Earning your WQA certification demonstrates your commitment to high professional standards, growing your expertise and improving customer service. Let’s get started!
General Requirements
To achieve any WQA-certified designation, the candidate must complete the appropriate course work,* pass a comprehensive exam and agree to abide by the WQA Code of Ethics for the water treatment industry.
Certification is valid for three years, but you can maintain your certification by meeting continuing education requirements and paying a recertification fee.
WQA membership is not a requirement for participation in the WQA Professional Certification program.
*Candidates for certification with less than two years of relevant experience must complete prerequisite training courses to be eligible for examination. 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.
Questions? Contact WQA’s Education Department at education@wqa.org or call us at 630-955-1589.
Certification Titles and Specific Requirements
Core Level
Certified Water Treatment Representative (CWR)
For professionals selling and configuring treatment options for aesthetic contaminants.
Eligibility for this certification requires:
- Completion of two modules in the Water Specialist/Water Treatment Representative education program
- Passing the Certified Water Treatment Representative exam
- A minimum six months’ experience selling POU/POE water treatment equipment in the B2C market.
Certified Water Specialist (CWS)
For professionals selling and configuring treatment equipment and multistage treatment trains for residential problem water applications.
Eligibility for this certification requires:
- Completion of three modules in the Water Specialist education program
- Passing the Certified Water Specialist exam
- A minimum six months’ experience applying POU/POE water treatment for problem water applications in the B2C market.
Certification for Experienced Personnel:
Candidates with 2+ years of experience specifying problem water treatment for B2C applications can earn the certification by:
- Passing module tests for Assessing Water Quality & Application and Sizing of POU/POE Treatment for Aesthetic Contaminants
- Completing an online ethics course
- Passing the Certified Water Specialist exam
Contact WQA’s Education Department at education@wqa.org or 630-955-1589 for details.
Certified Service Technician (CST)
For field professionals servicing existing POU/POE residential treatment systems. Focuses on troubleshooting and correcting underlying problems.
Eligibility for this certification is under review.
Please contact WQA at education@wqa.org or 630-955-1589 for more information on the training program for this title and other requirements.
Certified Treatment Designer (CTD)
Designed for those in business-to-business sales and support, technical sales, technical support, R&D engineers, public health professionals or others involved in troubleshooting and maintenance of POU/POE water treatment technologies and equipment.
- One year’s experience
- Completion of the self-paced, online Water Treatment Design course. The first three of the four modules of the Water Treatment Design course may be completed as instructor-led training rather than self-paced. See the Water Specialist Program for upcoming course dates and per-module pricing.
- Passing the Certified Treatment Designer exam
Certification for Experienced Personnel:
Candidates with 3+ years B2B experience in technical sales/technical support of POU/POE equipment & applications can earn the certification by:
- Completing an online ethics course
- Passing the Certified Treatment Designer exam
Contact WQA’s Education Department at education@wqa.org or 630-955-1589 for details.
Certified Installer (CI)
For professionals placing POE and POU water treatment in residences. Focuses on safe installation, code compliance, and general water treatment equipment knowledge.
Eligibility for this certification requires:
- Completion of the Installer training course
- Passing the Certified Installer Exam
- A minimum six months’ experience installing POU/POE water treatment equipment.
Certification for Experienced Personnel:
Candidates with 2+ years of experience installing POU/POE water treatment equipment can earn the certification by:
- Completing a two-hour review session and an online ethics course
- Passing the Certified Installer exam
Contact WQA’s Education Department at education@wqa.org or 630-955-1589 for details.
Advanced Level
Master Water Specialist (MWS)
Reflects broad experience in treatment design for health-related contaminants and problem water applications.
Eligibility for this certification requires:
- A current CWS certification
- Five years’ experience in problem water treatment in the B2C market
- Completion of the Advanced Design module
- Passing the Master Water Specialist exam
Contact WQA’s Education Department at education@wqa.org or 630-955-1589 for details.
No longer offered: CCO program
The Certified Contractual Operator for Very Small Systems (CCO) Program provided persons in the POE/POU water quality improvement industry with the education and expertise needed to serve as contractual operators for very small systems and the credentials that document their qualifications to provide operator services to such systems. The certification program was introduced in 1996 and still has some title holders, but the program is no longer offered through WQA.