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Wisconsin POWTS Inspector Exam — 100 Original Practice Questions
Licensing, Scope & Responsibilities (1–20)
1. Which Wisconsin Administrative Code chapter defines the licensing requirements for
POWTS Inspectors?
A) SPS 381 B) SPS 305 C) SPS 383 D) SPS 384
Answer: B. SPS 305 specifically addresses licensing, certifications, and registrations for
POWTS inspectors .
2. What is the passing score required on the POWTS Inspector certification examination?
A) 60% B) 65% C) 70% D) 75%
Answer: C. The exam is open book, and the passing score is 70% .
3. A certified POWTS Inspector may inspect privately owned wastewater treatment systems
as an authorized representative of:
A) Only the Department of Natural Resources B) The Department or a local governmental
unit C) Only the EPA D) Only the property owner
Answer: B. SPS 305.66 states a certified POWTS inspector may inspect POWTS as an
authorized representative of the department or a local governmental unit .
4. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of a certified POWTS Inspector?
A) Maintain a record of inspections made including dates and findings B) Provide a copy of
the inspection record to the system owner or agent C) Design the POWTS system D) Make
available inspection records to the Department upon request
Answer: C. Inspectors must maintain records, provide copies to owners, and make records
available to the Department. Design is not an inspector responsibility .
5. How many hours of continuing education are required to renew a POWTS Inspector
certification?
A) 12 hours B) 18 hours C) 24 hours D) 30 hours
Answer: C. Renewal requires at least 24 hours of acceptable continuing education prior to
the expiration date .
6. Which of the following licenses qualifies a person to apply for POWTS Inspector
certification without taking the exam?
A) Registered Nurse B) Master Plumber C) Electrician D) Soil Tester
Answer: B. Master Plumber, Master Plumber-Restricted Service, Journeyman Plumber, or
Journeyman Plumber-Restricted Service license holders may apply without examination .
7. What is the application and exam fee for the POWTS Inspector certification?
A) $15 application + $25 exam B) $25 application + $15 exam C) $40 application only D) $100
total
Answer: A. The fee consists of a $15.00 application fee and a $25.00 exam fee .
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8. Upon passing the exam, what fee must be paid for the credential?
A) $15 B) $25 C) $40 prorated credential fee D) $100
Answer: C. When the exam is passed, the applicant pays a $40.00 prorated credential fee
based on a 4-year term from June 30 .
9. A POWTS Inspector credential is effective for how many years?
A) 2 years B) 3 years C) 4 years D) 5 years
Answer: C. The credential is effective for four years from June 30 .
10. What must a POWTS Inspector carry while performing inspections?
A) A copy of the property deed B) The credential issued by the Department C) A letter from
the property owner D) A soil test report
Answer: B. A person who holds the credential shall carry it on their person while performing
the activities permitted under the credential .
11. The POWTS Inspector exam is:
A) Closed book B) Open book C) Oral only D) Online only
Answer: B. The exam is open code book .
12. Which reference materials may be brought into the exam?
A) Loose papers B) Sticky notes C) Printed notes in a three-ring binder and bound code
books D) Previous exams
Answer: C. Printed notes are allowed if three-hole punched in a binder, and bound code
books are permitted. Practice exams are not allowed .
13. When there is a change to Wisconsin Administrative Codes, exams will cover the new
code:
A) Immediately B) One month after the effective date C) Three months after the effective
date D) One year after the effective date
Answer: C. When there is a change to Wisconsin codes, exams will cover the new codes
three months after the effective date .
14. Which of the following is a method to obtain POWTS Inspector certification?
A) Taking and passing the certification examination B) Submitting evidence of holding a
current Master Plumber license C) Both A and B D) Neither A nor B
Answer: C. Both examination and proof of current plumber certification are valid methods .
15. A POWTS Inspector may inspect:
A) Public municipal sewer systems B) Privately owned wastewater treatment systems C)
Industrial wastewater treatment plants D) Stormwater drainage systems
Answer: B. The certification authorizes inspection of privately owned wastewater treatment
systems (POWTS) .
16. The POWTS Inspector certification examination covers which of the following?
A) Only SPS 305 B) Chapter 145 Wis. Stats. and SPS 305 and SPS 381-387 C) Only SPS 383 D)
Wisconsin POWTS Inspector Exam — 100 Original Practice Questions
Licensing, Scope & Responsibilities (1–20)
1. Which Wisconsin Administrative Code chapter defines the licensing requirements for
POWTS Inspectors?
A) SPS 381 B) SPS 305 C) SPS 383 D) SPS 384
Answer: B. SPS 305 specifically addresses licensing, certifications, and registrations for
POWTS inspectors .
2. What is the passing score required on the POWTS Inspector certification examination?
A) 60% B) 65% C) 70% D) 75%
Answer: C. The exam is open book, and the passing score is 70% .
3. A certified POWTS Inspector may inspect privately owned wastewater treatment systems
as an authorized representative of:
A) Only the Department of Natural Resources B) The Department or a local governmental
unit C) Only the EPA D) Only the property owner
Answer: B. SPS 305.66 states a certified POWTS inspector may inspect POWTS as an
authorized representative of the department or a local governmental unit .
4. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of a certified POWTS Inspector?
A) Maintain a record of inspections made including dates and findings B) Provide a copy of
the inspection record to the system owner or agent C) Design the POWTS system D) Make
available inspection records to the Department upon request
Answer: C. Inspectors must maintain records, provide copies to owners, and make records
available to the Department. Design is not an inspector responsibility .
5. How many hours of continuing education are required to renew a POWTS Inspector
certification?
A) 12 hours B) 18 hours C) 24 hours D) 30 hours
Answer: C. Renewal requires at least 24 hours of acceptable continuing education prior to
the expiration date .
6. Which of the following licenses qualifies a person to apply for POWTS Inspector
certification without taking the exam?
A) Registered Nurse B) Master Plumber C) Electrician D) Soil Tester
Answer: B. Master Plumber, Master Plumber-Restricted Service, Journeyman Plumber, or
Journeyman Plumber-Restricted Service license holders may apply without examination .
7. What is the application and exam fee for the POWTS Inspector certification?
A) $15 application + $25 exam B) $25 application + $15 exam C) $40 application only D) $100
total
Answer: A. The fee consists of a $15.00 application fee and a $25.00 exam fee .
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8. Upon passing the exam, what fee must be paid for the credential?
A) $15 B) $25 C) $40 prorated credential fee D) $100
Answer: C. When the exam is passed, the applicant pays a $40.00 prorated credential fee
based on a 4-year term from June 30 .
9. A POWTS Inspector credential is effective for how many years?
A) 2 years B) 3 years C) 4 years D) 5 years
Answer: C. The credential is effective for four years from June 30 .
10. What must a POWTS Inspector carry while performing inspections?
A) A copy of the property deed B) The credential issued by the Department C) A letter from
the property owner D) A soil test report
Answer: B. A person who holds the credential shall carry it on their person while performing
the activities permitted under the credential .
11. The POWTS Inspector exam is:
A) Closed book B) Open book C) Oral only D) Online only
Answer: B. The exam is open code book .
12. Which reference materials may be brought into the exam?
A) Loose papers B) Sticky notes C) Printed notes in a three-ring binder and bound code
books D) Previous exams
Answer: C. Printed notes are allowed if three-hole punched in a binder, and bound code
books are permitted. Practice exams are not allowed .
13. When there is a change to Wisconsin Administrative Codes, exams will cover the new
code:
A) Immediately B) One month after the effective date C) Three months after the effective
date D) One year after the effective date
Answer: C. When there is a change to Wisconsin codes, exams will cover the new codes
three months after the effective date .
14. Which of the following is a method to obtain POWTS Inspector certification?
A) Taking and passing the certification examination B) Submitting evidence of holding a
current Master Plumber license C) Both A and B D) Neither A nor B
Answer: C. Both examination and proof of current plumber certification are valid methods .
15. A POWTS Inspector may inspect:
A) Public municipal sewer systems B) Privately owned wastewater treatment systems C)
Industrial wastewater treatment plants D) Stormwater drainage systems
Answer: B. The certification authorizes inspection of privately owned wastewater treatment
systems (POWTS) .
16. The POWTS Inspector certification examination covers which of the following?
A) Only SPS 305 B) Chapter 145 Wis. Stats. and SPS 305 and SPS 381-387 C) Only SPS 383 D)
