Building Knowledge, Skills and Confidence
WQA offers accelerated pathways to achieve the CWS, CST, CWR, CI, and CTD designations.
Professionals already holding a WQA certification may be exempt from some or all of the prerequisites below and should contact the Professional Certification & Training department at education@wqa.org or 630-505-0160 for more information.
Certified Water Specialist Accelerated Path
For professionals with 2+ years of experience selling and configuring treatment equipment and multistage treatment trains for residential problem water applications, direct to consumers.
Requirements for CWS Designation
✓ 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 problem water applications in the B2C market
✓ Complete self-paced online Ethics Course
✓ Pass Certification Exam
CWS Accelerated Path Bundle:
Two Assessment Tests
Ethics Course
CWS Exam
* Optional
Certified Water Treatment Representative Accelerated Path
For professionals with 2+ years of experience selling and configuring treatment options for aesthetic contaminants, direct to consumers.
Requirements for CWR Designation
✓ 2+ years of experience selling POU/POE water treatment equipment in a B2C market
✓ Pass One Challenge Test for Assessing Water Quality
✓ Complete self-paced online Ethics Course
✓ Pass Certification Exam
CWR Accelerated Path Bundle:
One Assessment Test
Ethics Course
CWR Exam
* Optional
Certified Installer Accelerated Path
For professionals with 2+ years of experience placing POE and POU water treatment in residences. Focuses on safe installation, code compliance, and general water treatment equipment knowledge.
Requirements for CI Designation
✓ 2+ years of experience in POU/POE water treatment equipment
✓ Complete a two-hour review video
✓ Complete self-paced online Ethics Course
✓ Pass Certification Exam
CI Accelerated Path Bundle:
Two-Hour Review Video
Ethics Course
CI Exam
* Optional
Certified Treatment Designer Accelerated Path
For those with 3+ years of experience in business-to-business technical sales or technical support, R&D engineers, public health professionals or others involved in supporting selection, troubleshooting and maintenance of POU/POE water treatment technologies and equipment.
Requirements for CTD Designation
✓ 3+ years of experience in B2B experience in technical sales/technical support of POU/POE equipment & applications
✓ Complete self-paced online Ethics Course
✓ Pass Certification Exam
CTD Accelerated Path Bundle:
Ethics Course
CTD Exam
* Optional
Certified Service Technician Accelerated Path
For field professionals with 2+ years of experience servicing existing POU/POE residential treatment systems. Focuses on troubleshooting and correcting underlying problems.
Requirements for CST Designation
✓ 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 problem water applications in the B2C market
✓ 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
To achieve any WQA-certified designation, the candidate must complete the appropriate prerequisites, pass a comprehensive exam and agree to abide by the WQA Code of Ethics for the water treatment industry.
While the training is structured to provide the certification candidate with a stronger understanding of the concepts and topics covered on the certification exams, completion of training does not guarantee a passing score on the exam. Review exam blueprints and study guides and requirements for taking an online exam.