Board of Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals

On July 1, 2024, continuing education requirements for the Idaho Board of Drinking Water & Wastewater Professionals were updated in IDAPA 24.05.01.100.05. Continuing education courses must be germane to the profession and no longer require prior board approval, except for backflow assembly courses.

Click here for the Board approved Backflow Assembly Tester (BAT) Course. 

Click here for information on BAT course providers.

CE FOR TRAINERS

The Board has voted to allow a licensed operator who is an instructor or speaker at a water or wastewater continuing education course to be credited the same number of contact hours as the students of the course for not more than one (1) presentation of the training per year. Instructors should submit the attached form for credit.

AUDITS

The Board conducts annual audits to ensure compliance with the continuing education requirements. Audits may be initiated any time after you renew your license. By signing your renewal application and answering “Yes” to the question that you have met the continuing education requirements, you are certifying to the Board that you have already obtained proof of having completed the required continuing education. 

If you are audited, you must submit a listing of all continuing education courses completed during the previous year AND proof of attendance documentation for each course. A water or wastewater licensee may carry over a maximum of six (6) hours of continuing education to meet the next year’s continuing education requirement. The same hours may not be carried forward more than one (1) renewal cycle. If you are audited and you carried forward hours, you must submit complete documentation for both the audit period and for the previous year.

Failure to submit the required documentation may result in Board action against your right to licensure.

Q: What is the definition of “classroom” hours? Can the classroom be both indoors and outdoors?

Yes, the classroom may be indoors or outdoors. Examples include facility tours and indoor/outdoor training facilities. Keep in mind that break time and lunch time do not count.

Q: What is the definition of “license type”?

License type related to continuing education includes drinking water, wastewater and backflow. 6 hours for drinking water and wastewater, backflow.

For example, a licensee holding one (1) or more drinking water license(s) shall be required to meet the annual continuing education requirement for only one license. A licensee holding one (1) or more wastewater license(s) shall be required to meet the annual continuing education requirement for only one license. A licensee holding both drinking water and wastewater class licenses must complete a minimum of six (6) hours annually for the drinking water license plus six (6) hours annually for the wastewater license.

Q: What is acceptable “proof of completion” a licensee must present when audited for CEUs?

The certificate of completion, unless additional information is deemed necessary for verification. The certificate should include the provider, student name, date, number of credits, type (drinking water/wastewater).

Q: How long must the “proof of completion” be retained by the licensee?

The board encourages licensees to retain proof of completion for 1-year beyond the renewal cycle however if the licensee is wanting to use CEUs for education, you may want to hold it longer.

1-year cycle = retain for 2 years

BAT = 3 years

Q: Should a continuing education provider hold minimum qualifications to offer a course?

No. This is something that is not regulated by the board.

Q: Must the continuing education provider retain sign-in sheets or other records as evidence of licensees’ participation in training?

No. It is not required, however it is a best practice.

Q: Is internal training conducted by a water or wastewater utility system with staff leadership acceptable continuing education germane to the license type?

Yes.

Q: Do sales presentations count as continuing education germane to the license type?

Yes.

Q: Does First Aid and other relevant safety training count as continuing education germane to the license type? Is there a limit on how many CEU’s for a year may be comprised of relevant safety training?

Yes. Currently, there is no limit.

Q: Do management related and other ‘soft skills’ courses qualify as continuing education germane to the license type? For example, skill sets like Microsoft Excel, Word, etc. help with sample scheduling and tracking, SOP drafting, rate review analysis, and supervisory skills help an operator be successful with efficient utility management. Is there a limit on how many CEUs a year may be comprised of this type of course work?

No, these courses are not germane to the profession.

Q: Can the board provide direction on what type of courses ‘do not’ qualify for CEUs as additional guidance?

Soft skills, computer skills, anything not directly related to the drinking water or wastewater profession.

Training & Information Links: Idaho

• American Water Works Association (AWWA)
• Blue Mountain Operator Section
• Southeast Idaho Intermountain Operator Section
• Southwest Idaho Operator Section
• Subsections Web Site
• Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association(PNCWA)

Affiliated with the National Water Environment Federation

• North Idaho Operator Section
• Southeast Idaho Operator Section
• Southwest Idaho AWWA Operator Section

California State University-Sacramento, Office of Water Programs
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6025
Telephone: (916) 278-6142
Fax: (916) 278-5959
Email:  wateroffice@csus.edu
(Study materials for drinking water and wastewater licensure examinations.)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Office of Water/Wastewater Management
Outreach Program Coordinator
Boise State University
Telephone: 208-426-4751

Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Joni Johnson, PE
Phone 208-734-2173
P. O. Box 5079
Twin Falls, ID 83303

Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
State Office
1410 N. Hilton
Boise, ID 83706
Telephone: (208) 373-0502
http://www.deq.idaho.gov/assitance-resources/conference-trainings/

Idaho Environmental Health Association (IEHA)
Southeast District Health Department
Telephone: (208) 236-6160

Idaho Rural Water Association (IRWA)

6395 W. Gowen Rd,
Boise, ID 83709
Telephone: (208) 343-7001 or (toll-free) 1-800-962-3257
Fax: (208) 343-1866
E-mail: office@idahoruralwater.com; tclark@idahoruralwater.com

(Training on operation and management of drinking water and wastewater systems.)

Zarathom Online Training
Phone: 1-844-927-2846
E-mail: info@zarathom.com

Public Health Districts of Idaho

• Health District 1 (Panhandle)
• Health District 2 (North Central)
• Health District 3 (Southwest)
• Health District 4 (Central)
• Health District 5 (South Central)
• Health District 6 (Southeastern)
• Health District 7 (Eastern)

(Information and training on drinking water and wastewater issues.)

Training & Information Links for Backflow Education
HR2Inc (Northwest Backflow Educators)
4677 Windward Ct
Garden City, ID 83714
Phone: 208-869-6335.
https://www.northwestbackflow.com/

BAT & Supply
Backflow Assembly Testing & Supply LLC
Providing Backflow Tester Certification (ABPA) 
Providing Idaho Backflow Refresher training 
P.O. Box 359
Tetonia, ID 83452
855 456 2287 TOLL FREE
208 456 2287 office
208 221 6988 cell
Email: info@batandsupply.com
www.batandsupply.com
www.facebook.com/batandsupply

IAPMO/BPI
Kim Curtis
1517 Chastain Road
Johns Island, SC  29455
855-536-2800
Email: kim.curtis@iapmo.org

Please note not all courses by these providers are approved.

American Water Works Association (AWWA)
6666 W. Quincy Ave.
Denver, CO 80235
Leah Bang, CEU Coordinator

American Water College
www.americanwatercollege.org
amy@americanwatercollege.org
Association of Boards of Certification (ABC)
208 5th Street
Ames, IA 50100
Telephone: (515) 232-3623

AWWA eLearning
6666 W. Quincy Avenue
Denver, CO 80235
Leah Bang, CEU Coordinator

CEU Plan
P.O. Box 10355
Brooksville, FL 34603
(Provides a variety of online water and wastewater classes.)

Montana Environmental Training Center (METC)
2100 16th Avenue South
Great Falls, MT 59405
Telephone: (406) 771-4433 or 4432
Fax: (406) 771-4317

Montana Water Center
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717
Telephone: (406) 994-7738

Utah Division of Water Quality
195 North 1950 West
P.O. Box 144870
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4870
Telephone: (801) 536-4346  
1 Attempt (At Your Pace Online)
www.AYPOTech.com
Office: (877) 724-6150

Mike Nelson Consulting LLC  
Danica Consulting & Training Services LLC
105 Nelson Drive
Churchville, PA 18966
Office: 215-354-5532
Fax: 215-354-0043
Email: mnelsonh20@aol.com
Web: www.mikenelsonh2o.com

IDAHO BOARD OF DRINKING WATER & WASTEWATER PROFESSIONALS PROVIDER GUIDELINES

Background

State rules require licensed water and wastewater operators to participate in approved professional growth training to keep their licenses valid. A minimum number of approved continuing education units (CEUs) must be earned during each licensure renewal cycle.

Relevancy

All training must be relevant to the job. Criteria used to determine if the subject matter offered in a training class is relevant and approvable are based on the Associated Boards of Certification (ABC) “Needs to Know Criteria.” Relevant training is instruction or education that:

• Is pertinent to or consistent with what an operator needs to understand to successfully perform a job in the drinking water or wastewater field; and
• Includes instruction that familiarizes operators with public health issues and source water protection issues; and
• Is identifiable as only that information an operator “needs to know,” which does not include information superfluous to the drinking water or wastewater aspect of the job (such as sexual harassment training).

Training Subjects

Examples of the subject matter eligible for professional growth training are:

• Operation and maintenance of water/wastewater treatment systems and associated equipment;
• Operation and maintenance of water/wastewater transport systems (distribution and collection) and associated equipment;
• Electrical systems;
• Hydraulics;
• Chemical treatment;
• Sampling/testing requirements, biological, chemical and radionuclide;
• Disinfection;
• Water/wastewater public health issues;
• Mathematics; and
• Drinking water source water protection.

Because operators’ length of service ranges from entry level to decades spent at the same licensed class, similarly classified individuals can have very different training needs. Training providers are encouraged to consider progressive levels of training for the various types and classes of operator licensures.