Operator Examinations - Be prepared before you apply!

As a friendly reminder, the operator examination eligibility period changed on March 1, 2024, from 180 days to 100 days. This means that upon examination application approval by CCWP, operators have 100 days to pass that exam. CCWP does not offer extensions or refunds to operators who do not pass the exam within that 100-day window and PSI requires 30 days between exam attempts. This means that if an operator does not pass an exam, while they may schedule a re-test at any time, the operator must wait 30 days to take the exam again. 

So, we recommend that operators study and prepare for an exam before submitting an exam application! 

Water Professionals International (WPI) provides various examination resources (including the Need-to-Know Criteria for each exam type), and you can also find other helpful links to study resources on CCWP’s website.  

For tips on managing testing anxiety, check out this Aqua Talk article on Equipping Operators with Skills to Manage and Overcome Testing Anxiety. 

Important things to keep in mind: 

• Use the CCWP Portal to submit an exam application.
• If you do not pass the exam within the 100-day eligibility period, do not re-apply on the CCWP Portal until at least 30 days after your unsuccessful exam attempt. 
• Schedule your exam with PSI, not CCWP. You can either go to a testing center (Find a Testing Center) or use PSI’s remote proctoring option (PSI Online Proctoring Compatibility Check) to take your certification exam. Be sure to know the rules and expectations before you choose which option is best for you. More information can be found on CCWP’s website or in PSI’s Candidate Handbook for Colorado. 
• Plan accordingly! Winter weather can greatly impact travel to test centers and PSI may not issue refunds due to inclement weather. Consider contacting PSI to verify your test center is open before you travel. 
• The CCWP exam application fee is $50; the PSI examination fee is $104 per exam attempt. 

If you have any questions about the examination process, feel free to contact CCWP (719-225-7339 or info@coloradocwp.com) or Jessica Morgan (cdphe.facilityoperator@state.co.us). 

➽ Jessica Morgan WWFOCB Liasson