Certification Hierarchy

CA/NV Section Staff responsible for the entire certification program (liaison between members and volunteers)

Governing Board – volunteers and Section staff responsible for all Section programs (Certification Director serves on this board)

Certification Director and Assistant Certification Director-(volunteers appointed by the Section Chair) oversee the six

certification committees and their Specialists

Certification Committees (include Chair, Vice Chair and members) – guide the program for the specific discipline

The People Behind the Program

CA/NV Section staffGina Enriquez – all applications for certification end up in Gina’s inbox

Linda Contreras– oversees education and certification programs

The VolunteersCertification CommitteeEMP’s, PIC’s, Proctor’s

Collaboration between staff and volunteers makes the program run smoothly

Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester and Cross-Connection Control Program Specialist Certification Committee

Committee Members Chair – Ben Bennett

Vice Chair – Pete Peters

Secretary – Henry Chang

Member – Jeff Flynt

Member – Jeremy Cox

Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester and Cross-Connection Control Program Specialist Certification Committee

The Committee provides guidance and support for the Backflow Assembly Tester and Cross-Connection Control Program Specialist Certification Programs Meets at least twice a year during Spring and Fall

CA-NV AWWA Conferences Made up of industry experts who are extremely

active and passionate about backflow prevention and committed to the excellence of the program

The Committee is always looking for input from the water community

Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester and Cross Connection Control Program

Specialist Certification Committee

– Need input from the community of testers and specialists

– Anyone may come to the meetings to add their input

– Currently there are spaces available on the committee

Becoming an AWWA Certified Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester

Read the Rules They are available at WWW.CA-NV-AWWA.ORG General Certification Procedure

General Qualifications

Examination

Recertification

Revocation of Certification

Certification Fees

Becoming an AWWA Certified Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester

New Backflow Assembly Testers

• Successfully complete a Course of Instruction covering the Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Expected Range of Knowledge; or show two years of experience in the field testing of backflow prevention assemblies (for example, a certificate issued by an agency having local jurisdiction).

• Submit an application to the CA/NV Section office at least 20 days prior to the examination date.

The Exam• Three Part Exam

– 100 Questions Multiple Choice on General Knowledge

– 25 Questions Multiple Choice on Troubleshooting of the Backflow Assemblies

– Hands on performance exam

• Applicants must test four

backflow prevention assemblies in front

of a performance proctor

• Certification is valid for 3 years

Backflow Assembly Tester Re-Certification

• Must take another written exam

– 50 General Knowledge questions

– Still 25 assembly troubleshooting questions

– Still must take the performance exam

Becoming an AWWA Certified Cross-Connection Control Program Specialist

Read the Rules They are available at WWW.CA-NV-AWWA.ORG General Certification Procedure

General Qualifications

Examination

Renewal (12 contact hours required or retake the examination)

Revocation of Certification

Certification Fees

Becoming an AWWA Certified Cross-Connection Control Program Specialist

Becoming a Certified Cross-Connection Control Program Specialist

• Have a current CA-NV AWWA Backflow Assembly Tester Certificate

• Successfully complete a Course of Instruction covering the administration of a cross-connection control program Expected Range of Knowledge; or show two years of experience in the field conducting cross-connection surveys of water distribution systems and program administration.

• Submit an application to the CA-NV AWWA Section office at least 20 days prior to the examination date.

The Exam• One Exam

– 100 Questions Multiple Choice on General Knowledge

• Certification is valid for 2 years

Cross-Connection Control Program Specialist Certification Renewal

• 12 contact hours needed to renew

• Or retake the 100 question exam

Backflow Certification Program

Statistics

• 3,300 certified Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers

• 1,125 certified Cross-Connection Control Program Specialists

New Backflow Assembly Tester Proctors

• Anyone who has recertified once as a tester may apply to become a proctor.– No longer need to be a CCCS to be a proctor.– Could have been a proctor at another agency and

become an AWWA proctor. Just show AWWA proof and get you BF tester certification and proctor certification with AWWA.

– Must attend proctor training. (Get 8 contact hours for this.)

– Must proctor at least once per year. (We have fun.)– Get out of paying your fees for backflow testers

recertification exam.– Proctor of the year award.

The Proctor Exam

• One Part Exam

– Mock performance exam

• Certification is valid for 2 years

• Recertification requires additional training and another mock performance exam

Proctor In Charge (PIC)• Anyone who has been a performance proctor

for 3 years may apply to be a PIC.

– No longer need to be a CCCS to be a PIC.

– Must attend PIC training.

– Oversee the proctors and the exam

– Review exam sites

• Certification is good for 2 years

Exam Monitor Proctor (EMP)

• New Position Available– Oversee the written exam

– Are independent of the backflow prevention assembly testers or cross connection program specialists certification program

– They have been added to add security to the new exams

– The Section needs more EMPs. Please talk to Gina about this if you know anyone or would like to be one yourself.