Preparation and targeted trainings are critical for successfully passing operator certification exams. Check out the study materials and training opportunities below.
Download an Exam Application here.
Go to the Certification Exams & Renewals page for more details on exam levels, fees, locations, etc.
Training Opportunities
There are a wide variety of opportunities for utility operators and board members to receive useful and relevant trainings. Many of these are free and offer required training credit hours for operators.
Training Resources:
Access scheduled Drinking Water Bureau or partner sponsored free trainings and workshops for public water and wastewater utilities. In addition to all types of trainings, the NMED Events Calendar lists all NMED related public events, public meetings, public comment periods, and more.
| Free Training | |
| Environmental Protection Agency | |
| Only ‘Live’ webinars, (not “Past Virtual Workshops and Webinars”), will receive certificates of completion, please follow the instruction when registering to receive a certificate of completion. | |
| Training Provider | Training Information |
| EPA Drinking Water Training | This page provides information on upcoming and past training opportunities for drinking water professionals, public officials, and citizens interested in gaining knowledge and skills related to compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, Building the Capacity of Drinking Water Systems, and Drinking Water Grant Opportunities. |
| EPA Water Utility Resilience Workshops and Webinars | Various water utility resiliency trainings provided by EPA. |
| EPA Small Drinking Water Systems Webinar Series | EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) and Office of Water (OW), in collaboration with the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), host this free webinar series to communicate the latest information on solutions for challenges facing small drinking water systems. The series topics vary each month and are primarily designed for state, territory, and tribal staff responsible for drinking water regulations compliance and treatment technologies permitting. Others may also benefit from the webinars, including water system operators, technical assistance providers, NGOs, local government personnel, academia, and private sector. Webinar are typically held on the last Tuesday of the month from 2 to 3 p.m. ET with an optional Q&A session from 3 to 3:30 p.m. |
| Rural Community Assistance Partnership | |
| Not all trainings are virtual. Please check with the Organizer of individual events if Certificates of Completion are offered for attendance and for registration. | |
| Training Provider | Training Information |
| Rural Communities Assistance Partnership (RCAP) Training | RCAP offers interactive, participant-based in-person and online training and workshop opportunities led by subject matter experts on a wide-range of topics to support small, rural communities. Topics can range from subjects related to serving small water, wastewater and solid waste systems to broader issues related to economic and community development. |
| Rural Community Assistance Corporation | |
| Please read the Training Event Descriptions to assure you are eligible to attend. If you have questions or need assistance registering utilize the event Contact. | |
| Training Provider | Training Information |
| Rural Communities Assistance Corporation (RCAC) Training | Founded in 1978, RCAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that partners with rural and Indigenous communities to achieve their vision and well being through technical assistance, training, financial resources and advocacy. |
| Environmental Finance Center Network | |
| Scroll down the web page to “Upcoming Trainings and Events”. In the “Type of Event” drop-down filter; select “Webinar”, scroll down the webpage to view training events. Click on the Event title to read details and register. | |
| Training Provider | Training Information |
| Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) Trainings | The EFCN team of experts provides training across all 50 states and territories to help communities, water systems, and wastewater systems achieve their technical, managerial, and financial goals. EFCN offer a wide range of in-person and virtual training opportunities on topics from asset management to preparing for climate change. |
| WaterOperator.org | |
| On the “Select” filter; first choose “Type” then scroll down the list to select “webinar/live online”. NOTE: not all trainings are FREE. You must click on the Training Provider link on the calendar dates and scroll to the bottom of the announcement to find the price. Recordings of past webinars are provided for informational purposes only. WaterOperator.org is unable to offer certificates of completion for watching a video recording. | |
| Training Provider | Training Information |
| WaterOperator.org | WaterOperator.org constantly scours the Internet for water operator training events, workshops, classes, conferences, and webinars across the United States and on tribal lands. |
| Groundwater Well Care for Public Systems presented by WaterOperator.org | This course will help owners and operators of public water systems with a groundwater well better understand how to properly care for their water supply. By understanding the basic science of water. FREE 2-hour training. Follow the instructions to receive a certificate of completion. |
| Lagooniversity | |
| Free On-Demand CEUs/PDHs. Informative webinars on a variety of topics of interest to wastewater lagoon operators and engineers. | |
| Training Provider | Training Information |
| Lagooniversity | Free On-Demand CEUs/PDHs Many of these wastewater lagoon webinars have been pre-approved for state continuing education credit and are eligible for PDH credit in all states. |
| Veolia North America Academy | |
| FREE and Comprehensive classes range from 1 to 10 hours | |
| Training Provider | Training Information |
| Veolia North America Academy | Industry experts have utility operations experience from around the globe and have created training programs that will help you to gain the knowledge needed to gain certification and become best in class operators. |
| Fee Based Training | |
| WaterOperator.org | |
| On the “Select” filter; first choose “Type” then scroll down the list to select “webinar/live online”. NOTE: not all trainings are FREE. You must click on the Training Provider link on the calendar dates and scroll to the bottom of the announcement to find the price. Recordings of past webinars are provided for informational purposes only. WaterOperator.org is unable to offer certificates of completion for watching a video recording. | |
| Training Provider | Training Information |
| WaterOperator.org | WaterOperator.org constantly scours the Internet for water operator training events, workshops, classes, conferences, and webinars across the United States and on tribal lands. |
| Water Environment Federation | |
| Training Provider | Training Information |
| Water Environment Federation | The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of more than 30,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations (MAs) representing water quality professionals around the world. |
| Sacramento State | |
| Training Provider | Training Information |
| Sacramento State | The Office of Water Programs (OWP) is a nonprofit, self-supporting unit of University Enterprises, Inc., an auxiliary of California State University, Sacramento. They provide cost-effective distance learning training programs for individuals interested in the operation and maintenance of drinking water and wastewater facilities in the US, Canada, and other countries. Training programs are developed and updated in collaboration with industry professionals with extensive knowledge of how to successfully operate and maintain all types of facilities. |
| New Mexico Water and Wastewater Association | |
| Training Provider | Training Information |
| New Mexico Water and Wastewater Association | Various in person training provided throughout New Mexico |
| New Mexico Rural Water Association | |
| Training Provider | Training Information |
| New Mexico Rural Water Association | NMRWA is a training provider for water and wastewater system operators and managers, providing quality instruction since 1978. Training Specialists provide classroom and on-site training to operators and managers of drinking water and wastewater systems of all sizes and complexities throughout New Mexico. Trainings are tailored to specific levels of operator, sampler and laboratory certification. Classes provide certification exam preparation, certification renewal and continuing education credits. Visit our website to check our training schedule and register online. |
FREE trainings can also be found on the Environment Department Events Calendar
- Find all DWB trainings by typing “training” into the calendar search bar, click “enter”.
- Find a training by a specific provider by typing their name or abbreviation into the calendar search bar.
- Includes: Utility Operator Certification Board meetings, public stakeholder meetings and comment periods.
NOTE: Operators are responsible to report training credits earned following the completion of each online or in-person training. Email Certificate of Completion to UOCP.Certification@state.nm.us.
Exam Study Guides and Prep Materials
- UOCP – Workforce Connections Testing Locations
- Water Certification Need to Know Criteria
- Wastewater Certification Need to Know Criteria
- Conversions factors and formulas guide (updated 9/9/2022)
- New Mexico Wastewater Laboratory Certification Study Manual
- New Mexico Water Sampling Operator Certification Study Manual