{"id":11,"date":"2021-06-23T14:55:29","date_gmt":"2021-06-23T14:55:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/drinking-water\/?page_id=11"},"modified":"2025-06-13T18:15:02","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T18:15:02","slug":"certification-renewal-requirements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/drinking_water\/certification-renewal-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Certification Exams, Renewal and Equivalencies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the Utility Operator Certification Regulation (20.7.4.20.A NMAC),&nbsp;it is unlawful to operate or allow the operation of a public water supply system or public wastewater facility unless the system or facility is by or under the supervision of a certified operator who meets or exceeds the appropriate level of certification required to operate the system or facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, anyone who operates a public water supply system or a public wastewater facility must hold an&nbsp;active&nbsp;New Mexico utility operator certification of the correct type and level for the system or facility, or must be supervised by an individual who holds an&nbsp;active&nbsp;New Mexico utility operator certification of the correct type and level for the system or facility.&nbsp;&nbsp;This means that the operator certification&nbsp;cannot&nbsp;be lapsed or expired to be considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Examination Requirements for&nbsp;Certification<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Applicants for all UOCP Exams must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Submit high school diploma as proof of graduation from high school or successful completion of a general equivalency diploma (GED).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Submit documentation to meet the minimum required years of experience and training credits as outlined in the table below.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Submit a completed exam application through the online <a href=\"https:\/\/uocp.certemy.com\/entry\/login\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/uocp.certemy.com\/entry\/login\">Certemy Application<\/a> to the Utility Operator Certification Program (UOCP).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Submit copies of training completion certificates for any credits not identified in the database.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Successfully pass the written examination for the level of certification being sought<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> ALL Application fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Experience &amp; Training Credit Requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Experience is defined in the Utility Operator Certification Regulation as&nbsp;actual work experience, full or part time, as an operator in the fields of public water or public wastewater treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regular\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Water Certifications<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Examination Application&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Fee<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Experience Required (Years)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Training Credits Required<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Water Sampling Tech 1 (WST1)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>0<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>5<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Water Sampling Tech 2 (WST2)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>0<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>10<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Small Water<\/strong><strong>(SW)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>1<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>10<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Adv. Small Water<\/strong><strong>(SWA)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>1<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>10<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Water Supply Level 1 (WS1)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>1<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>10<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Water Supply Level 2 (WS2)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Water Supply Level 3 (WS3)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>4<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>50<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Water Supply Level 4 (WS4)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>1 year as WS3<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>80<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Distribution Systems 1 (DS1)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>1<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>10<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Distribution Systems 2 (DS2)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Distribution Systems 3 (DS3)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>4<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>50<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Certifications<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Examination&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Application Fee<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Experience Required (Years)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Training Credits Required<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Small Wastewater<\/strong><strong>(SWW)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>1<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>10<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Adv. Small Wastewater (SWWA)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>1<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>10<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Level 1 (WW1)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>1<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>10<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Level 2 (WW2)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Level 3 (WW3)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>4<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>50<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Level 4 (WW4)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>1 year as WW3<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>80<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Lab Tech 1 (WWLT1)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>1<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>10<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Lab Tech 2 (WWLT2)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Lab Tech 3 (WWLT3)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>4<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>50<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Collection Systems 1 (CS1)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>1<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>10<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Collection Systems 2 (CS2)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Certification Renewal Requirements<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>All certifications must be renewed every three (3) years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All certifications expire on the last day of the certificate holder\u2019s birth month.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each certificate holder must obtain the correct number of training credits in the 3-year period prior to the renewal date (see table below).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Renewal fees will be paid for each individual certification as stated below in the following table.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Water Certifications<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Renewal<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;Fee<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Training Credits<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Water Sampling Tech 1 (WST1)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>5<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Water Sampling Tech 2 (WST2)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>10<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Small Water<\/strong><strong>(SW)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$20<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Adv. Small Water<\/strong><strong>(SWA)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$20<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Water Supply Level 1 (WS1)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Water Supply Level 2 (WS2)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Water Supply Level 3 (WS3)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Water Supply Level 4 (WS4)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Distribution Systems 1 (DS1)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Distribution Systems 2 (DS2)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Distribution Systems 3 (DS3)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Certifications<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Renewal<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;Fee<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Training Credits Required<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Small Wastewater (SWW)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$20<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Adv. Small Wastewater (SWWA)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$20<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Level 1 (WW1)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Level 2 (WW2)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Level 3 (WW3)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Level 4 (WW4)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$30<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Lab Tech 1 (WWLT1)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Lab Tech 2 (WWLT2)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wastewater Lab Tech 3 (WWLT3)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Collection Systems 1 (CS1)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Collection Systems 2 (CS2)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$25<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>30<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Water\/Wastewater Certification Equivalency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Utility Operator Certification Program (UOCP) will evaluate water and wastewater certifications from other States and Tribal Authorities for certification equivalency. Requests for an Equivalency of a water or wastewater certification involves confirmation of previous experience and requirements met for determination of the appropriate level of a New Mexico Certification(s). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please also be sure to include copies of the necessary items listed below with your application:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Copy of your current water or wastewater certification(s) to be evaluated for Equivalency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Copy of high school\/GED diploma or transcripts that display graduation date and\/or college transcripts\/diploma.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Copies of trainings received for Utility Operator Certification (certificates of completion or sign-in sheets of in house safety trainings also accepted). <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Paying Certification and Renewal Fees<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/online-payments\/payment-page\/\">Pay fees online<\/a> (online payment portal tutorial available <a href=\"https:\/\/service.web.env.nm.gov\/urls\/cqnHydaT\">here<\/a>) or send by mail to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NMED \u2013 Utility Operator Certification Program<br>PO Box 5469<br>Santa Fe, NM&nbsp; 87502-5469<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you can proceed with online payment for exams, a UOCP staff member will send to you an email notification confirming the exam details and the fees due. Your fees\u00a0must\u00a0be paid\u00a0within 10 days of receiving this email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only renewals that have met the training credit requirements will be eligible to pay online.&nbsp;The online payment option is not&nbsp;available to operators if&nbsp;the renewal is 30 days overdue or if training credits are owed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to the Utility Operator Certification Regulation (20.7.4.20.A NMAC),&nbsp;it is unlawful to operate or allow the operation of a public water supply system or public wastewater facility unless the system or facility is by or under the supervision of a certified operator who meets or exceeds the appropriate level of certification required to operate the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/drinking_water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/drinking_water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/drinking_water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/drinking_water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/drinking_water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/drinking_water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":800,"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/drinking_water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11\/revisions\/800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/drinking_water\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}