Drinking Water Operator Certification
Renewal Requirements for Water Operator Certificates

Minnesota Department of Health
Public Water Supply Unit
625 North Robert Street, Box 64494
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0494

651-201-4700
Fax: 651-201-4701

A certificate expires three years from the date of issue. You will be mailed a renewal form 6-8 weeks in advance of your certificate expiration date. A certificate in any given classification must be renewed within 30 days after its expiration date. It is important to inform the certification office if your address changes.

A person who has failed to renew may apply for reinstatement for up to one year from the expiration date of their certificate. A certificate may be reinstated only if the operator can provide proof that education requirements have been met during the entire time since the certificate was last issued or renewed. If evidence cannot be provided, the operator must retake the exam to obtain certification.

Certified operators in Minnesota are required to demonstrate professional growth by attending approved water and wastewater industry related training to acquire contact hours within a three-year period in order to renew their certificates. At least 50 percent of renewal hours for water certificates must be direct water operations training. The other training hours may be from disciplines closely related to the profession, provided the course work is approved by the department.

Renewal Hours Required:
Class A - 32 contact hours
Class B - 24 contact hours
Class C - 16 contact hours
Class D -  8 contact hours
Class E -  4 contact hours

At least 50 percent of renewal hours for water certificates must be “direct” water operations training. The other training hours may be from disciplines closely “related” to the profession, provided the course work is approved by the respective agency. Related courses include: wastewater, safety training, management, college courses in chemical, civil, environmental, mechanical or sanitary engineering, physical or biological sciences, laboratory courses and approved vendor training programs. The following courses have been pre-approved:

¹Hours are subject to change based on program contact and length.
²Direct or related hours will be granted subject to verification of session attendance sign-in sheet.

• Minnesota Water Operator Training

Contacts for registration at the pre-approved courses above:
(these contacts can also be found in the Waterline newsletter)

American Water Works Association
Call the Minnesota Department of Health at 651-201-4700

Minnesota Rural Water Association
800-367-6792

Sacramento State Correspondence
916-278-6142

There are other excellent professional training programs that are not on the pre-approved list. In order for other courses to be approved, refer to Criteria for Approval of Water and Wastewater Courses. If a training program is not pre-approved, the program agenda must be sent with the renewal application for credit determination.