{"id":12,"date":"2021-06-25T20:05:40","date_gmt":"2021-06-25T20:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/?page_id=12"},"modified":"2026-01-29T09:06:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T16:06:51","slug":"training","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/training\/","title":{"rendered":"Operator Training and Certification"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Operator Certification Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Operators of solid waste facilities are required to be certified. See below for additional information on these requirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To become a certified operator an individual shall:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Complete the appropriate certification training course.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pass an examination approved by the Environment Department.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have at least one year of experience in the operation of a facility of the same type as that for which certification is sought.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>File an application with the department on a form provided by the department.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meet the requirements of the Parental Responsibility Act, NMSA 1978, Sections 40-5A-1 to 40-5A-13 (1998 Cum. Supp.).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Operator certification is valid for <strong>3 years<\/strong> from the date of issuance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Renewal of a certification shall be obtained by submitting an application at least <strong>30 days prior to the expiration date<\/strong> and successfully completing one of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An operator certification training course offered by the department or its designated agent; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An alternate training course which has been approved by the department; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>24 hours (CEUs) of course work which has been approved by the department.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"operatorcertificationcourses\">Operator Certification Courses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Operators are required to demonstrate that they&#8217;ve obtained 24 Continuing Education Units (C.E.U)s and submit a renewal form to maintain their certifications.&nbsp; Failure to take a class and submit a renewal could require you to retake the certification course and corresponding exam to regain your certification(s).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A number of certification classes are offered throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To sign up for these classes through <strong>SWANA <\/strong>or <strong>NMRC<\/strong>, click the course name below to navigate to the registration page for SWANA or NMRC: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Course Title<\/th><th>Location &amp; Dates<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2026\/01\/Registration-Form-Transfer-Station-Facility-Operator-Certification-Class-Santa-Fe-March-24-26-2026-3.pdf\">Transfer Station Facility Operator Certification Course (SWANA)<\/a><\/td><td>Santa Fe<br>March 24-26, 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Course Title<\/th><th>Location &amp; Dates<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/recyclenewmexico.com\/compost-operators-course-registration\/\">Compost Facility Operator Certification Course (NMRC)<\/a><\/td><td>Santa Fe<br>April 14-16, 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Course Title<\/th><th>Location &amp; Dates<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2026\/01\/Registration-Form-Landfill-Facility-Operator-Certification-Class-Santa-Fe-May-5-8-2026-4.pdf\">Landfill Facility Operator Certification Course<\/a> (SWANA)<\/td><td>Santa Fe<br>May 5-8, 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Course Title<\/th><th>Location &amp; Dates<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/recyclenewmexico.com\/compost-operators-course-registration\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/recyclenewmexico.com\/compost-operators-course-registration\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/recyclenewmexico.com\/recycling-operators-course-registration\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/recyclenewmexico.com\/recycling-operators-course-registration\/\">Recycling Facility Operator Course Registration (NMRC)<\/a><\/td><td>Santa Fe<br>June 9-11, 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Landfill Facility Operator Certification Course<\/td><td>Las Cruces<br>August 4-7, 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Course Title<\/th><th>Location &amp; Dates<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Transfer Station Facility Operator Certification Course<\/td><td>Las Cruces<br>September 22-24, 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Course Title<\/th><th>Location &amp; Dates<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/recyclenewmexico.com\/compost-operators-course-registration\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/recyclenewmexico.com\/compost-operators-course-registration\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/recyclenewmexico.com\/compost-operators-course-registration\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/recyclenewmexico.com\/compost-operators-course-registration\/\">Compost Facility Operators Course Registration (NMRC)<\/a><\/td><td>Albuquerque<br>October 6-8, 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/recyclenewmexico.com\/compost-operators-course-registration\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/recyclenewmexico.com\/compost-operators-course-registration\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/recyclenewmexico.com\/recycling-operators-course-registration\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/recyclenewmexico.com\/recycling-operators-course-registration\/\">Recycling Facility Operator Certification Course (NMRC)<\/a><\/td><td>Albuquerque<br>December 1-3, 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Each of the operator certification courses is worth 24 CEUs towards renewal of any solid waste operator certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\">Students should bring<\/mark><\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pen or pencil<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Highlighter, sticky notes (<strong>recommended<\/strong>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>PPE<\/strong> for facility tour (vest and safety boots required)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Basic calculator (required for <strong>landfill<\/strong> and <strong>transfer station<\/strong> exams; <mark class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\"><strong>cell phones&nbsp;are not allowed<\/strong><\/mark>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ruler or engineering scale (required for <strong>landfill<\/strong> exam only)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Students with disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, may contact&nbsp;the Training Coordinator from the list shown <a href=\"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/12\/Staff-contact-list-updated-2025-12-26.pdf\">here <\/a>to request any necessary accommodations at the course location when registering for the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"additionaltrainingopportunities\">Additional Training Opportunities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Approved alternative training courses offering 24 CEU\u2019s or more are also available to obtain recertification, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/swana.org\/training-certification\/find-a-course\/training-course\/manager-of-landfill-operations-(molo)\">SWANA Manager of Landfill Operations Training Course (flexible dates) \u2013 online or in-person<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/swana.org\/training-certification\/find-a-course\/training-course\/transfer-station-management\">SWANA Manager of Transfer Station Management Course (flexible dates) \u2013 online or in-person<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/swana.org\/training-certification\/find-a-course\/training-course\/managing-recycling-systems\">SWANA Managing Recycling Systems Course (flexible dates) \u2013 online or in-person<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/swana.org\/training-certification\/find-a-course\/training-course\/managing-composting-programs\">SWANA Managing Composting Programs Course (flexible dates) \u2013 online or in-person<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Additional information and resources for C.EU.s may also be found with our partners below:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nmswana.com\/\">New Mexico SWANA, Roadrunner Chapter<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.recyclenewmexico.com\/\">New Mexico Recycling Coalition<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Requests for Alternate C.E.U.s can be submitted through the Alternate C.E.U. Approval Form. You may complete other alternative training courses with a total of 24 hours of coursework to obtain recertification. Prior approval by the Resource Recovery Bureau is required. Contact the Training Coordinator by email from the list shown <a href=\"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/12\/Staff-contact-list-updated-2025-12-26.pdf\">here <\/a>to get prior approval for any other alternative training opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Operator Certification Requirements Operators of solid waste facilities are required to be certified. See below for additional information on these requirements. To become a certified operator an individual shall: Operator certification is valid for 3 years from the date of issuance. Renewal of a certification shall be obtained by submitting an application at least 30 [&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-12","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":339,"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12\/revisions\/339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.env.nm.gov\/solid-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}