For:
Technicians
Course Format:
Live-Online
Field professionals who service POU/POE residential treatment systems gain a higher level of professionalism from pursuing a CST certification. The goal of the training is for anyone servicing existing equipment to be able to not only determine and correct equipment failure, but also be able to identify the purpose of the equipment for an application and evaluate appropriate equipment size. The ability to holistically evaluate existing equipment helps minimize errors and reduce callbacks.
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2-course series
10 months
Winter classes start the week of Jan. 20, 2026
Offered at two different times for East Coast/West Coast convenience
Tuesdays
8–9am ET/9-10am PT
Thursdays
12-1pm ET/9-10am PT
This is a 2-course series with 1 course led by expert instructors with live, remote classes and online assignments, and a 2nd self-study module. Learn to:
- Identify the problems caused by aesthetic contaminants and test for them
- Interpret drinking water reports
- Apply and size POU/POE treatment technologies for aesthetic and drinking water contaminants
- Troubleshoot POU/POE treatment systems (Self-paced course)
- Resolve ethical dilemmas and comply with anti-trust regulations
- Relevant Field Experience- Minimum of six months experience servicing POU/POE water treatment equipment in the B2C market
- Complete Prerequisite Coursework- Instructor-Led Training
Course 1: Foundation of POU/E Water Treatment
Course 2: Troubleshooting Module (self-paced, online) - Pass Certified Service Technician Exam
- Maintain certification/recertification requirements
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Foundation of POU/E Water Treatment
For:
Service techs
Sales Reps
System Designers
Dealers
Certification Coursework:
CWS/CWR/CST/CTD
Course Format:
Live-Online
This 23-week course is WQA’s Introductory Instructor-led course on POU/POE Water Treatment and the first course required for the CWS/CWR/CST/CTD certification titles. It walks the learner through identifying aesthetic problems, onsite testing, interpreting water analyses for aesthetic contaminants, and drinking water regulations. It also discusses selecting and correctly sizing treatment equipment for aesthetic contaminants. The course includes an overview of consumer protection laws, WQA’s Code of Ethics, and the product certification process and standards.
2 hours/week (includes time for homework)
23 weeks
Offered at two different times for East Coast/West Coast convenience
Instructor-Led Training
Troubleshooting Training
For:
Service technicians
Certification Coursework:
CST
Course Format:
Self-paced
Online
This course includes a troubleshooting guide to POU and POE treatment equipment and a review of installation practices. It also includes an overview of drinking water health-impacting contaminants and the treatment technologies that address them. It is the final module required to be eligible to take the CST exam.
40-50 hours
self-paced
Self-paced Training
- Hardness test kit (not strips)
- TDS meter
- pH meter or pH test kit (not strips)
- Chlorine test kit (not strips)
- Iron test kit
- A copy of a drinking water analysis from a certified lab
Complete Certification Bundle
Certified Service Technician (CST) Bundle
For:
Service techs
System Designers
Dealers
The Service Technician Training bundle includes:
Course 1: Foundation of POU/E Water Treatment
Course 2: Troubleshooting Training
Certified Service Technician (CST) Exam Fee
Pricing
$1,659*
Members
$3,299*
Non-members
*Price includes 3% convenience fee
Instructor-Led Training
Self-paced Training
WQA offers accelerated pathways to achieve the CST.
For field professionals with 2+ years of experience servicing existing POU/POE residential treatment systems. Focuses on troubleshooting and correcting underlying problems.
- 2+ years of experience specifying problem water treatment for B2C applications
- Pass Two Challenge Tests for Assessing Water Quality & Application and Sizing of POU/POE Water Treatment for Aesthetic Contaminants
- Complete self-paced online Ethics Course
- Pass Certification Exam
CST Accelerated Path Bundle:
Two Assessment Tests
Ethics Course
CST Exam **
** Certified Installers who earned their CI title prior to 2022 do not need to complete any prerequisites and should contact eduation@wqa.org for information on taking the CST exam
* Optional
Offered at two different times for East Coast/West Coast convenience
Winter
Start Date: Jan 20, 2026 OR Jan 23, 2026 | 23-week course
Tuesdays 8-9 am ET/5-6 am PT OR Thursdays 12-1 pm ET/9-10 am PT
Spring
Start Date: May 19, 2026 OR May 20, 2026 | 23-week course
Tuesdays 11 am-12 pm ET/8-9 am PT OR Wednesdays 8-9 am ET/5-6 am PT