WasteWater Education 501c3 Onsite Wastewater System Inspector Training Program

Independent. Impartial. We provide access to information to empower sustainable, local, wastewater decision making.
Our Purpose

To provide education which increases public awareness of the link between clean drinking water, safe recreational waters, environmentally sustainable surface and groundwater with watershed based, best management practices related to appropriate wastewater systems, technology, treatment and management.

The vast majority of rural and suburban homes and business outside of large municipalities rely on onsite wastewater systems for sanitation services.

A properly maintained onsite system provides equal, and often more affordable, sanitation service as a central sewer collection system.
Onsite systems serve residential, commercial and community purposes.
Several municipalities, lending institutions and Health Departments require a TOS (Time Of Sale) or TOT (Time Of Transfer) inspection.
To protect both the buyer, the value of the property, as well as public and environmental health of the community, such an inspection should be conducted by a professional, knowledgeable individual.
As a past provider of the ©NSF Certified OWW Inspector accreditation, now that program has been discontinued – WasteWater Education 501(c)3 has created this comprehensive training program. Please note that NSF no longer administers the Onsite Inspector Credential. As a previous NSF partner and Proctor, Wastewater Education has taken over this program. This curriculum can be adapted to meet any state requirement.
Please contact us for more information.

If you are interested in becoming a Field Test Proctor please contact us at

All classes are conducted via our distance learning platform utilizing the internet and can be viewed on any mobile or desktop device. You may use any major credit or debit card.

Course Components

For first time applicants, with minimal inspection experience, a set of online/on demand classes are mandatory.( see below) In addition please note that each may also approved for Continuing Septage Education credit by your local State <but you should verify that with your local authority.
A required 2 hour class is mandatory for those applying to renew their prior NSF Certification, or aquire a first time one: “Checklists, Inspections and Disclosures for Onsite System Inspectors”
The fee for this class is $80 per candidate.

Online Classroom exam – Fee is $75

A 6 section knowledge competency test will be administered via the internet. Once logged in, the Candidate has up to 3 hours to complete the test and submit answers (1/2 hour per section – released in sequence)
75% and above is a passing grade. A repeat of this classroom exam is mandatory for renewal.

Field Training Fee is $450

Candidates with no prior field inspection experience are required to take a 4 hour onsite training class with a Proctor, or MUST provide proof of successful and accepted prior inspections.

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Field Examination Fee is $850. This includes payment to a service provider and to the Proctor.

To complete the Onsite Inspection course, new candidates who pass the WRITTEN Exam are required to undertake a ‘one-on-one’ practical Field Examination. Wastewater Education will provide Field Exam Proctors and arrange for the candidate to visit a test system site

Every effort will be made to schedule the Field Practical Exam in a prompt and timely manner in the jurisdiction you primarily do business in. Wastewater Education will provide each individual with a quality ‘one-on-one’, locally relevant, Field experience. In the 4 hour allotted per Field Exam, Wastewater Education will make a good faith effort to include an example of typical systems found in your region. (i.e a mound, holding tank or advanced system)

To begin the registration – you MUST email or call us with your full contact information djbest [at] wastewatereducation.org or