CWEA Completes Revalidation of Collection System Maintenance Exams

Collection Systems, CWEA Certifications

CWEA’s Collection System Maintenance (CSM) certification program has completed its revalidation—strengthening exam quality, modernizing standards, and ensuring alignment with the evolving demands of the profession. From July 2024 through June 2025, the revalidation was led by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) representing agencies and professionals from across California. The new Collection System Maintenance exam will launch on July 1.

This update reinforces CWEA’s commitment to maintaining certification programs that accurately reflect the real-world duties and knowledge required of today’s collection system professionals.

The revalidation follows a multi-phase process, including:

• Job Task Analysis (JTA): A statewide study was conducted to identify the essential duties and skills for each CSM Grade. This ensured the certification remains grounded in current field practices.
• Updated Exam Blueprints: SMEs updated the blueprints to clearly outline the distribution of exam content by topic and skill level—ensuring that each exam targets the appropriate depth of knowledge for that Grade.
• New Item Writing: In fall 2024, SMEs gathered for an in-person item writing workshop to draft new exam questions directly tied to real-world performance.
• Technical Reviews and Exam Assembly: SMEs conducted multiple rounds of technical review to ensure accuracy, clarity, and relevance of every question.
• Standard Setting: Experts provided input to help determine passing scores based on actual job performance expectations.

Why Certification Matters

CWEA’s technical certifications continue to be a powerful tool for professionals and employers alike. Certified individuals gain recognition for their knowledge, increase their employability, and often enjoy greater job security and compensation. Employers benefit from hiring skilled, certified staff who support operational excellence and reduce agency risk.

A Stronger Future for Collections

This revalidation marks a major milestone for CWEA’s Collection System Maintenance certification program. With new content, updated requirements, and a rigorous validation process, the program is better equipped than ever to meet the needs of California’s water professionals—and the communities they serve.