The basics requirements
• Pay the annual recertification fee.
• Complete seven hours of annual continuing education. These seven points (hours) must be reported to NGWA by December 31 for the year (see the next section below).
• Maintain a high standard of work as agreed to in the "Certification Agreement" you signed when you took the exams.
• Sign an affidavit each year verifying that you have no pending legal action against you for failure to properly construct wells or install pumps, and that you have maintained the qualified licenses to operate in your state.
Continuing education points
Continuing education points (CEPs) are necessary because of the constantly changing technology and equipment in today's world. Every person in the work force must continually learn about new products, techniques, rules and regulations, and ideas relative to their own job, or run the risk of being passed by the competition.
CEPs can be earned in the following ways:
- Conventions/expositions—one point per day attended (state, regional, or national shows)
- NGWA Delegates Meeting—one point per year
- Workshops, conferences, or training schools—one point per hour of instruction
- Safety meetings—two points maximum
- High school career day presentation—one point for each hour
- NGWA McEllhiney Lecture—one-and-a-half points
- Write an article for a ground water-related publication—two points maximum (proof required)
- Community services—one point for each presentation (talks, films, slide shows, etc., regarding the ground water industry)
- Water Well Journal® online quizzes—one point for each quiz that you pass (see the section below for more details)
- Others—acceptance of points will be determined by the coordinator when they are received.
If you participate in an activity that you feel is equivalent to one of the above, contact the NGWA certification coordinator at 800 551.7379 (898.7791) to have it evaluated for credit. Newly certified people must report CEPs beginning the first calendar year following their initial certification. An official CEP report form will be sent each year and points must be reported on the official forms.
Online quizzes
Earn CEPs simply by reading Water Well Journal! Select articles throughout the year will be marked with a box at the top of the page stating an online quiz relating to that article is available. Quizzes remain online for six months after the article is published. Passing the quiz earns you one CEP.
Each quiz consists of 10 to 15 questions and you will have one hour to complete each. A score of 70 percent or better is required for passing. These quizzes are only available online through our bookstore. The cost for each quiz is $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers.
Decertification
Decertification is automatic if the annual recertification fee is not paid each year or if you do not submit the necessary CEPs or signed affidavit.
The person being notified of decertification has one year to comply with all the requirements. A reinstatement fee is assessed at that time. There are no refunds of recertification fees if you fail to comply with all requirements. The deadline each year for recertification is December 31.
The certification logo remains the property of NGWA and must be surrendered upon demand if you fail to meet the certification renewal requirements.
Medical leave
Certified individuals who are in good standing may be placed on an "inactive" status for up to 12 consecutive months due to injury or long-term illness.
During this "inactive" time, the individual may not engage in any ground water industry activity that is covered by the Voluntary Certification Program.
Once the individual comes off of medical leave, he or she will have an additional 12 months after being reinstated as "active" to fulfill all certification requirements such as fees, CEPs, and affidavits.
The certified individual will also be responsible for the current year's recertification requirements during this same time period (i.e., two sets of forms, fees, and CEPs). If such requirements are not fulfilled during the 12-month period, then the individual will be decertified and will be required to start the program all over again.
Print the medical leave form.
Military leave status
Certified individuals who are in good standing may be placed on an inactive status for the duration of their deployment. During this inactive time, the individual may NOT engage in any ground water industry activity that is covered by the Voluntary Certification Program. Once the individual comes off military leave, the individual has 12 months to fulfill the previous year's continuing education requirements along with all current year's requirements (fees, CEPs, and affidavit) to retain the certified status. If such requirements are not fulfilled during the 12-month period, then the individual will be decertified and will be required to start the program all over again.
Print the military leave form.
Are you retired?
NGWA's Code of Regulations defines retirement as "...those who have been active and who, as a result of retirement, disability, or other good cause, are no longer active in the ground water industry...". The code goes on further to say that retired "...certified contractors/pump installers and MGWCs in good standing may maintain their certification designation without submitting annual recertification fees, continuing education points, or affidavits."
NGWA realizes that certified individuals have made a long-term commitment to continuing education, personal achievement, and industry professionalism and may not want to "give up" the designation. Thus, NGWA has adopted a new policy concerning retirement. Starting with the 2004 certification (calendar) year, individuals may declare themselves "retired" at recertification time.
Below you will find a list of common questions, with answers, surrounding this topic. If you have other questions that are not listed, please contact NGWA at 800 551.7379 (614 898.7791).
Q: What will retired individuals be responsible for submitting annually?
A: Initially, the retired person will be expected to provide a signed declaration form stating that he/she is indeed retired from the industry. No fees, CEPs, or affidavit form will be required. After this first year, those who have stated they are retired will no longer pay fees, fulfill continuing education, or submit an affidavit.
Q: What will the record state after the person has made a retired declaration?
A: All individuals who declare themselves retired will be listed as "Retired in Good Standing" with the year of retirement printed afterwards.
Q: Can retired individuals continue to use the certified logo designation?
A: No. Once a person has elected the retired option, the individual may only use the retired logo. Individuals must indicate their retired status as follows: John Smith, CWD—Retired in Good Standing.
Q: By declaring myself retired, am I eligible to participate in any kind of activity within the ground water industry?
A: Yes. You may take part in any industry activity that interests you, as long as it is NOT the active construction of wells or the installation of pumps, activities covered by the Voluntary Certification Program.
Q: If I declare myself retired, can I reverse my decision and become "active" once again?
A: No. Individuals may not move in and out of the retirement category. (Medical conditions are addressed separately.)
If you would like to declare yourself retired, please sign and date the Retirement Declaration form and send it back to NGWA so it is received by December 31.
Print the retirement declaration form.
Certification exams used as state licensing
NGWA's certification exams are used by many state and local government agencies as a requirement for licensing. In this growing number of states using our exams, passing grades for licensing are decided upon by the agency.
If you wish to be certified by the NGWA at the same time you take an exam for licensing, you must pass two exams—one for the drilling general exam and another specialized drilling exam or the water systems general exam and one other specialized pump exam—within one 12-month period with a 70 percent or better score on each, and meet all the other requirements for NGWA certification.
View a list of the states that use NGWA's certification exams as requirements for state licensing.