Full certification requirement

Washington Wastewater Operator Group II

A higher full-certification level requiring more operating experience than Group I.

What education do I need?

High school diploma or GED.

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One year of relevant experience may replace each missing year of education through twelfth grade.

How much operating experience do I need?

Three years of operating experience gained under the direction or supervision of a fully certified operator.

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Up to 67.5 relevant credits or CEUs may substitute for operating experience.
Up to one year and six months of relevant experience may substitute for operating experience.
The rule allows no more than half of Group II operating experience to be replaced with relevant experience.

Do I need to pass an exam?

Pass the exam for the certification level with a Washington-approved passing score after Ecology approves the application.

What comes after this group?

A Group II operator may pursue full Group III when the Group III education, plant-class, experience, and exam requirements are met.

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Maintain certification through the annual renewal process and the three-year professional-growth requirement.

What Conditions Should I Keep in Mind?

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Credits or CEUs used as operating-experience substitutions must be relevant and in excess of required education.
Ecology evaluates the applicant's documented combination of operating, relevant-experience, and education credit.

This is a source-backed informational summary, not an eligibility decision. Ecology reviews the application and supporting records.

Open official application Visit Ecology Contact Ecology

Why am I seeing this?

WAC 173-230-250 — Education and experience requirements for Groups I through IVWashington State Department of EcologyWAC 173-230-250, Table 2 · Verified 2026-07-28

Controls full Group I–IV education and operating-experience requirements, including group-specific caps and conditions for education and relevant-experience substitutions.

View official source

WAC 173-230-270 — Exam requirementsWashington State Department of EcologyWAC 173-230-270 · Verified 2026-07-28

Requires a Washington-approved passing score and provides that exam approval expires after one year unless Ecology grants an extension.

View official source

WAC 173-230-300 — Professional growthWashington State Department of EcologyWAC 173-230-300 · Verified 2026-07-28

Establishes the three-year professional-growth cycle, qualifying methods, repeat-course limit, no carryover, trainer credit, and documentation deadline.

View official source

Certification informationWashington State Department of EcologyEcology Wastewater Operator Certification — Certification information · Verified 2026-07-28

Provides current application, exam administration, operating-experience, OIT, maintenance, reciprocity, study-resource, and contact guidance.

View official source

Instructions for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification ApplicationWashington State Department of EcologyECY 040-2-131, Rev. 6/25, pages 1–7 · Verified 2026-07-28

Current Ecology application and instructions for full certification, OIT, upgrades, retakes, reciprocity, and experience verification.

View official source

Read Education Rules

How much operating experience do I need?

Three years of operating experience gained under the direction or supervision of a fully certified operator.

Learn More

Up to 67.5 relevant credits or CEUs may substitute for operating experience.
Up to one year and six months of relevant experience may substitute for operating experience.
The rule allows no more than half of Group II operating experience to be replaced with relevant experience.

What Conditions Should I Keep in Mind?

Learn More

Credits or CEUs used as operating-experience substitutions must be relevant and in excess of required education.
Ecology evaluates the applicant's documented combination of operating, relevant-experience, and education credit.

This is a source-backed informational summary, not an eligibility decision. Ecology reviews the application and supporting records.

Why am I seeing this?

WAC 173-230-250 — Education and experience requirements for Groups I through IVWashington State Department of EcologyWAC 173-230-250, Table 2 · Verified 2026-07-28

Controls full Group I–IV education and operating-experience requirements, including group-specific caps and conditions for education and relevant-experience substitutions.

View official source

WAC 173-230-270 — Exam requirementsWashington State Department of EcologyWAC 173-230-270 · Verified 2026-07-28

Requires a Washington-approved passing score and provides that exam approval expires after one year unless Ecology grants an extension.

View official source

WAC 173-230-300 — Professional growthWashington State Department of EcologyWAC 173-230-300 · Verified 2026-07-28

Establishes the three-year professional-growth cycle, qualifying methods, repeat-course limit, no carryover, trainer credit, and documentation deadline.

View official source

Certification informationWashington State Department of EcologyEcology Wastewater Operator Certification — Certification information · Verified 2026-07-28

Provides current application, exam administration, operating-experience, OIT, maintenance, reciprocity, study-resource, and contact guidance.

View official source

Instructions for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification ApplicationWashington State Department of EcologyECY 040-2-131, Rev. 6/25, pages 1–7 · Verified 2026-07-28

Current Ecology application and instructions for full certification, OIT, upgrades, retakes, reciprocity, and experience verification.

View official source

Read Education Rules