator certification renewal by:

• Credit card
• Check (paper)*
• Money order*

*To pay by check or money order, please request a check payment form when you send us your completed renewal documentation.

The renewal fee may vary depending on the type of wastewater operator certification:

• Municipal wastewater operator certification renewal fee: $95
• Industrial wastewater operator certification renewal fee: $95

All are payable to the State of Michigan.

Submit replacement wastewater operator certification requests to EGLE-WRD-OpCert@Michigan.gov.

You should include:

• Operator’s full name
• Certification number(s)

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 renewal fee.

• Municipal wastewater operator certification renewal form
• Industrial or commercial wastewater operator certification renewal form

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.

For municipal wastewater operator certificates, as soon as the certificate expiration date passes and you fail to renew, your certificate is considered expired. 

• A municipal wastewater certificate that has expired may be reinstated within 1-year from the expiration date of the certificate only when an individual has completed the necessary continuing education requirements as prorated from the certificate’s expiration date.
• If a certificate is not reinstated within 1-year, the individual will lose their certification and will be required to re-test for the desired certification. 

People with an expired municipal wastewater certificates are eligible for employment at a sewerage system; however, they cannot serve as the “certified operator." 

Guide to municipal wastewater operator certification renewal

For industrial wastewater operators, certificates expire July 1. If you have not renewed your license on or before July 1, your certification is considered expired.

• If your industrial wastewater 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.