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Backflow tester certification in North Carolina.

G.S. 130A-330(h) lets a local-government water system accept test results from a licensed plumbing contractor or a certified backflow tester that the system approves. Each system picks the schools and registration it accepts.

Last updated .

Who certifies

Each North Carolina public water system (no state tester certificate found)

There is no state tester certificate. Each water system decides which certificates it accepts.

What it takes

Credential
Certificate of completion from a training program (G.S. 130A-330), from a school the water system accepts
Before you start
Set by each system. Kannapolis asks for proof of employment every year under 21 NCAC 50 .0512; Durham ties testing that interrupts water to plumbing licensing (G.S. 87-21(c)).
Training
Raleigh, Kannapolis and Winston-Salem accept courses from Durham, Charlotte Water, Greenville Utilities and NC Rural Water. Durham describes its course as 40 hours over 5 days.
Exam
Given by the training school at the end of its course.
Renewal
Kannapolis: original certificates run no more than 2 years, re-certifications no more than 3 years, with one extra year to recertify before the full class is needed. Chatham County and Durham describe a 2-year renewal.
Test kit
Raleigh and Kannapolis: test kit calibrated annually. Winston-Salem: calibration record for every kit.
Fees
Raleigh tester orientation is $25.

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

Reports go to the water system, many through BSI Online. Most systems require tester registration with certificates and kit calibrations first.

Portals in use: BSI Online

Largest water systems

Charlotte Water

Contact
704-432-5800 · Mark.Bullins@charlottenc.gov
Reports
Page does not say how reports are submitted; contact Mark Bullins, Environmental Compliance Manager, Backflow Prevention.
Testers
Test by an approved tester; Charlotte posts an approved tester list by zip code.

City of Raleigh Public Utilities

Contact
919-996-3245 · cross.connection@raleighnc.gov
Reports
Register with the Cross Connection Program before submitting; submit per Appendix A of the Public Utilities Design Manual. Page names no portal.
Testers
Certified by Raleigh's school or an accepted school, plus a $25 City orientation. Annual kit calibration; approved kit models only. Expired certificates are not accepted.

City of Winston-Salem / Forsyth County Utilities

Contact
336-734-1308 · davidro@cityofws.org
Reports
Reports go to BSI Online (bsionline.com). New installations are submitted through the BSI portal.
Testers
Only companies approved by Utilities can submit. Email the Testing Company Application, each tester's certification and each kit's calibration to David Ross, then register with BSI (bsionline@backflow.com, 800-414-4990).

City of Durham Water Management

Contact
919-560-4194
Testers
Course registration asks for current calibration data, contractor license and certificate.

City of Greensboro Water Resources

Testers
Testing must be done by a City-approved certified tester.

All 1,886 North Carolina 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