California Backflow Tester Certification Courses
40-Hour Backflow Class Schedule ($1,000)
San Jose, CA - Monday 06/16/25 through Friday 06/20/25
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – Monday 07/07/25 through Friday 07/11/25
If you are looking for Mon - Fri courses in Los Angeles - check out USC at www.uscfoundationstore.com - it's reasonably priced for members
There is an exam required after the 40-hour course to become a general tester, California currently has it set up with each county having a separate system, you often have to apply and pay a fee with the counties, most of them require a third party exam before applying, or some counties have their own exam. County by County requirements are broken down at the bottom of the webpage, they are in order of population, if your county is omitted it's probably an easy google search and the lower population ones usually don't have county level programs. More info on how to schedule and study for the AWWA / local exam(s) on our Exam Test Prep page.
16-Hour Class Schedule ( $500 )
For two days of every 40-hour course we offer an accelerated version for people that are scheduled for a renewal exam, or have work experience or other qualifications that exempt them from needing a course diploma to sit for the exam. This version is NOT considered a "formal backflow course." You can also take this course and then if you need the 40-hour later we can apply the $500 already paid to the full course. Study Guide Included.
San Jose, CA - Wednesday 06/18/25 through Thursday 06/19/25
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – Wednesday 07/09/25 through Thursday 07/10/25
Do a Private Course or Host A Public Course
No course scheduled in your area ? We have two additional programs available, links to more info below:
Private Course - We can come to your location and train only your staff, bring all props, handouts, equipment, etc., Minimum of 10 students
Host a Course - Similar to a private course, we come to your facility and train your staff, but also you allow other local technicians to attend. No minimums for these and you get 2 free students.
Course Approvals
Our course on its own can certify a technician to test preventers in some situations, mostly on Military Bases / Native American Reservations. To test on new construction or annual tests on preventers that tie to California State regulated water purveyors, an additional county or third party exam, and a county or local registration, is probably required.
Our 40-hour course is based on the USC (University of Southern California) 10th edition textbook and course materials. We have submitted our course and received approval for our training with the third party exam providers like AWWA, ABPA, etc., and we also submitted and received approval for the counties in the state of California that have their own exam and require a course prior to application.
County Breakdown - title is a link to their website - counties in order of population - some omitted
Los Angeles County – Testers have to be certified through The County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health, we have the application downloadable here - You need to pass a practical examination, hold a formal backflow certification (40-hour), and you have to be employed by someone who has a CSLB ( California State Licensing Board ) C-36 Plumbing Contractor License, i.e. the other C level licenses such as Fire Sprinkler or Irrigation have been confirmed on their website to not be acceptable. Their full book is downloadable here and their exam includes testing procedures that are not part of the USC textbook, including "water column test procedures" for the DCV and PVB, and test procedures for the "two check vacuum breaker" which is a version of the PVB, we cover these in our LA area courses and it's also in their book.
San Diego County – There is no county level management agency, so testers need to be registered with each water purveyor. The City of San Diego Public Utilities Department is the main water purveyor, and testers need to take a third party exam with AWWA or similar and then schedule a tester orientation meeting to get registered.
Orange County – Testers need to be certified directly through Orange County Health Care Agency, Division of Environmental Health. They require the AWWA third party exam, and you apply to the county with no additional exams.
Riverside County – Testers need to register with the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, application is downloadable here and includes taking the AWWA third party exam and then you submit the certification to them for registration. The application asks for a "plumbing contractor" and "journeyman plumber registration" number, but we have confirmed with the county that these are just informational and not required to be a tester in the county.
San Bernardino County – Testers need to hold a certification with the County Department of Environmental Health, which requires "proof of completion of a 40-hour Backflow Prevention course" which our course is valid for submission. You can also take a written exam online without a course. You then have to take a "Backflow Tester Certification Competency Exam" which we understand to be a practical exam similar to AWWA using the USC 10th Edition Procedures.
Santa Clara County – There is no county level management agency, so testers need to be registered with each water purveyor. San Jose Water and Cal Water operate in these areas, both accept the AWWA third party exam with no additional local exams.
Alameda County – There is no county level management agency, so testers need to be registered with the water purveyors. For Alameda County Water District, they have extensive pre-requisites, application requirements here, you have to take the AWWA third party exam, be a tester for a period of 2 years and test over 100 devices in that 2 years, and they only accept applications between Nov 1st and 30th each year. For East Bay Municipal Utilities District, testers need to take the AWWA or similar third party exam ( many options are listed ), and then take a written and hands on examination with East Bay MUD, they happen every six months usually January and July. If you need a smaller local one in the county they would accept AWWA.
Sacramento County – Testers need to hold an AWWA certification and register with the Sacramento County Department of Environmental Management. For more info can email them at crossconnection@saccounty.net
Contra Costa County – There is no county level management agency, so testers need to be registered with the water purveyors. For Contra Costa Water District, they don't publish their requirements, but accept the AWWA third party exam. For East Bay Municipal Utilities District, testers need to take the AWWA or similar third party exam ( many options are listed ), and then take a written and hands on examination with East Bay MUD, they happen every six months usually January and July. If you need a smaller local one in the county they would accept AWWA.
Fresno County – There is no county level management agency, most of the county is operated by Cal-Water, which accepts the AWWA third party exam.
Kern County – There is no county level management agency, most of the county is operated by Cal-Water, which accepts the AWWA third party exam.
City and County of San Francisco – Testers need to take the AWWA or similar third party exam (many are listed), have a certificate of liability insurance, have a calibrated test kit, and submit an application to the San Francisco Department of Health.
Ventura County – This is regulated by the County of Ventura, Resource Management Agency. They require the AWWA third party exam, and you apply to the county with no additional exams.
San Mateo County – There is no county level management agency, most of the county is operated by Cal-Water, which accepts the AWWA third party exam.
San Joaquin County – This is managed by the San Joaquin County Environmental Health Department’s, and they require the AWWA third party exam to get on the list.
Stanislaus County – This is managed by the Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Resources, and they require taking the AWWA third party exam to get on the list. Our contact is rariess@envres.org
Marin County – This is managed by Marin Water – they require taking the AWWA third party exam or similar, ABPA is also listed, and then you fill out a registration form to set up a hands-on demonstration with them, held in April and October of each year. They also ask for your CSLB license number, C-36 Plumbing, C-27 Landscaping, C-16 Fire Sprinkler, or miscellaneous related field that includes backflow prevention assemblies, but it's not super clear if the licenses are required or just informational.
Santa Barbara County - There is no county level program, each jurisdiction has their own list. The City of Santa Barbara requires the AWWA third party exam, or a similar local county exam, generally people would take the AWWA exam. Santa Ynez Conservation district has the same requirements but a separate submission to get on their tester list.
(if your county is not listed, you might want to google it yourself and check their requirements, if they are not listed then there is likely no county program and every water purveyor that we have contacted in the state accepts the AWWA third party examination)
Which Backflow Preventer Testing Procedures Should I Use?
For the state of California, the only accepted testing procedures are the USC 10th Edition, with the exception of the sight tube procedures accepted additionally and only in Los Angeles County.
On our YouTube Channel, we created a series of videos where we test the four types of preventers using these procedures, we also have in depth videos on how to prepare for the county or third party practical exams on our Exam Prep Page
The Complete Guide to Testing Backflow Preventers - By the Book
Reduced Pressure Principle (RPZ) - USC 5-Valve Procedures
Double Check Valve Assembly (DCV) - USC Procedures
Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB) - USC Procedures
Spill Resistant Vacuum Breaker (SVB) - USC Procedures
Reduced Pressure Principle (RPZ) - USC 2-Valve Procedures
Los Angeles County - PVB Sight Tube Test
Los Angeles County - DCV Sight Tube Test
You can purchase the USC 10th Edition textbook at www.uscfoundationstore.com