The FW&PCOA has been providing training for water distribution system operators since 1981. The on-line Level 3 course is a self-paced course that meets the core subject area requirements of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Operator Knowledge Base Manual, providing the training required by rule for the Florida water distribution system operator level 3 licensing examination. Students must complete the course within 3 months of enrollment.

The course is self-paced, and each lesson consists of a slide presentation without a narrative. The student observes the presentation and reads the corresponding chapter in the FW&PCOA course book. There is a test after the lesson to evaluate the student’s knowledge of the lesson content. The course agenda is as follows:

• Chapter 1 - The Water Distribution System Operator
• Chapter 2 - Storage Facilities
• Chapter 3 - Water Distribution Facilities
• Chapter 4 - Water Quality Considerations in Distribution Systems
• Chapter 5 - Distribution System Operation and Maintenance
• Chapter 6 - Disinfection
• Chapter 7 - Safety
• Appendix - Water Distribution System Mathematics and Formulas

The association recommends the use of a large screen device, such as a desktop computer, laptop computer or large tablet. The use of mobile devices, such as a cell phone, are discouraged, due to lack of detail.

The FW&PCOA provides the end of course exam in a live proctored setting after you successfully complete all course lessons. Please complete the proctor request form provided by the administrator after you complete the course and send it to the FW&PCOA Training Office - see the form for instructions. The FW&PCOA Training Office and/or proctor will arrange the exam session with you.

After you have successfully completed the proctored end of course exam with a score of 70% or better, the FW&PCOA will mail a certificate of completion to you. This certificate is used when applying to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the Water Distribution Level 3 licensing exam, to demonstrate completion of the requisite training course. If you do not pass the end of course exam on the first attempt, you will have two additional attempts to pass the exam. There is a $100 exam fee associated with each additional attempt and you must arrange an exam proctor through the FW&PCOA Training Office. If the student fails all three attempts at the exam, the course must be repeated for an additional fee.

For more information on the FDEP’s Operator Certification Program, regarding requirements and fees, please refer to the water distribution program handbook, accessible using the following link.

https://floridadep.gov/water/certification-restoration/documents/distribution-operator-handbook

If you have any questions regarding the online course, please contact either the Online Institute Program Manager at OnlineTraining@fwpcoa.org or the FW&PCOA Training Coordinator at training@fwpcoa.org.

Thank you!