Backflow Base / Tester certification
Backflow tester certification, state by state.
Who certifies testers in each state, which certificates carry over, where to sit the exam, and how a finished test report reaches the water system.
Last updated .
What carries over
| State | Certifies | ASSE 5110 | ABPA | USC | Other states |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Water system | – | – | – | – |
| Alaska | Water system | – | – | – | – |
| Arizona | State + system | L | L | – | – |
| Arkansas | State | – | – | – | – |
| California | State + system | ✓ | ✓ | – | – |
| Colorado | State + system | ✓ | ✓ | L | – |
| Connecticut | State | – | – | – | – |
| Delaware | State + system | ✓ | – | – | – |
| District of Columbia | Water system | – | – | – | – |
| Florida | Water system | – | – | – | – |
| Georgia | State | – | – | – | – |
| Hawaii | Water system | – | L | – | – |
| Idaho | State | – | – | – | – |
| Illinois | State | – | – | – | – |
| Indiana | State | – | – | – | None |
| Iowa | State | P | P | – | – |
| Kansas | Water system | – | – | – | – |
| Kentucky | Water system | – | – | – | – |
| Louisiana | State + system | ✓ | – | – | – |
| Maine | Water system | L | L | – | – |
| Maryland | Water system | – | – | – | – |
| Massachusetts | State | – | – | – | – |
| Michigan | State + system | R | – | – | – |
| Minnesota | State | R | – | – | – |
| Mississippi | State | – | – | – | – |
| Missouri | State | R | R | – | – |
| Montana | State + system | ✓ | ✓ | – | Any state |
| Nebraska | State | – | – | – | – |
| Nevada | State + system | ✓ | ✓ | – | – |
| New Hampshire | State + system | ✓ | – | – | – |
| New Jersey | State | ✓ | – | – | – |
| New Mexico | Water system | – | – | – | – |
| New York | State | – | – | – | None |
| North Carolina | Water system | – | – | – | – |
| North Dakota | State | – | – | – | – |
| Ohio | State | – | – | – | – |
| Oklahoma | Water system | – | – | – | – |
| Oregon | State | – | – | – | – |
| Pennsylvania | Water system | L | – | – | – |
| Rhode Island | State + system | – | – | – | – |
| South Carolina | State | – | – | – | None |
| South Dakota | Water system | – | L | – | – |
| Tennessee | State | – | – | – | – |
| Texas | State + system | – | – | – | – |
| Utah | State | – | R | – | – |
| Vermont | Water system | – | – | – | – |
| Virginia | State | L | – | – | – |
| Washington | State | – | – | – | – |
| West Virginia | State | – | – | – | – |
| Wisconsin | State | – | – | – | – |
| Wyoming | State + system | ✓ | ✓ | – | – |
✓ accepted as it is. P accepted once you apply, no new exam. R required to get the state certificate. L up to each water system. ✕ not accepted. – not published. Other states: ✓ valid as it is, P apply with no new exam. Few states publish which other states' certificates they take; most that accept outside testers name the national programs instead.
Checked 2026-10-19 against each state's own program pages and rules. Rules change; confirm with the program before you book an exam or a test. Spot something out of date? hello@backflowbase.com.
The field exam
Test procedures for every assembly → The steps we recommend for the field exam.
Backflow glossary → The terms you need to know, in plain words.
States
- Alabama →Set by each water system. Central Alabama Water requires a current certification from an accredited backflow school.
- Alaska →No state tester credential found in the rule. Local programs decide (Juneau runs its own tester certification test).
- Arizona →General tester certification from CA-NV AWWA, ASETT Center, or another ADEQ-approved authority.
- Arkansas →ADH Assembly Tester Technician competency license (Repair Technician license is separate)
- California →Backflow tester certificate from a Water Board-recognized organization (ABPA, ASSE 5110 or CA-NV AWWA).
- Colorado →ABPA or ASSE backflow assembly tester certification.
- Connecticut →CT DPH Backflow Prevention Device Tester certificate.
- Delaware →ASSE-certified backflow tester (per Sussex County citing the Delaware plumbing code)
- District of Columbia →DC Water approval as a backflow service provider (listed provider). Underlying certification not named.
- Florida →Set by each water system; commonly a backflow tester certification (for example UF TREEO) plus utility registration.
- Georgia →GBPAT certification (EPD guidance effective Sept 1, 2021)
- Hawaii →Certified general tester certificate. Honolulu BWS says testers get a Certificate of Competence from PAMCA(H), USC-FCCCHR or the Cal-Nevada Section of AWWA, and may recertify through ABPA. Hawaii County's list shows PAMCAH and ABPA certificates.
- Idaho →Idaho Backflow Assembly Tester (BAT) license from DOPL.
- Illinois →IEPA CCCDI approval (card issued through ERTC)
- Indiana →IDEM-registered Cross Connection Control Device Inspector
- Iowa →DIAL Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester registration
- Kansas →Registration as a backflow tester/repairman accepted by the water system; KRWA training is the usual route
- Kentucky →KAMC backflow tester certification, or (since Jan 1, 2019) a nationally recognized backflow or cross connection certification plus proof of liability insurance
- Louisiana →SPBLA plumbing license with Water Supply Protection Specialist (WSPS) endorsement, or an ASSE 5110 / nationally recognized tester certificate approved by the state health officer
- Maine →Not named in the state rule. Portland Water District accepts NEWWA, ABPA or ASSE certification; Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Wells says a tester licensed in Maine.
- Maryland →WSSC-approved cross-connection technician certification (WSSC area); other systems not confirmed
- Massachusetts →MassDEP Certified Backflow Prevention Device Tester (WS-10).
- Michigan →ASSE 5110 certification plus a Michigan plumbing license (master, journey, or apprentice under direct supervision)
- Minnesota →DLI Backflow Prevention Tester (BT) certification, backed by current ASSE 5110
- Mississippi →MSDH Certified Backflow Tester license
- Missouri →Missouri certified backflow prevention assembly tester (ABPA or ASSE exam, with Missouri rules questions)
- Montana →A current backflow assembly tester certificate from any state program, ASSE or ABPA.
- Nebraska →Grade VI license (backflow preventer testing and repair technician)
- Nevada →Certification from CA-NV AWWA, ABPA, ASSE, or an equivalent the Division approves.
- New Hampshire →NEWWA or ASSE Series 5000 backflow tester certification.
- New Jersey →Certificate from an NJDEP-approved certifying agency (NEWWA, ASSE, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 9, Kruger's Training Academy, Veterans Training Group).
- New Mexico →Tester certification or approval from the water system (Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Rio Rancho each run their own).
- New York →Certificate of completion from a NYSDOH-approved backflow tester training provider.
- North Carolina →Certificate of completion from a training program (G.S. 130A-330), from a school the water system accepts
- North Dakota →Certified backflow assembly tester (listed by the ND State Plumbing Board)
- Ohio →Backflow Technician certificate: Class A (any isolation device), Class B (lawn irrigation devices), Class C (devices owned by a public water system)
- Oklahoma →Set by each city or water system
- Oregon →OHA Backflow Assembly Tester certification.
- Pennsylvania →Set by each water system. Pittsburgh Water requires ASSE certification; Philadelphia requires city-registered certified technicians.
- Rhode Island →Inspector/Tester certification from a program recognized by the RIDOH Director.
- South Carolina →SC DES Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester certification (General Tester)
- South Dakota →Set by each water system. Sioux Falls: ABPA certificate plus city approval.
- Tennessee →Certificate of Competency in Testing and Evaluating Backflow Preventers
- Texas →TCEQ Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester (BPAT) license
- Utah →Utah Backflow Assembly Tester Certificate.
- Vermont →Not stated by the state. Water systems set what they accept.
- Virginia →DPOR Backflow Prevention Device Worker certification
- Washington →DOH Backflow Assembly Tester (BAT) certificate, shown by a DOH BAT validation card.
- West Virginia →WV Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester certification
- Wisconsin →DSPS Cross Connection Control Assembly Tester registration
- Wyoming →ASSE or ABPA backflow assembly tester certification, or a state program approved by DEQ
The software
- Bookings from a booking page, your own website, and an AI receptionist on your phone.
- Schedule board and route for each tester.
- Field app that scores every test, even with no signal.
- Test reports sent to the water system that serves each address.
- Card payments to your own Stripe account, and yearly renewals that charge after the test.
- Client portal for HOAs, property managers and contractors.
- $50/month flat: no per-test fee, no cut of payments.
- Every feature →What the app does, part by part.
- Compare →Next to other backflow and field-service software.
- Start free →No card. $50/month or $500/year once you go live, 45 days free.
- Free exam prep →Study questions, practice exams, device tests, a VR wet lab.