How to Become a Water and Wastewater Operator in Saskatchewan
Do you need certification?
Certification required
Water and wastewater operator is a compulsory trade in Saskatchewan. You need a certificate, or registration as an apprentice, to work in the trade.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Water and Wastewater Operator Saskatchewan Operator Certification Board”
From saskatchewan.ca/residents/moving-to-saskatchewan/live-in-saskatchew..., checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Certification required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 4 steps
- Licensed in another province: 1 step
- Trained outside Canada: 1 step, listed one-time fees $200
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Saskatchewan Operator Certification Board
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
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Decide which of the certification areas and classes you want to apply for.
Source
“The Operator Certification Board issues certificates within the four areas of treatment (water and wastewater), distribution and collection. Each area consists of four levels of certification.”
saskocb.ca/certification -
Send your application form, certificates and payment to the Board, preferably by email.
Source
“We encourage you to submit your applications, certificates and payments via email.”
saskocb.ca -
Write the Class 1 exam first and any further progressive exams up to your desired level, or the Small Water and Small Wastewater System exam for those certificates.
Source
“All operators must start by writing the Class 1 exam and moving toward their desired certification level; as the exams are progressive from one level to the next. On the other hand, for example, you do not need to apply and be certified as a Class 1 Operator before you can apply for Class 2, however you must write both Class one (1) and two (2) exams.”
saskocb.ca/certification -
Pass the standardized exam to become eligible for certification.
Source
“All operators are required to pass a standardized exam prior to being eligible for certification.”
saskocb.ca/certification
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Saskatchewan Operator Certification Board
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 1 done
- 1 step without a listed fee
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Fill out and submit the Out of Province Reciprocity Application form.
Source
“Out of Province Reciprocity Application If you are an out of province applicant use this form”
saskocb.ca
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Saskatchewan Operator Certification Board
1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 1 done
- Listed one-time fees: $200
- Listed time: 0.5 months
-
Use the International Qualifications Assessment Service, which the regulator lists as a resource, to assess international education credentials.
- IQAS assessment fee: $200
Time: 15 daysTime source
“The estimated processing time for an EPA is 15 business days.”
alberta.ca/iqas-educational-pre-assessment
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $200
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | $200 | 100% |
| One-time total | $200 | 100% |
Requirements
Education
Class 1 applicants need Grade 12 education.
Source
“Class 1 Operator - Grade 12 education - One year of operating experience”
saskocb.ca/certificationClass 2 applicants need Grade 12 education.
Source
“Class 2 Operator - Grade 12 education - Three years of operating experience”
saskocb.ca/certificationClass 3 applicants need Grade 12 plus two years of post-secondary education.
Source
“Class 3 Operator - Grade 12 education plus two years post-secondary education”
saskocb.ca/certificationClass 4 applicants need Grade 12 plus four years of post-secondary education.
Source
“Class 4 Operator - Grade 12 education plus four years of post-secondary education”
saskocb.ca/certificationSmall Water and Small Wastewater System applicants need Grade 10 education.
Source
“Small Water System and Small Wastewater System - Grade 10 education - Six months of operating experience - 0.6 CEUs of water and wastewater related credit”
saskocb.ca/certification
Experience
Class 1 applicants need one year of operating experience.
Source
“Class 1 Operator - Grade 12 education - One year of operating experience”
saskocb.ca/certificationClass 2 applicants need three years of operating experience.
Source
“Class 2 Operator - Grade 12 education - Three years of operating experience”
saskocb.ca/certificationClass 4 treatment applicants need four years of operating experience with two years of DRC experience, and distribution and collection applicants need four years of experience.
Source
“For Water Treatment and Wastewater Treatment – four years of operating experience with two of the four years being DRC experience. For Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection – four years of experience.”
saskocb.ca/certificationSmall Water and Small Wastewater System applicants need six months of operating experience.
Source
“Small Water System and Small Wastewater System - Grade 10 education - Six months of operating experience - 0.6 CEUs of water and wastewater related credit”
saskocb.ca/certification
Other
Small Water and Small Wastewater System applicants need 0.6 CEUs of water and wastewater related credit.
Source
“Small Water System and Small Wastewater System - Grade 10 education - Six months of operating experience - 0.6 CEUs of water and wastewater related credit”
saskocb.ca/certificationOperators must obtain 1.0 Continuing Education Unit every two years to maintain certification.
Source
“In order to maintain certification all Operators must obtain 1.0 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) every two years through the attendance of training workshops or completing training courses.”
saskocb.ca/about-ocb
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The pages provide an Out of Province Reciprocity Application form for out of province applicants but do not state whether extra assessments or exams are required. Source
“Out of Province Reciprocity Application If you are an out of province applicant use this form”
saskocb.ca
Complete reciprocity application
Source
“Out of Province Reciprocity Application If you are an out of province applicant use this form”
saskocb.ca
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Saskatchewan Operator Certification Board
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Saskatchewan Operator Certification Board
Exams
-
standardized exam
Source
“All operators are required to pass a standardized exam prior to being eligible for certification.”
saskocb.ca/certification -
Class 1 exam
Source
“All operators must start by writing the Class 1 exam and moving toward their desired certification level; as the exams are progressive from one level to the next.”
saskocb.ca/certification -
SWS and/or SWWS exam
Source
“The certification program for Small Water and Small Wastewater System must start by writing the SWS and/or SWWS exam.”
saskocb.ca/certification
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Saskatchewan Operator Certification Board
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Saskatchewan Operator Certification Board
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Saskatchewan Operator Certification Board
Demand and pay
No Job Bank wage or outlook data for this occupation yet.
Waters and wastewater operators in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Not confirmed yet
- Alberta Certification required
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Not confirmed yet
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Voluntary certification
- Nova Scotia Certification required
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Compare water and wastewater operator licensing across Canada
Sources checked
- Saskatchewan Regulatory Bodies | Regulated Occupations and Licensing Requirements | Government of Saskatchewan saskatchewan.ca/residents/moving-to-saskatchewan/live-in-saskatchew... · fetched October 9, 2026
- Operator Certification - SaskOCB saskocb.ca/certification · fetched October 10, 2026
- Home - SaskOCB saskocb.ca · fetched October 9, 2026
- IQAS Educational Pre-assessment | Alberta.ca alberta.ca/iqas-educational-pre-assessment · fetched October 10, 2026
- About OCB - SaskOCB saskocb.ca/about-ocb · fetched October 9, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a water and wastewater operator in Saskatchewan?
Yes. Certification, or registration as an apprentice, is required to work in the trade in Saskatchewan. Certification is managed by the Saskatchewan Operator Certification Board.
Which exams are required?
standardized exam, Class 1 exam, SWS and/or SWWS exam.
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