Backflow Base / Tester certification / Ohio
Backflow tester certification in Ohio.
The Division certifies backflow technicians under ORC 3703.21. Anyone who installs, tests or repairs an isolation backflow device in Ohio must be certified. The requirement does not apply to containment devices (those installed by or for a public water system).
Last updated .
Who certifies
Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance
bcctrade@com.ohio.gov
The state issues the certificate testers need.
What it takes
- Credential
- Backflow Technician certificate: Class A (any isolation device), Class B (lawn irrigation devices), Class C (devices owned by a public water system)
- Before you start
- Proof of at least 5 years of relevant experience, for example employment with a licensed plumbing, hydronics or fire protection contractor (Class A), a lawn irrigation company (Class B), or a water purveyor or Ohio EPA operator certification (Class C).
- Training
- 24-hour course from a Commerce-approved training agency, including a hands-on testing and repair exam. You upload the Certificate of Proficiency.
- Exam
- Written backflow technician exam given by the Division; 70% to pass. Usually the third Monday of each month, none in July or August. Results in 24 to 48 business hours.
- Renewal
- Every 3 years online in the IC Customer Portal: 8-hour course from an approved agency with a practical test, plus the renewal fee.
- Fees
- $50 application (non-refundable), $50 exam, $75 certification, $75 renewal.
Certificates from elsewhere
No other state's certificate is named as valid here. Ask the program before you rely on one.
Where to get certified
- KOI TrainingCincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, OH · course · in person. Commerce-approved. 3-day certification and 1-day recertification classes. Phone 330-620-0355.
- Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 392 JATCCincinnati, OH · course. On Commerce's approved training agency list. Phone 513-671-5282.
- UA Local 189 JATCColumbus, OH · course. On Commerce's approved training agency list. Phone 614-486-8980.
- Plumbers Local 55 trainingBrooklyn Heights, OH · course. On Commerce's approved training agency list (Cleveland area). Phone 216-459-2900.
- Backflow 911 LLCCincinnati, OH · course · in person. On Commerce's approved training agency list. Phone 877-353-4386.
- UA Local 219 JATCAkron, OH · course. On Commerce's approved training agency list; no site confirmed, URL is the Commerce list. Phone 330-376-1303.
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
No statewide report form or portal. Each water system sets its own: BSI Online in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Tokay in Columbus, HydroSoft in Toledo.
Deadline: Columbus: within 5 days of the test. No state deadline found.
Portals in use: BSI Online, Tokay, HydroSoft (HydroCorp)
Largest water systems
Columbus Division of Water (Backflow Compliance Office)
- Contact
- 614-645-6674 · backflow@columbus.gov
- Reports
- Submit every result within 5 days through the city's Tokay site, columbus.tokaytest.com.
- Testers
- Tester must be Commerce-certified, registered with the Backflow Compliance Office and, unless testing only at their employer's sites, Columbus Building Regulations. Kit calibrated in the last 12 months and registered. $100 registration, $25 annual fee due Feb 15. Applies to Columbus and its contract areas only.
Cleveland Water
- Reports
- Plumbers submit results through BSI Online. Cleveland Water contracts with Backflow Solutions Inc. to track testing.
- Testers
- Devices must be tested every year by a certified plumber.
Greater Cincinnati Water Works
- Contact
- 800-414-4990 · bsionline@backflow.com
- Reports
- Certified testers submit to BSI Online, bsionline.com. Phone and email are BSI testing-company support (customer support 888-966-6050).
- Testers
- Annual test by a certified plumber or backflow tester. Register free with BSI Online and send copies of credentials and test gauge calibration.
City of Toledo Division of Water Distribution
- Contact
- 844-493-7646
- Reports
- Commercial customers submit annual test and maintenance reports through the HydroSoft online portal. Phone is HydroCorp; Water Distribution is 419-936-2840.
- Testers
- A licensed backflow prevention contractor must install and test assemblies.
City of Akron Water Supply Bureau
- Contact
- 330-375-2554
Sources
- Ohio Commerce: Backflow Technician Certification
- Ohio Commerce: Backflow overview
- Ohio Commerce: Approved backflow training agencies
- Ohio Commerce: Backflow technician exam schedule
- Columbus backflow assembly tester requirements (rev. 10/23/2025)
- Cleveland Water backflow prevention
- GCWW backflow prevention program
- Toledo backflow prevention program
- Akron Distribution Water Quality Division
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
- 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.