Washington State Backflow Exam Prep
How to Schedule an Exam
You don't actually need a course in order to schedule the exam, but you do need a high school diploma or GED. There are currently no work experience submission requirements. Most students do take a backflow course to learn the information and practice, more info on our backflow courses on our Washington Page
More general information on the Washington BAT Exam can be found here - http://wcs.greenriver.edu/bat/cert-verify/ - the cost for the exam to the state is currently $225.
The practical exam is the first step in the process. The exam is conducted by Washington Certification Services which is a subsidiary or some relation to Green River College. There is some more information on the practical exam on their website but we also interviewed people taking the exams and have it broken down below as well.
Once you pass the practical exam, you then schedule a computer based written exam. The exam is run through PSI, and there is typically a fee that you pay to them in order to schedule as well.
What is on the Washington Backflow Assembly Tester (BAT) practical exam?
Washington Certification Services has a breakdown on their website, and below is a list of things collected from their website and interviews with people who have taken the test. It is quite different ( less difficult ) than ABPA or AWWA third party exams, so if you are watching our YouTube Channel and seeing prep videos for those exams, much of the information is not applicable.
Applicants test all four backflow assembly types, SVB, PVB, DCV, RP utilizing the USC 10th Edition Procedures. Diagnostic steps are not required for use in the exam.
You do not need to record results on test forms, much of the ABPA study material is based on how to fill out the test report correctly, but for Washington State you just call out the answers.
The test itself must be done blind ( no study aids ), but a copy of the USC 10th Edition Testing Procedures are available for the applicant's use in a different area, typically about 10 feet away from the station. Scratch paper can also be used, so you could theoretically write down all of the procedures on the scrap paper and then use them for the test if you write super fast.
The SVB can only be in proper operating condition, the other three valves may have "malfunctions," or simulated failures, from interviews it seems that the exams usually simulate failures on all three, but the way it is worded online is that you could have as few as zero. However, the applicant must only diagnose the failure, the auxiliary diagnostic steps are not required, but the diagnosis must be complete. For example, a DCV can have a simulated Shut Off Valve #1 leak, when you open Test Cock #3 and water continues to flow, the applicant must diagnose "Shut Off Valve #1 is leaking with flow," after which the proctor stops simulating the failure, and then the applicant re-does the last step, and would just record the Check Valve #1 reading as normal.
Because of the failures and not completely blind exam setup, we would recommend just taking a course to practice, but not spend much time memorizing diagnostics and how to fill out test reports. You would want to be familiar with the results you find when testing and encounter any shutoff or check valve failures, but not necessarily the extra steps listed in the USC 10th Edition Textbook - Chapter 9
Their full practical exam instructions are downloadable here
What is on the Washington Backflow Assembly Tester (BAT) written exam?
Washington Certification Services utilizes the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) Standardized Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Exam through a third party PSI that puts it in a computerized format.
The Need To Know Criteria for the ABC Exams are on their website at www.gowpi.org/services/abc-testing/need-to-know-criteria/ - just find backflow tester - it is available for download and just breaks down the things you need to study before taking the exam.
We have found that much of the ABC Exam Material is not based on the USC 10th Edition, there are just different ways to describe things and areas to focus on. Specifically things like Barometric Loops and many of the differences in devices and assemblies, are not covered thoroughly in the USC book. They likely used either the AWWA Manual M14 textbook ($140) or the EPA Cross Connection Control Manual (free download) as the base textbook for those items. ABC exams are widely used and are the standard for 2 other states and a few other training organizations, they are often proctored in person as well and are done similarly to ASSE's third party exams.
Study for the Exam
Definitely check out our YouTube Channel or schedule a class via our Washington Page
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