Exam logistics
TCEQ testing centers
The Texas Class D operator exam is given at registered computer-based testing (CBT) centers across the state, not online from home. After the TCEQ approves your application, you contact a registered center to schedule. The center sets its own dates and may charge its own testing fee.
How testing works, in order
- Finish your approved courses and submit the TCEQ application with the fee.
- Wait for the approval letter. Scheduling comes after approval.
- Contact a registered CBT center to book a date. Centers set their own schedules and any additional testing fee.
- Take the closed-book exam. Bring the approval letter and a non-programmable calculator; scratch paper is provided.
- Leave with your score and a printed analysis. If you pass, the license is issued within about a week.
Finding a center near you
Registered testing centers operate across the TCEQ regions, so most candidates have one within a reasonable drive. Because the centers are independent, their schedules, seat availability, and fees vary, and some do not offer refunds if you reschedule. The TCEQ keeps the official list of registered centers; use it to find the one nearest you rather than assuming a location, and call ahead about dates and cost.
Common questions
- Where do you take the TCEQ water operator exam?
- At a registered computer-based testing (CBT) center. Centers operate across Texas, and the TCEQ keeps the current list of registered ones.
- Can you take the water operator exam online?
- No. It is a proctored, closed-book exam at a registered testing center, not an at-home online test.
- How do you schedule the exam?
- First get your TCEQ approval letter, then contact a registered CBT center to book a date. Booking before approval does not work; the center schedules approved applicants only.
- How much does the testing center cost?
- The TCEQ application is $111 for Class D. Testing centers set their own additional fees, and some do not offer refunds, so ask before you book.