Arkansas Backflow Prevention Tester Certification: Renewal Requirements

Regulating agency: Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Plumbing & Natural Gas Section
Renewal cycle: 2 years
CE required: Not published by the agency. Confirm directly with Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Plumbing & Natural Gas Section.
Renewal fee: $0 (no charge for the ADH exam/license itself; recertification course tuition is paid separately to an ADH-accredited training provider)
Regulation level: Statewide

Last verified: 2026-07-14

Who regulates backflow tester certification in Arkansas

Certification is regulated at the state level: one credential is valid across Arkansas.

The authority for backflow tester credentials in Arkansas is Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Plumbing & Natural Gas Section. Officially the "Arkansas Assembly Tester Technician Competency License." Renewal requires proof of recertification training completed at an ADH-accredited program (commonly cited as 8 hours by training providers, but ADH's own pages do not publish an hour count). Lapsing more than 36 months requires full retraining and retesting.

How often you need to renew

Backflow tester certification in Arkansas must be renewed every 2 years.

Continuing education and retesting requirements

Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Plumbing & Natural Gas Section does not publish continuing education requirements online. Confirm with the agency before your renewal date.

Renewal deadline and grace period

The agency does not publish a formal grace period online. Treat your expiration date as hard: Water purveyors generally stop accepting test reports from testers whose certification has lapsed, and many jurisdictions require retaking the full certification course instead of a simple renewal once the credential expires. Confirm the exact grace period, if any, with Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Plumbing & Natural Gas Section well before your expiration date.

How to renew, step by step

Confirm your exact expiration date on your certification card or with Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Plumbing & Natural Gas Section.
Complete any required refresher course or continuing education for your jurisdiction.
Submit the renewal application and the $0 (no charge for the ADH exam/license itself; recertification course tuition is paid separately to an ADH-accredited training provider) fee to the agency before the deadline.
Keep your test kit calibration certificate current: most jurisdictions require annual gauge calibration alongside a valid tester credential.

Frequently asked questions

How often do I need to renew my backflow tester certification in Arkansas?

Backflow tester certification in Arkansas must be renewed every 2 years.

Who regulates backflow tester certification in Arkansas?

Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Plumbing & Natural Gas Section. Certification is regulated at the state level: one credential is valid across Arkansas.

Is backflow tester certification the same in every county in Arkansas?

Mostly yes. Arkansas issues a statewide credential, so the core renewal requirements are the same everywhere in the state. Individual water purveyors may still have their own reporting procedures.

What happens if my Arkansas backflow tester certification expires?

Water purveyors generally stop accepting test reports from testers whose certification has lapsed, and many jurisdictions require retaking the full certification course instead of a simple renewal once the credential expires. Confirm the exact grace period, if any, with Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Plumbing & Natural Gas Section well before your expiration date.

Official source

Data on this page was verified on 2026-07-14 against: