Certification FAQs
View some frequently asked questions related to the cross connection control certification
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It may be that you have forgotten your username and/or password. In this instance, please contact BCWWA (contact@bcwwa.org) and provide us with your full name and membership number. BCWWA will confirm your username and assist you in updating it, if required.
Your password can be reset once you have confirmed your username or the BCWWA updated your username.
Please follow these steps to obtain your cross connection control (CCC) certificate/card:
- Login to your BCWWA account with your username and password.
- Select the ‘My BCWWA’ button on the slight right-hand side.
- On the left-hand side, select the ‘Download CCC Certificate’ blue button.
- The certificate will open in a PDF format that you can download.
Yes, certification course hours do count towards CEUs. The exam does not.
Once you have completed the course and passed your exams, please contact the training institution (school) for a copy of the transcript and submit it to the Environmental Operators Certificate Program (EOCP) for approval.
Your username is likely to be the email that you signed up with. However, if this is not the case and you cannot remember your username, then please contact the BCWWA Helpdesk on 604-433-4389 and we can help you to reset it.
You can retake one or both components of the exam at least thirty (30) days after your last attempt and no later than one (1) year after your last attempt. If you do not pass both components of the exam by the second attempt, you must take the backflow assembly tester certification course again.
You can contact one of the training institutions (schools) to book a retake. Once you have booked with the school, contact the BCWWA to pay the retake fee.
Unfortunately, cross connection control certificates are not transferable from the United States (or other countries) to Canada. Course and backflow testing requirement standards and legislation in the US and other countries differ from those in Canada. Therefore, it requires a separate certification.
To remain an active backflow assembly tester, you must:
- Renew your BCWWA cross connection control (CCC) membership every year; and
- Pass a recertification exam every five (5) years before your recertification due date. So, you must register for an exam and pass a recertification exam to renew your backflow assembly tester accreditation.
There are no prerequisites for someone wanting to take the course and get certified. To be certified, please contact one of the accredited training institutions to enroll in the course.
You have a grace period of one year after the expiry of your membership and CCC certification to renew your membership and/or recertify .
To view your certification and recertification dates, log in to your BCWWA account.
You can renew your membership by logging in to your BCWWA account.
When you are due for a renewal, a notification box will appear on your ‘My BCWWA’ profile. Click the link in the notification which will take you to the payment page to renew your membership.
First, create an account with the BCWWA and purchase a one-year CCC membership. You must renew this annual membership to remain an active tester in British Columbia. Once you have done this, please email crossconnection@bcwwa.org with electronic copies of your existing certificate and driving license. We will then review your documents and update your BCWWA account with your current certification information.
- Log into your BCWWA account.
- Scroll down and select ‘Invoices’ on the left-hand side.
- Select the ‘eye’ icon next to the unpaid invoice to open it.
- Select ‘Pay Now’ at the top of the page and complete the payment process.
Alternatively, we can take payment over the phone or you can send a cheque.
nactive Tester status in your account means your CCC membership and/or your 5-year certification has expired for 12 months or less. You may renew your membership or recertify at this to become an active Tester again.
Expired Tester status in your account means your CCC membership and/or your 5 years certification has been expired for more than one year (12 months). To become an active Tester again you will need to complete the recertification course plus the full certification examination.
Note: If you pass the recertification exam, a one (1) year BCWWA membership is automatically provided to you at no additional cost.
Results are available within thirty (30) days (about four weeks) after you complete the exam. You will receive an email from the BCWWA with your exam results. It is unnecessary to call before this period to request results as we will contact you. You can always check your BCWWA account at any time to check if your results have been updated.
Should you not renew your BCWWA membership and recertify within the year after it has expired or allow your cross-connection control (CCC) certificate or BCWWA membership to lapse for more than one (1) year, you will be required to take the full backflow assembly tester certification exam to become an active tester again.
To become an active tester:
- Find a BCWWA backflow assembly tester certification exam.
- Contact the BCWWA-accredited training institution hosting the certification exam to confirm seat availability.
- Register for the BCWWA backflow assembly tester certification exam online.
- Review the most current version of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Canadian Cross Connection Control Manual. Order your manual now!
- Complete the exam with a minimum passing score of 75% on both the written and practical components of the exam. A new tester certificate/wallet card will be issued by the BCWWA and mailed to the address on file once you have passed the exam.
Note: If you pass the recertification exam, a one (1) year BCWWA membership is automatically provided to you at no additional cost.
- Go to our website (www.bcwwa.org) and sign into your BCWWA account. If you do not have an account with us, you will need to create an account.
- Look under the ‘Cross Connection Control’ tab for ‘Manual Orders.’
- Click ‘Manual Orders’ and follow the prompts to order and pay with a credit card.
- Please note your order will be shipped to you within one week.
Please find your training institution on this list and their contact details will be mentioned.
The full certification course is 40 hours plus exam day. The certification course runs for five (5) days plus the exam day. Some training institutions (schools) offer the theory component online. Most schools offer in-person courses in a classroom setting.
The recertification course is usually 14 hours plus the exam day. The recertification course is a review of the curriculum and is meant for testers who are recertifying. It can be referred to as a refresher course. Some students complete the recertification course on a part-time schedule over several days, including weeknights and Saturdays. Others will offer the recertification course in three (3) consecutive days.
Both courses include a classroom and lab component. The lab hours will provide an opportunity to practice for the practical exam component. Depending on the school, the theory will be covered either in a classroom setting or online.
The course manual is usually included in your course purchase. Please make sure you check with the accredited training institution first to see what is included. If you do not have the contact information of the school, please visit our Training Institution page.
However, if it is not included, you may wish to purchase it directly from us. Purchase AWWA Canadian Cross Connection Manual.
Members will receive approximately three (3) renewal notices via email prior to their membership and cross connection control certification expiry dates (60 days, 30 days and 1 day after it expires). It is important to ensure your email address is accurate so you continue to receive these renewal reminders. You can also add the BCWWA email to your contact list so that it does not go into the junk /spam folder.
It is important to give yourself plenty of time to start the process of recertifying and scheduling your recertification exam. Waiting until the last minute could mean placement on a waitlist. If you cannot find an available date, contact the training institution and ask to be put on a waitlist should they add more courses to their schedule. Please contact BCWWA at crossconnection@bcwwa.org should you require further assistance.
Check out our Exam Calendar.
If you have forgotten your password, you can reset it by clicking ‘Restore Password’ on the BCWWA login page and providing your username or login. They should receive an email notification with the ‘password reset’ link.
If you would like to update your password, you will need to log into your BCWWA account. There are two ways to do this:
- The first option is to scroll down the page and select ‘My Profile.’ Scroll down to the bottom of the page, update your password and select ‘Save.’
- The second option is to go to the top right corner of the page and select the arrow next to ‘Signed in as.’ Select the ‘Change Password’ option .
Please contact the BCWWA and we can organize a refund. Kindly note it may take 1-5 business days for the refund to show on your bank account as processing time varies for different financial institutions.
We only accept Mastercard and Visa credit cards as online payment. Please also check you have entered all your information correctly. If the payment is not approved/there is an error message, it is either because you are using the incorrect card or your payment information is not correct. You may also want to check with your financial institutions to make sure there are no issues with your card.
Please contact BCWWA and request a bulk invoice to be created within your employer BCWWA account.
The invoice will be emailed to you once it is completed. As the employer, you may pay the invoice either by signing into your account or contacting BCWWA with a credit card.