Pass rates
Where a state publishes its own first-attempt pass rate, we use that figure and cite the state as the source on that state’s pages. Where a state does not publish one, we use an industry-wide approximate figure (commonly cited across the water/wastewater operator field as roughly half of first-time test-takers) rather than inventing a state-specific number. The two are never presented as the same kind of figure.
Exam facts: question counts, time limits, passing scores
These start from the national ABC-standard baseline for each grade (question count, time limit, and the common 70% passing threshold used by most boards) and are replaced with a state’s actual figures as we verify them against that state’s certifying agency. Until verified, a page uses the baseline and is labeled and excluded from search indexing, as described in Editorial Standards.
Grade nomenclature
Every state names its certification levels differently (Grade 1–4, Class A–D, T1–T5, and others). Where we have researched a state, its table on this site reflects that state’s actual designations, mapped to the national Grade 1–4 model so you can compare across states. Unresearched states show the generic Grade 1–4 labels as a placeholder, not as a claim about that state’s actual nomenclature.
What counts as “verified”
A state is marked researched once its agency name, agency website, exam vendor, grade nomenclature, renewal cycle, and continuing-education requirement have each been checked against that state’s own certifying agency, not a secondary or aggregator source.
Keeping this current
Certification requirements change. We re-check state data when we’re notified of a change, when we notice a state agency has updated its program, and on a periodic basis as time allows. If you find something out of date, please let us know.