Certified Water Specialist (CWS) Path

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For:

Sales Reps

Technicians

Dealers

Course Format:

Live-Online

A CWS certification demonstrates a water treatment professional’s advanced knowledge and skill in selling and configuring treatment equipment and multistage treatment trains for residential problem water applications. Consumers recognize the CWS badge as a mark of solid skills and credibility, boosting their confidence in the pro’s recommendations and performance.

Fully commit to your CWS training!

Save both time and money by purchasing all three courses – and paying the certification exam fee – right now in one bundle.

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3-course series

10 months

Class starts week of January 21, 2025

Offered at two different times for East Coast/West Coast convenience

This is a 3-course series led by expert instructors and includes live, remote classes and online assignments. Learn to:

  • Identify the problems caused by aesthetic contaminants and test for them
  • Interpret drinking water reports
  • Apply and size POU/POE treatment technologies for aesthetic and drinking water contaminants
  • Explain the benefits of certified products
  • Resolve ethical dilemmas and comply with anti-trust regulations
  • Relevant Field Experience- Minimum of six months experience selling POU/POE water treatment equipment in the B2C market
  • Complete Prerequisite Coursework- Instructor-Led Training –
    Course 1: Assessing Water Quality Problems
    Course 2: Application & Sizing of POU/POE Treatment for Aesthetic Contaminants
    Course 3: Application & Sizing of POU/POE Treatment for Drinking Water Contaminants
  • Pass Certified Water Treatment Representative Exam
  • Maintain certification/recertification requirements

Get the complete course package

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Assessing Water Quality Problems

For:

Service techs

Sales Reps

System Designers

Dealers

Certification Coursework:

CWS/CWR/CST/CTD 

Course Format:

Live-Online

This 14-week course is WQA’s Introductory Instructor-led course on POU/POE Water Treatment and the first course required for the CWS/CWR/CST/CTD certification titles. It walks the learner through identifying aesthetic problems, onsite testing, interpreting water analyses for aesthetic contaminants, and drinking water regulations.

2 hours/week (includes time for homework)

14 weeks

Offered at two different times for East Coast/West Coast convenience

Peter Cartwright
Paul Fiot

Application & Sizing of POU/POE Treatment for Aesthetic Contaminants

For:

Service Techs

Sales Reps

System Designers

Dealers

Certification Coursework:

CWS/CWR/CST/CTD 

Course Format:

Live-Online

This 15-week course moves from identifying problems into how to select and correctly size treatment equipment for aesthetic contaminants. It is the final course in the CWR coursework and the second in a series for the CWS/CST/CTD titles.

2 hours/week

15 weeks

Peter Cartwright
Paul Fiot

Application & Sizing of POU/POE Treatment for Drinking Water Contaminants

For:

System Designers

Dealers

Certification Coursework:

CWS/CTD

Course Format:

Live-Online

This course focuses on the occurrence, chemical behavior and treatment of contaminants that can be hazardous to health.  It is the final course required for the CWS exam and the third of four for the CTD coursework.

2 hours/week

13 weeks

Peter Cartwright
Paul Fiot

Course Purchase Options

Pricing for the three pre-requisite courses and the CWS exam are listed as individual fees or as one cost-saving bundle so you can choose the option that is right for you.

Individual courses

Assessing Water Quality Problems

For:

Service techs

Sales Reps

System Designers

Dealers

Certification Coursework:

CWS/CWR/CST/CTD 

Course Format:

Live-Online

2 hours/week

14 weeks

Regular Pricing

$599-$779*

Members

$1,359*

Non-members

*Price includes 3% convenience fee

Application & Sizing of POU/POE Treatment for Aesthetic Contaminants

For:

Service techs

Sales Reps

System Designers

Dealers

Certification Coursework:

CWS/CWR/CST/CTD 

Course Format:

Live-Online

2 hours/week

15 weeks

Regular Pricing

$599-$779*

Members

$1,359*

Non-members

*Price includes 3% convenience fee

Application & Sizing of POU/POE Treatment for Drinking Water Contaminants

For:

System Designers

Dealers

Certification Coursework:

CWS/CTD

Course Format:

Live-Online

2 hours/week

13 weeks

Regular Pricing

$599-$779*

Members

$1,359*

Non-members

*Price includes 3% convenience fee

Exam

Certified Water Specialist (CWS) Exam

For:

Service Techs

System Designers

Dealers

Course Format:

Online

$259*

Core/Premier Members

$299*

E-members

$575*

Non-members

*Price includes 3% convenience fee

Peter Cartwright
Paul Fiot

Complete Certification Bundle

Certified Water Specialist (CWS) Bundle

For:

Sales Reps

System Designers

Dealers

The Water Specialist Training bundle includes:
Course 1: Assessing Water Quality Problems
Course 2: Application & Sizing of POU/POE Treatment for Aesthetic Contaminants
Course 3: Application & Sizing of POU/POE Treatment for Drinking Water Contaminants
Certified Water Specialist (CWS) Exam Fee

Regular Pricing

$1,899-$2,309*

Members

$4,209*

Non-members

*Price includes 3% convenience fee

WQA offers accelerated pathways to achieve the CWS.

For professionals with 2+ years of experience selling and configuring treatment equipment and multistage treatment trains for residential problem water applications, direct to consumers.

  • 2+ years of experience specifying problem water treatment for B2C applications
  • Pass Two Challenge Tests for Assessing Water Quality & Application and Sizing of POU/POE water treatment for problem water applications in the B2C market
  • Complete self-paced online Ethics Course
  • Pass Certification Exam

CWS Accelerated Path Bundle:

Two Assessment Test

Ethics Course

CWS Exam

* Optional

Offered at two different times for East Coast/West Coast convenience

Winter

Start Date:  Jan 21, 2025 OR  Jan 24, 2025 | 3-course series – 10 months

Spring

Start Date: April 15, 2025 OR April 16, 2025 | 3-course series – 10 months

Fall

Start Date: August 20, 2025 OR  August 21, 2025 | 3-course series – 10 months