Certification Renewal
Continuing Education Requirements for Renewal
Approved continuing education is required for the renewal of all water or wastewater certificates. Continuing education used for renewal must be earned during the three years prior to certificate expiration. All water or wastewater certificates expire on December 31st of a specific year. For example, if a certificate expires on December 31, 2011, continuing education units (CEUs) must be earned between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011.
Continuing Education Unit (CEU)
The department recognizes the Continuing Education Unit (CEU) as a unit of education. One CEU is equivalent to 10 contact hours of education.
Board Policies 2010-01, 2010-02, and 2010-03
The Governor’s Water/Wastewater Works Advisory Board Policies 2010-01, 2010-02, and 2010-03 address continuing education unit training and continuing education for certificate renewal. Copies of these policies are available at http://www.dec.state.ak.us/water/opcert/policies.htm.
Policy 2010-01 sets forth criteria that the department uses to determine if courses are eligible for CEUs. The policy also sets forth criteria for determining whether a course is core or non-core to the water or wastewater industry. Core courses are those specifically related to the water or wastewater industry or that are integral to the operation and maintenance of the system. Non-core courses, while still relevant to the water or wastewater industry, are those indirectly related or peripheral to the industry.
Policy 2010-02 sets forth criteria for core CEUs required for certificate renewal. Water treatment, water distribution, wastewater treatment, and wastewater collection certificate renewals require 2.0 core CEUs and a total of 3.0 CEUs. For small, untreated water system certificate renewals 0.5 drinking water core CEUs are required. For small, treated water system certificate renewals 1.0 drinking water core CEUs are required.
Level of Certificate |
Total number of CEUs required during the three years prior to expiration |
Number of CEUs that must be core to the water/wastewater industry |
Provisional, 1, 2, 3, or 4 |
3.0 |
2.0 (water or wastewater) |
Small, Treated |
1.0 |
1.0 (water only) |
Small, Untreated |
0.5 |
0.5 (water only) |
Policy 2010-03 sets forth criteria for core CEUs required for Wastewater Stabilization Pond certificate renewal. Wastewater Stabilization Pond certificate renewals require 0.5 wastewater core CEUs.
Level of Certificate |
Total number of CEUs required during the three years prior to expiration |
Number of CEUs that must be core to the wastewater industry |
Wastewater Stabilization Pond |
0.5 |
0.5 |
Contact Information
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Operator Training and Certification Program
410 Willoughby Ave., Suite 303
P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: (907) 465-1139
Fax: (907) 465-5177
Email: dec.water.fco.opcert@alaska.gov
