IMPORTANT UPDATE:

Washington State Department of Health has officially made the decision to extend the 3-year professional growth period for all certified BATs by one year due to the limitations of practical examinations the COVID19 pandemic has caused.

For those BATs with professions growth periods ending 12/13/21: your professional growth period now ends 12/31/22. Your next cycle will start 1/1/23 and end 12/31/25.

For those BATs with professions growth periods ending 12/13/24: your professional growth period now ends 12/31/25 . Your next cycle will start 1/1/26 and end 12/31/28.

Backflow Assembly Tester

Professional Growth Requirement

The Waterworks Operator Certification regulation, WAC 246-292-090(4), requires the holder of a Backflow Assembly Tester (BAT) certification to demonstrate professional growth by passing the Department of Health’s (DOH) BAT professional growth examination during each reporting period. Washington Certification Services schedules and administers the professional growth examination.

All certified BATs are assigned a professional growth reporting period based on their original certification date. DOH allows each BAT a minimum of three years to meet the professional growth requirement by passing the professional growth examination. This examination may be taken at any time during the reporting period dates, but must be passed by the reporting period deadline date.

If an applicant fails the professional growth examination they will be required to reapply, pay all applicable fees, and take the examination again. DOH highly recommends that individuals refrain from testing until such time as they have passed the professional growth examination. However, it is not required that they stop testing unless they are notified that they no longer hold an active certification.

The following timetable indicates when a certified BAT must meet the professional growth requirement.