Backflow testing

How to level it

1. 10
   Tester course 40-hour backflow prevention assembly tester course

   Time1 week (40 hours) Cost~$700–1,000 for the course PayNot paid yet

   • Find a course approved by your state or water utility. Many states list them; rural water associations and community colleges run them too.
   • Check your state's rules first. Some only need the course and exam; ASSE 5110 certification also asks for five years in plumbing, irrigation, fire protection or a related trade.
   • The course covers how RP, double-check and vacuum-breaker assemblies work, how to test each one, and the paperwork the utility expects.
2. 30
   Certified tester State or ASSE 5110 tester certification (written + practical exam)

   TimeExam at the end of the course; renew every 3 years Cost~$1,000–2,000 for a calibrated test kit Pay$38–76k employed employed vs own route US, employed tester (25th–75th %)~$38–52kUS, top 10% employed~$76kOwn route, per residential test$75–250Own route, per commercial test$150–400+

   • The exam has a written part and a hands-on part where you test real assemblies. Most people who fail, fail the practical; practice on the course rigs.
   • Your test kit (a differential pressure gauge) must be calibrated, usually every year, and the utility will ask for the certificate.
   • Register with each water utility you want to test in. Many keep a public list of approved testers, which is where customers find you.
   • A test takes 15–30 minutes and must be repeated every year, so customers come back on their own. That is what makes it a good route business.

   Unlocks Backflow Tester (own route)
3. 50
   Repairer or surveyorMembers How to prove it, how long it takes, cost and pay at this level
4. 70
   Own routeMembers How to prove it, how long it takes, cost and pay at this level
5. 85
   Program administratorMembers How to prove it, how long it takes, cost and pay at this level

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