CWEA Advanced Water Treatment Operator (AWTO) Certification
CWEA ADVANCED WATER TREATMENT OPERATOR (AWTO) CERTIFICATION |
LATEST EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS - VERIFIED ANSWERS
CWEA Advanced Water Treatment Operator (AWTO) Certification
1. Which two organizations jointly own and manage the Advanced Water
Treatment Operator (AWTO) certification program?
A. CWEA and the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC)
B. California Water Environment Association (CWEA) and the California-
Nevada Section of AWWA (CA-NV AWWA)
C. CWEA and the State Water Resources Control Board
D. CA-NV AWWA and the U.S. EPA
ANSWER : B. California Water Environment Association (CWEA) and
the California-Nevada Section of AWWA (CA-NV AWWA) — AWTO is
jointly owned and managed by CWEA and CA-NV AWWA.
2. The AWTO certification program was developed to address a growing need
in which area of the water sector?
A. Potable reuse of recycled water
B. Groundwater remediation
C. Stormwater capture
D. Seawater desalination
ANSWER : A. Potable reuse of recycled water — AWTO was created as
advanced treatment facilities for recycled and potable reuse water expanded.
3. Which state agency participated as an observer during development of the
AWTO certification program?
A. California State Water Resources Control Board
Page 1 of 55
, CWEA Advanced Water Treatment Operator (AWTO) Certification
B. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
C. California Air Resources Board
D. California Coastal Commission
ANSWER : A. California State Water Resources Control Board — State
Water Board observers were involved throughout AWTO's development.
4. One stated objective of the AWT Operator Certification Committee was to:
A. Build public trust in advanced water treatment operators
B. Reduce operator licensing fees statewide
C. Eliminate the need for Grade 3 wastewater certification
D. Replace the Water Treatment Operator certification entirely
ANSWER : A. Build public trust in advanced water treatment operators
— Building public trust in AWT operators was a founding goal of the
committee.
5. The AWTO program supports operator credentialing for which two
categories of water?
A. Recycled water and potable reuse water
B. Bottled water and agricultural water
C. Stormwater and greywater
D. Seawater and brackish groundwater
ANSWER : A. Recycled water and potable reuse water — AWTO addresses
both recycled water and potable reuse applications.
6. As of program information available, roughly how many California
facilities were operating advanced water treatment, with additional facilities
in permitting?
A. About 11 operating, about 7 more in permitting
B. About 100 operating statewide
C. About 3 operating, 1 more planned
D. About 50 operating, 20 more planned
ANSWER : A. About 11 operating, about 7 more in permitting — Roughly
eleven California facilities were operating with about seven more in the
permitting pipeline.
7. The AWTO Candidate Handbook and program resources are published on
which website?
A. awtoperator.org
Page 2 of 55
, CWEA Advanced Water Treatment Operator (AWTO) Certification
B. waterboards.ca.gov/awto
C. cwea.org/awto
D. ca-nvawwa.org/certify
ANSWER : A. awtoperator.org — awtoperator.org hosts the AWTO
Candidate Handbook and related materials.
8. Which organization maintains the OWEN (Online Wastewater Education
Network) course listings used for AWTO exam preparation?
A. AWWA national
B. CWEA
C. NSF International
D. U.S. EPA
ANSWER : B. CWEA — CWEA operates OWEN, which lists AWTO
certification prep courses.
9. The AWT Operator Certification Committee began its work roughly how
long before the program's planned launch exams?
A. About ten years
B. About three years
C. About one year
D. About six months
ANSWER : B. About three years — The committee worked for
approximately three years developing the program before exams launched.
10. A primary reason for creating a dedicated advanced treatment operator
credential, separate from standard operator certification, is that:
A. State law prohibited standard operators from working at any treatment plant
B. Existing certifications had expired for all operators
C. AWT processes such as membranes and advanced oxidation require
specialized knowledge beyond conventional treatment
D. Federal law required a new license category
ANSWER : C. AWT processes such as membranes and advanced
oxidation require specialized knowledge beyond conventional treatment —
AWT technologies demand specialized competencies not covered by
conventional operator certification.
Grade Levels & Qualifications
11. How many active grade levels exist in the AWTO certification program?
Page 3 of 55
, CWEA Advanced Water Treatment Operator (AWTO) Certification
A. Four
B. Two
C. Five
D. Three (AWT3, AWT4, AWT5)
ANSWER : D. Three (AWT3, AWT4, AWT5) — AWTO has three active
grades: AWT3, AWT4, and AWT5.
12. The AWT3 (Journey level) certification requires the applicant to currently
hold:
A. A Grade 1 Distribution Operator certification only
B. A Grade 3 or higher Water Treatment or Wastewater Treatment Operator
certification in CA or NV
C. An engineering degree
D. No prior certification
ANSWER : B. A Grade 3 or higher Water Treatment or Wastewater
Treatment Operator certification in CA or NV — AWT3 requires a current
Grade 3+ Water or Wastewater Treatment Operator certification.
13. To qualify for AWT4, a candidate must pass the AWT3 exam and have
how many years of AWT process experience?
A. 10 years
B. 5 years
C. 6 months
D. 2 years
ANSWER : D. 2 years — AWT4 requires passing AWT3 plus two years of
AWT process experience.
14. To qualify for AWT5, a candidate must pass the AWT4 exam and
accumulate experience structured as:
A. 1 year total with any process
B. 3 years supervising distribution operators
C. 5 years with a single process only
D. 2 years with one AWT process plus 1 additional year with at least two AWT
processes
ANSWER : D. 2 years with one AWT process plus 1 additional year with
at least two AWT processes — AWT5 requires 2 years with one process plus 1
more year with at least two AWT processes, after passing AWT4.
Page 4 of 55
CWEA ADVANCED WATER TREATMENT OPERATOR (AWTO) CERTIFICATION |
LATEST EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS - VERIFIED ANSWERS
CWEA Advanced Water Treatment Operator (AWTO) Certification
1. Which two organizations jointly own and manage the Advanced Water
Treatment Operator (AWTO) certification program?
A. CWEA and the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC)
B. California Water Environment Association (CWEA) and the California-
Nevada Section of AWWA (CA-NV AWWA)
C. CWEA and the State Water Resources Control Board
D. CA-NV AWWA and the U.S. EPA
ANSWER : B. California Water Environment Association (CWEA) and
the California-Nevada Section of AWWA (CA-NV AWWA) — AWTO is
jointly owned and managed by CWEA and CA-NV AWWA.
2. The AWTO certification program was developed to address a growing need
in which area of the water sector?
A. Potable reuse of recycled water
B. Groundwater remediation
C. Stormwater capture
D. Seawater desalination
ANSWER : A. Potable reuse of recycled water — AWTO was created as
advanced treatment facilities for recycled and potable reuse water expanded.
3. Which state agency participated as an observer during development of the
AWTO certification program?
A. California State Water Resources Control Board
Page 1 of 55
, CWEA Advanced Water Treatment Operator (AWTO) Certification
B. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
C. California Air Resources Board
D. California Coastal Commission
ANSWER : A. California State Water Resources Control Board — State
Water Board observers were involved throughout AWTO's development.
4. One stated objective of the AWT Operator Certification Committee was to:
A. Build public trust in advanced water treatment operators
B. Reduce operator licensing fees statewide
C. Eliminate the need for Grade 3 wastewater certification
D. Replace the Water Treatment Operator certification entirely
ANSWER : A. Build public trust in advanced water treatment operators
— Building public trust in AWT operators was a founding goal of the
committee.
5. The AWTO program supports operator credentialing for which two
categories of water?
A. Recycled water and potable reuse water
B. Bottled water and agricultural water
C. Stormwater and greywater
D. Seawater and brackish groundwater
ANSWER : A. Recycled water and potable reuse water — AWTO addresses
both recycled water and potable reuse applications.
6. As of program information available, roughly how many California
facilities were operating advanced water treatment, with additional facilities
in permitting?
A. About 11 operating, about 7 more in permitting
B. About 100 operating statewide
C. About 3 operating, 1 more planned
D. About 50 operating, 20 more planned
ANSWER : A. About 11 operating, about 7 more in permitting — Roughly
eleven California facilities were operating with about seven more in the
permitting pipeline.
7. The AWTO Candidate Handbook and program resources are published on
which website?
A. awtoperator.org
Page 2 of 55
, CWEA Advanced Water Treatment Operator (AWTO) Certification
B. waterboards.ca.gov/awto
C. cwea.org/awto
D. ca-nvawwa.org/certify
ANSWER : A. awtoperator.org — awtoperator.org hosts the AWTO
Candidate Handbook and related materials.
8. Which organization maintains the OWEN (Online Wastewater Education
Network) course listings used for AWTO exam preparation?
A. AWWA national
B. CWEA
C. NSF International
D. U.S. EPA
ANSWER : B. CWEA — CWEA operates OWEN, which lists AWTO
certification prep courses.
9. The AWT Operator Certification Committee began its work roughly how
long before the program's planned launch exams?
A. About ten years
B. About three years
C. About one year
D. About six months
ANSWER : B. About three years — The committee worked for
approximately three years developing the program before exams launched.
10. A primary reason for creating a dedicated advanced treatment operator
credential, separate from standard operator certification, is that:
A. State law prohibited standard operators from working at any treatment plant
B. Existing certifications had expired for all operators
C. AWT processes such as membranes and advanced oxidation require
specialized knowledge beyond conventional treatment
D. Federal law required a new license category
ANSWER : C. AWT processes such as membranes and advanced
oxidation require specialized knowledge beyond conventional treatment —
AWT technologies demand specialized competencies not covered by
conventional operator certification.
Grade Levels & Qualifications
11. How many active grade levels exist in the AWTO certification program?
Page 3 of 55
, CWEA Advanced Water Treatment Operator (AWTO) Certification
A. Four
B. Two
C. Five
D. Three (AWT3, AWT4, AWT5)
ANSWER : D. Three (AWT3, AWT4, AWT5) — AWTO has three active
grades: AWT3, AWT4, and AWT5.
12. The AWT3 (Journey level) certification requires the applicant to currently
hold:
A. A Grade 1 Distribution Operator certification only
B. A Grade 3 or higher Water Treatment or Wastewater Treatment Operator
certification in CA or NV
C. An engineering degree
D. No prior certification
ANSWER : B. A Grade 3 or higher Water Treatment or Wastewater
Treatment Operator certification in CA or NV — AWT3 requires a current
Grade 3+ Water or Wastewater Treatment Operator certification.
13. To qualify for AWT4, a candidate must pass the AWT3 exam and have
how many years of AWT process experience?
A. 10 years
B. 5 years
C. 6 months
D. 2 years
ANSWER : D. 2 years — AWT4 requires passing AWT3 plus two years of
AWT process experience.
14. To qualify for AWT5, a candidate must pass the AWT4 exam and
accumulate experience structured as:
A. 1 year total with any process
B. 3 years supervising distribution operators
C. 5 years with a single process only
D. 2 years with one AWT process plus 1 additional year with at least two AWT
processes
ANSWER : D. 2 years with one AWT process plus 1 additional year with
at least two AWT processes — AWT5 requires 2 years with one process plus 1
more year with at least two AWT processes, after passing AWT4.
Page 4 of 55
