Pennsylvania Backflow Prevention Tester Certification: Renewal Requirements

Regulating agency
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Safe Drinking Water
Renewal cycle
Not published by the agency. Confirm directly with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Safe Drinking Water.
CE required
Varies by local jurisdiction
Renewal fee
Varies by local jurisdiction
Regulation level
Local (city / county / water purveyor)

Last verified: 2026-07-14

Who regulates backflow tester certification in Pennsylvania

There is no single statewide credential in Pennsylvania: requirements are set locally by cities, counties, or water purveyors. Contact your local water purveyor for the rules that apply to you.

The authority for backflow tester credentials in Pennsylvania is Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Safe Drinking Water. 25 Pa. Code § 109.709 delegates cross-connection control entirely to individual public water suppliers; PA DEP does not itself certify testers. No unified state program exists; de facto statewide standard is third-party ASSE/ABPA certification. Confirmed municipal examples: Philadelphia Water requires a City-Certified Backflow Prevention Technician (City license + NEWWA/ASSE training + CR100 registration); Pittsburgh Water (PWSA) requires ASSE certification uploaded to its online portal, devices tested annually. Cycle/fee/CE for these cities could not be confirmed from an official PDF, so left null.

How often you need to renew

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Safe Drinking Water does not publish a fixed statewide renewal cycle online. Renewal timing is set by your local jurisdiction.

Continuing education and retesting requirements

Continuing education requirements vary by local jurisdiction in Pennsylvania.

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 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Safe Drinking Water well before your expiration date.

How to renew, step by step

  1. Confirm your exact expiration date on your certification card or with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Safe Drinking Water.
  2. Complete any required refresher course or continuing education for your jurisdiction.
  3. Submit the renewal application to the local authority or water purveyor that issued your credential before the deadline.
  4. 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 Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Safe Drinking Water does not publish a fixed statewide renewal cycle online. Renewal timing is set by your local jurisdiction.

Who regulates backflow tester certification in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Safe Drinking Water. There is no single statewide credential in Pennsylvania: requirements are set locally by cities, counties, or water purveyors. Contact your local water purveyor for the rules that apply to you.

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

No. In Pennsylvania, requirements are set entirely at the local level, so the renewal cycle, approved courses, and fees can differ from one jurisdiction to another.

What happens if my Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Safe Drinking Water well before your expiration date.

Official source

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

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