Water Credit Categories
The February 2024 revision of the Vermont Water Supply Rule requires that Class 2, 3, 4, and D water operators get a minimum number of training credit hours (TCHs) in particular categories of training classes. This does not apply to Class 1A or 1B water operators or wastewater operators.
Class 2 Requirements
Class 2 water treatment operators are encouraged to categorize their credit hours for the 2026 renewal cycle and will be required to do so for the 2029 renewal cycle.
A total of 10 training credit hours (TCHs) are required for renewal.
| Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 3 |
|
|
|
| 3 TCH minimum | 3 TCH minimum | No minimum |
|
10 TCH total |
||
Download a worksheet to track your credit hours in Excel.
Download a printer-friendly worksheet to track your credit hours.
Class 3 Requirements
Class 3 water treatment operators are required to categorize their credit hours starting in the 2028 renewal cycle.
A total of 20 training credit hours (TCHs) are required for renewal.
| Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 3 |
|
|
|
| 6 TCH minimum | 6 TCH minimum | No minimum |
|
20 TCH total |
||
Download a worksheet to track your credit hours in Excel.
Download a printer-friendly worksheet to track your credit hours.
Class 4 Requirements
A total of 20 training credit hours (TCHs) are required for renewal.
Download a worksheet to track your credit hours in Excel.
Download a printer-friendly worksheet to track your credit hours.
Class D Requirements
Class D water distribution operators are required to categorize their credit hours starting in the 2028 renewal cycle.
A total of 20 training credit hours (TCHs) are required for renewal.
Category 1
• Regulatory
• Public Health
• Distribution
• Worksite Safety
10 TCH minimum
Category 2
• Treatment
• Management and/or Finance
• Operation and Maintenance
• Hydraulics/Pumps
6 TCH minimum
Category 3
• All other approved training topics
No minimum
Download a worksheet to track your credit hours in Excel.
Download a printer-friendly worksheet to track your credit hours.
Dual 2D Requirements
Operators who are dually certified in Class 2 water treatment and distribution may apply up 5 TCH as “dual” credits per renewal cycle. A total of 15 training credit hours (TCHs) are required for renewal.
| Treatment Category 1 |
Treatment Category 2 |
Treatment Category 3 |
Distribution Category 1 |
Distribution Category 2 |
|
|
All other approved training topics |
|
|
| 3 TCH minimum | 3 TCH minimum | No minimum | 5 TCH minimum towards distribution | |
| 10 TCH minimum towards treatment | ||||
| 15 TCH total | ||||
Download a worksheet to track your credit hours in Excel.
Download a printer-friendly worksheet to track your credit hours.
Dual 3D Requirements
Operators who are dually certified in Class 3 water treatment and distribution may apply up 10 TCH as “dual” credits per renewal cycle. A total of 30 training credit hours (TCHs) are required for renewal.
| Treatment Category 1 |
Treatment Category 2 |
Treatment Category 3 |
Distribution Category 1 |
Distribution Category 2 |
|
|
All other approved training topics |
|
|
| 6 TCH minimum | 6 TCH minimum | No minimum | 10 TCH minimum towards distribution | |
| 20 TCH minimum towards treatment | ||||
| 30 TCH total | ||||
Download a worksheet to track your credit hours in Excel.
Download a printer-friendly worksheet to track your credit hours.
Dual 4D Requirements
Operators who are dually certified in Class 4 water treatment and distribution may apply up 10 TCH as “dual” credits per renewal cycle. A total of 30 training credit hours (TCHs) are required for renewal.
| Treatment Category 1 |
Treatment Category 2 |
Treatment Category 3 |
Distribution Category 1 |
Distribution Category 2 |
|
|
All other approved training topics |
|
|
| 6 TCH minimum | 6 TCH minimum | No minimum | 10 TCH minimum towards distribution | |
| 20 TCH minimum towards treatment | ||||
| 30 TCH total | ||||
Download a worksheet to track your credit hours in Excel.
Download a printer-friendly worksheet to track your credit hours.
Legacy Distribution
Operators with a Class 2, 3, or 4 water treatment certification and a Legacy D distribution certification should follow the renewal requirements of their treatment certification. There are no additional credit hours required to renew the Legacy D certification. Your Legacy D certification will renew at the same time as your treatment certification.
Worksheets
Vermont Rural Water has put together some worksheets to help operators track their credit hours and categories. You can use the Excel file to track your credit hours on a computer or print the PDF to track by hand. (These worksheets are NOT required for renewal.)
Class 2 Worksheet: Excel | PDF
Class 3 Worksheet: Excel | PDF
Class 4 Worksheet: Excel | PDF
Class D Worksheet: Excel | PDF
Dual 2D Worksheet: Excel | PDF
Dual 3D Worksheet: Excel | PDF
Dual 4D Worksheet: Excel | PDF
Training Classes
Classes offered by Vermont Rural Water will be categorized starting in January 2026. Look for a class’s category in the description on our website and on your training certificate.
If a training class is relevant to multiple categories, the operator may choose which category to apply it towards. A class providing less than 4 TCHs can only be applied to one category. A class providing 4 TCHs or more may be applied to multiple categories in half-hour increments.
Renewal
Class 2 and 4 water operators are encouraged to categorize their credit hours for the 2026 renewal cycle and will be required to do so for the 2029 renewal cycle.
Class 3 and D water operators will be required to categorize their credit hours for the 2028 renewal cycle.
Operators should use ANR’s new nFORM to renew their certifications. Starting in 2026, the nFORM will include “buckets,” allowing operators to list their training classes by category.
Operators must provide documentation of credit hours earned, such as training certificates.