Virginia Backflow Prevention Tester Certification: Renewal Requirements

Regulating agency
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors
Renewal cycle
2 years
CE required
Not published by the agency. Confirm directly with Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors.
Renewal fee
$110 renewal (effective Aug 1, 2025); $150 initial certification; $160 reinstatement (up to 24 months after expiration); exam fee capped at $100
Regulation level
Statewide

Last verified: 2026-07-14

Who regulates backflow tester certification in Virginia

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

The authority for backflow tester credentials in Virginia is Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors. License category: Backflow Prevention Device Worker, under 18VAC50-30-120(B) - certifications expire 2 years from the last day of the month issued (shorter than the 3-year cycle for other tradesman categories). Testing/repair by a DPOR-certified worker became mandatory 01/01/2023 (12VAC5-590-630, Waterworks Regs). No continuing education is currently required (confirmed both in regulation and on DPOR's own program page). A Cornell LII mirror shows stale pre-amendment fees; law.lis.virginia.gov is authoritative.

How often you need to renew

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

Continuing education and retesting requirements

Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors 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 Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors well before your expiration date.

How to renew, step by step

  1. Confirm your exact expiration date on your certification card or with Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors.
  2. Complete any required refresher course or continuing education for your jurisdiction.
  3. Submit the renewal application and the $110 renewal (effective Aug 1, 2025); $150 initial certification; $160 reinstatement (up to 24 months after expiration); exam fee capped at $100 fee to the agency 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 Virginia?

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

Who regulates backflow tester certification in Virginia?

Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors. Certification is regulated at the state level: one credential is valid across Virginia.

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

Mostly yes. Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors well before your expiration date.

Official source

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

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