Thank you for your interest in becoming a Construction General Permit Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP) and/or Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD).
Update in Progress: On November 18, 2024, you will no longer use the Office of Water Programs (OWP) at Sacramento State to manage your QSD and QSP qualification. Please view our Training System Update page for current information.
How to Become a QSP or QSD
You must complete the training steps outlined below, as well as obtain one of the underlying certifications specified in the Construction General Permit. QSD/QSP training may be completed before you obtain your underlying certification, but you will not be granted your QSP or QSD certificate until you have an underlying certification. When possible, it is advantageous to complete the underlying certificate prior to the QSD/QSP training. Holistically, both the underlying certificate and the training are intended to ensure all QSDs and QSPs have a fundamental knowledge of erosion and sedimentation processes, best management practices, and their implementation to control pollutants in stormwater discharges.
Create an Account
To administer the CGP QSD/QSP Training Program, CASQA partners with the Office of Water Programs at Sacramento State (OWP). When you register for a QSD/QSP class, your trainer of record will create an account for you, or you can create your own OWP account.
Underlying Certificate
The State Water Resources Control Board maintains a list of the approved pre-requisite certifications/registrations (also referred to as the underlying certificate). View the chart of accepted prerequisite certifications/registrations. You must enter your certification or registration (type and #) in your OWP account. You must enter a completed underlying certificate. In-training status does not qualify to fulfill this requirement (i.e.: CESSWI-IT).
QSP and QSD / QSP Training Steps
Step 1. Take a QSD / QSP training course
Step 2. Register and pay the fee to take the QSP and/or QSD exam
Step 3. Take and pass the QSP and/or QSD exam
To become a qualified QSP and/or QSD, you must take a training course offered by a qualified California Construction General Permit Trainer of Record (CGP ToR). Your Trainer of Record will create an Office of Water Program’s (OWP) online account for you when you have completed training.
To become a QSP, you must take the timed 2-hour QSP exam and pass with a score of better than 70%.
To become a QSD, you must take the QSP and QSD exams (you have an additional hour) and pass each exam with a score of better than 70%.
Receive the QSP or QSD Certificate
Upon completing the training course, passing the exam, and providing information about your underlying certification, your QSP or QSD/QSP certificate will be sent to the email address you provide during registration. You are responsible for keeping your contact information current. If you change jobs, move to a new address, or change your email address, be sure to update your listing.
QSD / QSP Look Up Tool
Your name, QSD or QSP certificate number, and expiration date will be posted for public reference on the QSD and QSP Lookup Tool. You can choose to make your contact information available as well. You are responsible for keeping your contact information current. If you change jobs, move to a new address, or change your email address, be sure to update your listing.
QSD / QSP Qualification Renewal
The initial qualification is valid for 2 years. It must be renewed to stay valid. For the steps to renew your qualification go to the QSD / QSP Renewal page.
FAQ
Does meeting QSD qualification requirements satisfy meeting QSP qualification requirements?
Registration, Fees, Payment
Taking the Online Exam(s)
Retaking The Exam
Minimum NICET Level
As noted under ‘QSP and QSD / QSP Training Steps’ above, you will register at the Office of Water Programs at Sacramento State (OWP) website and pay the $155 exam and registration fee. The registration fee provides you access to your online QSD/QSP profile on the OWP website (not the CASQA website).
We have several employees that need to get registered. Can I register all of them at one time?
No. Each individual exam taker must create their own individual login and submit their registration.
I need to use the same email address for all of our employees but the system is not letting me. What can I do?
The system will only allow one registrant per email address, therefore you must use individual email addresses for each registrant. Consider employees’ using their personal email addresses.
What forms of payment will the online system accept for examination/registration?
Online examination/registration payment is by credit card ONLY (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover). Mail-in registration using checks or cash is not available.
When I register with OWP (Office of Water Programs) does that make me a CASQA member?
No. A CASQA membership is a yearly paid membership. Please visit our CASQA membership page for more information about the benefits, discounts, and levels of membership available.
Is there a time limit to the online exam; how does it work?
Yes, the online testing is timed. The computer automatically stops the test when the allotted time is up.
What controls have been put in place to discourage and punish cheating on the online exams?
- Virtually no two exams will be the same. As opposed to the paper version of the exam(s), of which there were a limited number of versions, each subject to theft; online testing allows us to generate thousands of versions — virtually no two exams will be alike so serial cheating will be virtually impossible.
- We can examine and identify suspicious patterns. The online system greatly facilitates our ability to identify abuses by analyzing metrics on the exams and examinees’ information. We did not have this ability with the paper test.
- Before proceeding to take an exam, examinees must agree to an affidavit statement regarding the identity of the exam taker stating that no assistance was received from any persons, and that only specifically allowed aids were used to take the exam. The affidavit statement subjects examinees to punishment to the greatest extent allowable by law for falsification of their affidavit and there is sufficient legal case history to support that punishment.
Affidavit Statement
“I hereby certify under penalty of law that I personally will complete the exam on my own and without assistance from any persons, and that the only aids I will use in taking the exam will be the California Construction General Permit and a non-programmable calculator. I acknowledge that falsification of this affidavit will result in punishment to the greatest extent allowable by law.”
When a person is taking the exam is it possible for them to go back to a previous page and review and/or change their answers?
Yes.
If I don’t pass the exam, will I be able to retake the exam immediately? Are there a set number of times I can retake the exam?
You will be able to retake your exam immediately. Only one retake will be possible. If you do not pass the exam a second time, you will be required to retake training for the exam you did not pass before you can retake your exam again.
What is the minimum NICET level to satisfy the prerequisite QSD registration?
The State Water Board has stated that a Level 3 NICET is required.
Additional Information
Additional Qualification Option for QSDs Only
Qualified California Construction General Permit Trainers of Record
Become a Trainer of Record for the Construction General Permit