FAQ

Office of Water Programs (OWP) courses are administered and monitored by California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State), and, therefore, are subject to the Sacramento State Academic Honesty Policy https://catalog.csus.edu/academic-policies/. Participants in our courses are licensed operators and individuals who are aiming to be licensed. They have a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and value of our courses to the profession and the communities they serve. OWP works to protect the integrity and accreditation of courses and materials by setting expectations for students and investigating violations of academic honesty and copyright infringement. This protection may include presenting different versions of course materials (including, but not limited to, exam questions) to different students.

As a professional participant enrolled in our courses, it is expected that all course work will be completed by you and that the course work demonstrates your skills and knowledge of the subject matter. As part of an educational community, OWP expects that all course participants protect the integrity of the curriculum and student grades. Activities that violate Sacramento State's academic honesty policy and OWP course expectations include sharing exam questions and answers, purchasing or acquiring exam questions and answers from others, turning in exams or other course work completed by others as the student's own, or any other misrepresentation of the student's knowledge or skills.

In addition, OWP course materials—including training manuals and exam questions and answers—are copyrighted by OWP. Publishing, reproducing, selling, or otherwise distributing any of OWP's materials without prior, explicit permission from OWP (except as allowed by law) is a violation of copyright.

By participating in OWP courses and submitting exams for grading, you acknowledge that you have read and understand OWP's academic integrity, course expectations, and copyright statement.

If you're just beginning to think about operator training, here's some certification information to help you get started. Another resource for information about working in the water sector is Work for Water.

No application is required. Our correspondence and eLearning courses are open to everyone, and you do not need to enroll at Sacramento State to participate (except for the Water Treatment Specialist and Wastewater Treatment Specialist courses). Just select the courses and training materials that meet your needs.

While OWP is an approved education provider, we are not authorized to recommend courses or provide advice on behalf of your certification agency. Please contact your certification agency directly to determine which courses they recommend for your license. Once you have their recommendation, OWP can assist with course registration or purchasing course materials.

Study the course material at your own pace. Manuals may include self-study course instructions and recommendations for long-term learning near the table of contents to help you successfully complete the course. Most manuals include section questions, a Chapter Review, and an Answer Key that can be used to test your knowledge of the material as you move through it. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the material in each chapter, using the section questions to assess your understanding of the material. Then answer the Chapter Review questions. Check your answers against the Answer Key (at the back of the book) and review the material about any questions that you answer incorrectly.

When enrolled in a course, you can complete your objective tests when you are satisfied with your mastery of the chapter content. (Check the course time limit to be sure that you submit all tests before your enrollment expires.) Testing instructions are provided when you enroll in a course.

• Courses worth 0.6 to 3.0 continuing education units (CEUs) must be completed within three (3) months of the date of enrollment.

• Courses worth 3.1 to 9.0 CEUs must be completed within six (6) months of the date of enrollment

• Certificate program courses for academic credit must be completed within six (6) months of enrollment.

The time to complete each course depends upon each person. Each individual sets his or her own pace, but we recommend that you establish a regular schedule such as one or two evenings a week or on Saturday mornings. Most students require from 50 to 150 hours of study to complete each course.

New editions of our courses are developed to ensure that students receive the most current information about processes, regulations, and technologies. Once an edition has been replaced with a more current version, it is no longer appropriate to grade tests that are based on outdated material. Courses that have been successfully completed may only be repeated when a revised edition becomes available.

During the transition period from one edition to the next (usually 6 months) we grade both versions to accommodate those students who had just begun the course when the new edition became available.

To ensure the best test results, it is important that the edition of the manual you are using matches the edition of the course you are enrolled in.

Each training manual published in 2017 or later by Pearson includes an access card with an access code and instructions for registering and signing into the eText Portal. Once in the portal, select the Register button for the manual you have purchased. After you have accepted the License Agreement and Privacy Policy, enter the access code from the access card in the next screen. After you complete the registration, you can use the Sign in button to return to the eText.

Most online courses are companions to the printed training manuals. Each course assigns readings from the training manual and delivers related lessons, videos, interactive exercises, math practice activities, and online exams over the Internet. Access to the training manual is required to successfully complete the Wastewater Treatment online courses.

The online math courses provide step-by-step explanations of calculations operators use on the job and the concepts behind these calculations. Each course is presented in both US customary and metric units, allowing students to select the unit system for the final exam. Online math courses do not assign readings from the associated training manual. However, students are encouraged to purchase the associated training manual for more detailed information about processes, procedures, math concepts, and practice problems.

For a complete list of online offerings, see our Online Courses page. (Note to Texas and Washington operators: Your states require that your exams be proctored and that an affidavit be signed by your proctor. After purchase, you will receive detailed proctoring instructions.)

You may take more than one course at a time, but remember that the course time limits apply to each course you order. That means that if you enroll in two courses with 6-month time limits at the same time, you must finish both within the same 6-month period. Enrollment time limits begin on the date you place your order.

Instructor guides are double-sided loose-leaf pages printed in black and white. They contain sample questions for each chapter within the designated course, which can serve as discussion questions in the classroom. It's important to note that instructor guides are not an instructor version of our course manuals and they do not contain our course exam questions.

If you are interested in purchasing instructor guides, please submit the following information on school/company letterhead to wateroffice@owp.csus.edu for credential evaluation and verification:

1. Qualifications of the instructor(s) for whom you are requesting instructor guides, accompanied by their resumes and class schedules if applicable (for those teaching at a college/university).

2. State the intended use of the instructor guides, including the scope of their use (e.g., teaching courses) and the location(s) where courses will be held.

3. Specify the titles of the manuals/courses for which you wish to procure instructor guides, along with the respective names of the instructors requesting each manual title.

Some of our larger manuals, such as, Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Volume 1, and Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Volume 2, have been split into multiple courses. For instance, Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Volume 1, comprises three courses—A, B, and C—each with its own separate instructor guide.

Qualified and verified instructors can purchase instructor guides for $35.00 per course. These items are non-refundable and orders must be paid in full prior to shipment.

For any additional questions, please email wateroffice@owp.csus.edu.

Some students may request a pdf version of our training manuals that can be read aloud by screen readers as an ADA accommodation.

To request an ADA accommodation for a textbook purchased directly from OWP, please send an email to wateroffice@owp.csus.edu with your request and an attached letter from a medical provider verifying a disability that requires accommodations. Please note that the letter can be a general verification without disclosing a specific disability. Documentation from entities other than a medical provider are not sufficient to verify an accommodation request.

Students enrolled in our courses have access to online exams at no extra cost. Online exams are available from your OWP online account.

Note: Each chapter exam has a 3-hour time limit, and each exam must be completed in a single session. There is no option to pause or resume the session at a later time or date. You can take the chapter exams in any order and are not required to take all course exams in a single day.

Follow these steps to start taking online exams:

1. Log into your OWP online account or create one as a first-time user.
   

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2. Click the 'Course Enrollments' tab.


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3. Click a course title in 'Active Enrollments'.


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4. Click 'Start online exam' for the chapter test you want to take. Simple instructions guide you through your online exam.

A grade of 70% or better overall is required to earn a certificate of completion. The final course grade, given as a percentage, is the number of points earned for all correct answers on all chapter tests in the course divided by the total points possible for those chapter tests.

If you enroll in a course online, you will be given the opportunity to add the paper enrollment packet to your order upon checkout.

To purchase a paper enrollment packet online after enrolling in a course:

1. Sign into your OWP account.
2. Click 'My Account' in the upper right corner of the screen.
3. Select 'Course Enrollments' in the middle of the screen.
4. Click 'Purchase Paper Enrollment Packet' next to the course title.
5. Follow the checkout process.

To purchase a paper enrollment packet over the phone, please contact our customer support team at (916) 278-6142 for assistance.

To accurately assess each student's knowledge of the course content and to protect the integrity of all the exam questions, OWP may provide different exam versions or test questions to different students. Please see the Academic Honesty, Course Expectations, and Copyright section of this FAQ for more information. Select an exam method, follow the directions provided, and answer the questions presented in that exam method.

No. The extra sheets are in case you make a mistake. The Final Exam/Comprehensive Review Questions are provided for you to review how well you remember the material.

For Small Water Systems Video Information Series, the test questions are inside the manual at the end of each chapter and no separate question booklet is needed.

Some states have proctoring requirements for course exams. For more information, please see State Requirements.

The continuing education units (CEUs) for each course are determined using the amount of instructional material included in each course. The CEUs for each course are listed in the online course catalog below the course description (see the red box in the example provided). The equivalent contact hours are also listed.

Continuing education units (CEUs) are offered for all OWP courses, and are designed for use where employers, relicensure agencies, and other authorities require a specified number of hours of study on a regular basis for career advancement purposes. Only students enrolled in the Water Treatment Specialist Certificate or the Wastewater Treatment Specialist Certificate programs can earn academic credit that may be applied to college degree programs.

Yes. Upon successful completion of each CEU course you will receive a Certificate of Completion from California State University, Sacramento.

To order a duplicate of your certificate, please login to your account, click on the Student History tab, and select the "Purchase Duplicate Certificate" link.

If you are taking a Specialist Certificate Program course, upon completion of all three courses, a Specialist Certificate will be awarded from California State University, Sacramento.

To request a CEU Transcript, please login to your account on our website, click on the Course Enrollments tab, and select the "Purchase CEU Transcript" link. Or you can contact OWP by phone (916) 278-6142. To process your request for a CEU transcript, we will need the following information: your name, address, telephone number, and email address.

To request a College Credit Transcript (for Specialist Certificate Program courses), please contact the Sacramento State Office of Admissions and Records.

OWP does not offer quantity discounts on our course manuals. As a self-supported university center, we strive to set our prices as low as possible to make our manuals widely accessible. Our pricing reflects the direct costs of production and supports our mission to provide cost-effective solutions for protecting and enhancing water resources, public health, and the environment through training, scientific research, and public education.

OWP accepts purchase orders from business customers. Purchase orders must meet the following conditions for acceptance:

1. Purchase orders must be typed and on company letterhead or a purchase order template that includes your organization's insignia.

2. Purchase orders must include our name, address, and phone number as shown below

   University Enterprises, Inc.
   Office of Water Programs
   California State University, Sacramento
   6000 J Street
   Sacramento, CA 95819-6025
   Phone: (916) 278-6142

3. Purchase orders must have a billing address and shipping address. A physical street address is required if you are ordering manuals or DVDs for UPS delivery for your organization.

4. Prices and quantities for each item being ordered must be listed on purchase orders.

5. Please contact us to calculate the shipping cost for your order. The shipping cost must be listed as a separate line item on purchase orders. If you are ordering five or more manuals to be shipped to a single address in the continental United States, we provide free UPS ground shipping.

6. If you are ordering course enrollments and/or course packages for students or staff members, you must include the person's first and last name, the last four digits of their social security number, and an email address for each enrollment and/or course package. This information can be included on the purchase order or be submitted with an accompanying Order Form.

7. Purchase orders must have a grand total including all shipping costs. If you are located in the state of California, you must also include applicable sales tax.

8. Purchase orders must be signed by a person authorized to purchase for your organization.

9. Purchase orders must be emailed to wateroffice@owp.csus.edu.

OWP courses are not covered by veterans benefits or military tuition assistance.

Your items will remain in your shopping cart for 30 days. If you do not complete your purchase within that time, the cart will be emptied and you will need to begin your shopping again.

To place an order by mail, fill out this Printable Order Form, print it, and mail it to our office. We recomend that you download and fill out the form usign Acrobat Reader. The form does not calculate totals correctly in the web browser.

Because shipping charges vary depending on weight and destination, we recommend that you call our office to calculate exact shipping charges before mailing your order form.

All orders with a grand total exceeding $8,000 USD require a 50% deposit prior to shipment. Orders totaling less than $8,000 USD do not require a deposit.

Yes, the total balance of your company account cannot exceed $5,000 USD, unless a 50% deposit has been paid on an order of $10,000 USD or greater.

OWP delivers to prisons, but we strongly suggest you contact the prison first to confirm that they accept deliveries and to note any special regulations the prison might have. Some prisons don't allow delivery of books. Others place a limit on the number of items contained in a package.

We're unable to affix any special labels or instructions to the packages. On the outside of the package we will indicate only the destination address, our company name, and our return address. We also cannot allow gifts to be sent anonymously to inmates; the sender's billing address will appear on the payment receipt included in the package.

Because of special handling involved with inmates receiving orders, a liability waiver must be completed, which can be received by calling OWP at (916)278-6142, and all orders must be placed over the phone.

Please check the confirmation email you received when you made your purchase for tracking information. If you still cannot locate your materials, please contact our office at:
(916) 278-6142 or wateroffice@owp.csus.edu

Please remember that orders placed after 1:30 pm will not be processed until the next business day. OWP business days are Monday through Friday.

View our return policy here: Return Policy

Yes. For shipments using the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, or customer accounts, please contact our office at (916) 278-6142 or wateroffice@owp.csus.edu

Yes. If you have a state-issued Operator License Number, OWP can link it to your enrollment account. This will improve long-term coordination of record keeping between your state agency and your educational achievements. Go to the Manage My Account section of this website.