Arkansas Wastewater Collection System Certification: Program Overview
A Voluntary, Not State-Mandated, Credential
Unlike Water Treatment, Distribution, and Wastewater Treatment — which are mandatory licenses issued by ADH or ADEQ — wastewater collection system operator certification in Arkansas is voluntary, administered by the Arkansas Water Environment Association (AWEA) as a tiered, ABC-approved (Association of Boards of Certification) professional program. Operators pursue it to demonstrate competency and, in many cases, because employers or municipalities require it as a condition of employment even though the state itself does not mandate it.
Credential Structure
AWEA's Voluntary Certification Program for Wastewater Collection System Operators runs Class 1 through Class 4, with Class 4 the highest. Certification requires passing a written exam (70% or ab