Yes! In a letter dated June 17, 2025, the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), Division of Drinking Water, officially recognized the ASSE 5110 certification program as meeting the requirements outlined in Section 3.4.1 of the state’s Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook. This makes ASSE 5110 officially acceptable until July 1, 2027.

Yes! From July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, backflow assembly testers in California must be certified by a certification organization recognized in California to comply with the cross-connection control policy handbook requirements (CCCPH, §3.4.1(a), (c); and §3.4.1(a), (c)). ASSE 5110 is a certification organization recognized by the SWRCB.

A list of "Backflow Assembly Tester Certifications – Recognized and Accredited" can be viewed and downloaded from California Water Boards' website at https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/docs/2025/testers.pdf. This link, and further information about the Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook, can be found at https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/cccph.html.

Effective July 1, 2027, only certifying organizations accredited by ANAB/ANSI to comply with ISO/IEC 17024: Conformity Assessment- General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification of Persons can be used for compliance with the CCCPH (CCCPH §3.4.1(d) and §3.4.2(d)).

ASSE is currently "in process" of earning this accreditation with the expectation of receiving full accreditation well before July 1, 2027.

ISO/IEC 17024 is an international accreditation standard that defines how organizations certify individuals. In simple terms, it ensures that a certification program is fair, valid, reliable, and impartial, and that certified individuals truly meet the required level of knowledge, skills and abilities to do what is required to be certified.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Accreditation Board (ANAB), is a U.S.-based accreditation body that evaluates certification organizations against this standard. When a certification body is accredited to ISO/IEC 17024, it means an independent third party has confirmed that the organization’s certification processes meet globally recognized best practices. This accreditation is widely viewed as the gold standard for personnel certification programs.

Achieving ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation is a multi-step effort that focuses on governance, exam integrity, and ongoing oversight. At a high level, the process includes:

1. Program Design and Documentation
   The certification body documents its certification scheme, including eligibility requirements, exam development processes, scoring methods, recertification requirements, and policies related to impartiality, appeals, and complaints.
2. Examination Development and Validation
   Examinations must be developed using psychometrically sound practices. This includes subject matter expert involvement, job task analysis, documented exam security controls, and defensible cut score studies.
3. Impartiality and Governance Controls
   The organization must demonstrate that certification decisions are made independently and free from conflicts of interest. This includes procedures for managing risks to impartiality and oversight by an impartiality committee.
4. Internal Review and Implementation
   All documented procedures must be implemented consistently. Records are required to show compliance — not just intent. An internal audit is conducted, and adjustments may need to be made to policies and procedures.

ASSE International is progressing through the accreditation process, and ANAB is scheduled to conduct its formal assessment of our program. Once accredited, ASSE will be part of ongoing surveillance and continuous improvement. Accredited certification bodies undergo regular surveillance and reassessment to ensure continued compliance.

No. The ASSE 5110 Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Certification program is not proprietary.

A nonproprietary program is one that is based on publicly recognized standards, industry accepted practices, and objective competency requirements, rather than on exclusive or restricted methods designed to favor a specific organization or commercial interest.

The ASSE Backflow Certification Program is grounded in established industry standards and best practices related to cross-connection control and backflow prevention. The program’s requirements, examinations, and renewal criteria are designed to evaluate knowledge and competence — not to restrict access or create dependency on a single provider. ASSE provides an outline of required competencies in ASSE Standard 5110, Professional Qualifications Standard for Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers, found within ASSE Series 5000, Cross-Connection Control Professional Qualifications Standard.

ASSE standards are developed under the guidelines set forth by ANSI. The development of standards is done under a consensus process to ensure that there is no bias or domination of one entity. All standards are reviewed and approved through a ballot process

Yes. ASSE’s program is structured to support broad industry participation, allowing qualified professionals and training providers to engage with the certification process under clearly defined, transparent requirements.

Transparency and nonproprietary practices are foundational principles of credible personnel certification programs. They support fairness, portability of credentials, and public trust, key expectations under ISO/IEC 17024.

Choosing ASSE means choosing a certification body with a long-standing commitment to public health, safety, and workforce competence. ASSE certifications are developed with direct involvement from subject matter experts and industry stakeholders and are designed to reflect real world job requirements.

ASSE’s focus on accreditation, exam integrity, and impartial governance demonstrates a commitment to quality that benefits certified professionals, employers, regulators, and the public. As ASSE continues its alignment with ISO/IEC 17024, certificants can be confident that their credentials are supported by globally recognized best practices and continuous oversight.