North Carolina Water Treatment Operator Certification
Program Structure
Water treatment facility operators in North Carolina are certified by the Water Treatment Facility Operators Certification Board under 15A NCAC 18D. Unlike most states, which use a skill-progression ladder (Class 1 through 4, or Grade D through A tied to plant type), North Carolina classifies facilities using a point-based system. Points are assigned based on the source water type and the complexity of the treatment processes employed. The resulting facility classes are:
- Class D-Well — non-community public water systems using groundwater with hypochlorite (chlorine) disinfection as the only treatment.
- Class C — low point-total facilities (1-50 points).
- Class B — mid-range facilities (51-110 points).
- Class A — facilities exceeding 110 points, typically full conventional or advanced