BACKFLOW BASE

Backflow Base / Tester certification / Arkansas

Backflow tester certification in Arkansas.

ADH issues the Assembly Tester Technician competency license after an approved course and the state test. A separate Repair Technician license requires the tester license first.

Last updated .

Who certifies

Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing and Natural Gas Section
501-661-2642

The state issues the certificate testers need.

What it takes

Credential
ADH Assembly Tester Technician competency license (Repair Technician license is separate)
Before you start
Attach verification of training to the application. Application must be notarized and discloses any criminal convictions. A plumber's license is not required to repair backflow devices within the scope of the plumbing system; the license does not allow installing assemblies.
Training
Certificate from an Arkansas accredited training program or similar; proving similarity is the applicant's job. Arkansas Rural Water Association, approved by ADH, runs a 40-hour course ($500).
Exam
State test given by ADH. Apply before the exam date; the application is only for taking the state test, not recertification.
Renewal
Recertification every 24 months through training at a state accredited program (Arkansas Rural Water re-cert is 8 hours, $150). Lapse over 36 months means full retraining and retesting. Failure to recertify by expiry makes both tester and repair licenses inactive.
Fees
Application form says no charge for examination or license. Course fees are paid to the training provider.

Certificates from elsewhere

No other state's certificate is named as valid here. Ask the program before you rely on one.

Compare every state →

Where to get certified

Listed for convenience, not endorsed. Check that a course is on the state's approved list before you pay.

Free exam prep → Study questions, practice exams, device tests.

Test procedures for every assembly → The steps we recommend for the field exam.

Filing test reports

The ADH affidavit says test results go to the water purveyor or municipality having jurisdiction, and each may have different forms and requirements.

Portals in use: SwiftComply, ECOS Connect (Fayetteville)

Largest water systems

Central Arkansas Water

Contact
501-210-4960 · cccp@carkw.com
Reports
CAW publishes a Backflow Assembly Test Form and a tester list. An online backflow portal at myaccount.carkw.com appeared in search results but was not opened.
Testers
Initial test within 10 days of installation, then annually. Only testers on the CAW tester list; contact the Cross-Connection section to be listed.

Fayetteville Water and Sewer (City of Fayetteville)

Contact
479-575-8382 · backflow@fayetteville-ar.gov
Reports
Submit all backflow assembly test reports electronically through the link on the city's Backflow Prevention page.
Testers
City keeps a Licensed Backflow Testers list; testers need ADH certification.

Springdale Water Utilities

Contact
479-927-4185
Reports
Submit through SwiftComply; the utility page has the button to register as a tester in its service area.
Testers
Must hold ADH Assembly Testing Technician license. Devices tested within 10 days of installation and annually. Test copy must go to Springdale Water Utilities Cross-Connection Control.

Fort Smith Utilities

Jonesboro City Water and Light

Reports
No Jonesboro backflow program page found.

All 656 Arkansas water systems →

Sources

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 software

Contact

hello@backflowbase.com