Stay current with your profession through recertification.
WPI certifications are valid for two years. Recertification applications are mailed to currently certified individuals two to three months prior to their certification expiration dates. Certificants have a six-month grace period following the expiration date to file their complete recertification applications. If you did not receive your recertification application or need a duplicate application, please contact WPI at certification@abccert.org.
Recertification requirements vary by certification area. In-Training certificates cannot be renewed. Below you will find information specific to your current certification:
| Recertification Continuing Education Requirements |
|---|
| Operator Certification: Class I-IV |
| The certified operator shall have completed at least 24 contact hours of continuing education approved by WPI during the two-year term of the certificate. |
| Lab Analyst Certification: Class I-IV |
| The certified analyst shall have completed at least 24 contact hours of continuing education approved by WPI during the two-year term of the certificate. |
| Plant Maintenance Technologist Certification: Class I or II |
| The certified technologist shall complete at least eight contact hours of continuing education approved by WPI during the two-year term of the certificate. |
| Plant Maintenance Technologist Certification: Class III |
| The certified technologist shall complete at least 16 contact hours of continuing education approved by WPI during the two-year term of the certificate. |
| Land Applier Certification: Class I or II |
| The certified applier shall have completed at least 24 contact hours of continuing education approved by WPI during the two-year term of the certificate. |
Approval of course topics is based on the following WPI course relevancy definitions:
Water Treatment Operators and Laboratory Analysts: Relevant water continuing education training must be on topics essential to the operation and maintenance of water systems and influence drinking water quality, water supply, and/or public health for the operator certificate (s) to which the training is applied.
Wastewater Treatment Operators and Laboratory Analysts: Relevant wastewater continuing education training must be on topics essential to the operation and maintenance of wastewater facilities/systems and influence public health and environment for the operator certificate(s) to which the training is applied.
Note: First aid, CPR, and defensive driving courses will not be accepted for continuing education for any category of certification.
Coursework Approval
Approval of coursework is guided by the list of WPI-approved topics developed by our Certification Commission and subject matter experts. For certification categories in which a list of approved topics has not been developed, the relevant WPI Need-to-Know Criteria guide coursework approval.
Credit will not be given for presentations, writing/publishing articles, or teaching courses. Annual meetings/conferences/workshops that meet approved topic guidelines are accepted for continuing education credit if certificates of attendance with contact hours/CEUs are issued to participants. Courses taken more than one time during a two-year renewal cycle will be given credit only once.
Documentation
A new certificate will not be issued until continuing education courses are completed and documentation submitted. Documentation of continuing education must contain course title, instructor or sponsoring agency, date of completion, and contact hours.
Failure of a certified operator to meet these requirements or to furnish the required information shall constitute grounds for refusal to renew.
The following procedure applies with renewal certification:
- Certificates which have not been renewed within six months of the expiration date stated on the certificate will be considered lapsed.
- Individuals with certificates that have expired over six months, yet less than two years, may request reinstatement of the lapsed certificate by submitting a renewal application and paying an additional late fee of $35.00.
- You must provide evidence of compliance with the continuing education requirements and provide documentation of 24 contact hours for each two year renewal cycle.
- The renewal date of the new certificate will be two years from the expiration date of the last certificate issued. Certificates which have expired for more than two years cannot be renewed.
- Certificate renewal applicants applying two years after their certificates have lapsed will be denied and must re-apply as a new applicant.
- Recertification requires you to submit an application for initial certification and either pass the appropriate exam or qualify by reciprocity.
