Because the operator license renewal cycle for water treatment plant operators, wastewater treatment plant operators, and distribution system operators is rapidly coming to an end, remember that you must have the required number of continuing education units (CEUs) for renewal. All renewals must be done before May 1, 2017. May I suggest that each licensed operator double check the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) website (http://ocp.dep.state.fl.us/default.asp) to be sure that any CEUs you may have obtained over the past two years have been posted.
Don’t wait until the last moment; if you have taken a CEU course through an approved FDEP provider and your CEUs have not been posted, contact the training provider to determine why they haven’t. One thing to keep in mind is that any CEU training course that is taken must be approved through an authorized FDEP provider. There are courses out there that are being offered as CEU-approved, when in fact they are not; you may have taken an approved course in which the provider is not responsible for posting your CEUs. A list of these courses can be found on the FDEP website. If you have taken any of these courses, you must submit the CEU certificate of completion that you received at the time you took the course to the FDEP office of certification programs to get the CEU credits.
For your convenience, FWPCOA offers all flavors of approved courses in a number of different formats. The CEUs can be obtained by taking an online course, or if your utility has a large number of license operators in need of CEUs, the association can provide CEU training at your location for a flat fee for up to 25 persons in the class. Please check out our website at and click on the “Training” link, or contact our FWPCOA training office at 321-383-9690 for additional information.