Click this button for a PDF summary of the checklist with "clickable" check boxes
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After 25 years in the field, I finally got my Qualified SWPPP Professional (QSP) and Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD) certifications last year. Even though I have a lot of experience, and more years than I like to count of formal education, it took me MONTHS even to figure out what the steps were to get the certs. I’m not kidding!
As I went through the process, I promised myself that after I got my certifications, I would write a guide to help others navigate the process (and its costs) in a simple step-by-step way. I hope this checklist is helpful – it’s what I wish I’d had when I started my QSP/QSD journey. STEP 1: sign up for a free account on the CASQA website: www.casqa.org $ This step is FREE! Working together with the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), the California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) manages the training and certification programs for the QSP and QSD roles. To sign up for a free account, click on “Log In” in the upper right corner of the website (you might need to expand the “hamburger” menu to find the Log In link); then click on “Create an Account”. STEP 2: Once you have your CASQA account login and password, go to this page on the CASQA website: https://www.casqa.org/training/cgp-training/qsd-qsp-qualification $ This step is FREE! The page will prompt you to “Please log in to view all the content of this page” – click the underlined words “log in” to enter your email and password. I recommend book-marking this website for easy access. You will now see a list of all the requirements you need to complete in order to get your QSP and QSD certifications, along with a “Status” column with red dots indicating whether each is complete or incomplete. Satisfyingly, each dot turns green as you complete the step! For an easy win, click on “Review SWRCB Guidance”, download and read the documents at the links, and when you’ve reviewed them, click the “Mark Complete” button to certify that you have completed those tasks. You now have one green “COMPLETE” task on your list! In STEPS 3 - 8 below, I will guide you through how to complete each of the remaining steps in the CASQA qualification list. STEP 3: Complete the 2 required trainings (in either order you'd like!) There are TWO trainings you need to complete in order to get your QSP/QSD certifications, and you can take them in whichever order you prefer. I’ll explain what each covers below. Underlying Prerequisite $ Cost varies among the different options – around $450 - $1,900 depending on which one you take, and whether you are pursuing just the QSP or the QSP+QSD The purpose of the Underlying Prerequisite is to make sure you understand the underlying principles behind stormwater management. For example, the training will go over concepts like soil types and how they affect the amount of sediment that will erode from a slope. It will also cover understanding how different stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) help to reduce the amount of pollutants discharged from your construction site. Many other topics are included, but in summary, this is the background info you need to know to be an effective stormwater professional. You can see the full list of options for both QSP and QSP+QSD underlying prerequisites at the RWQCB’s 2022 CGP website: LINK. Scroll down to the section titled “Training Information”. The first part of the list is for underlying prerequisite trainings that cover both QSD and QSP information, and the second part of the list is for trainings that cover just the QSP information. Depending on the option you choose, you will be required to complete some combination of demonstrating prior experience, taking required training, and passing an exam. Completing the underlying prerequisite is the most time-consuming step in this process, and will likely take several weeks to complete. You can continue with all of the steps below while you work on this step. Once you complete the prerequisite requirements and receive a letter of completion, you can upload it to the CASQA website under “Submit Underlying Prerequisite Information” in order to mark the step COMPLETE. PRO TIP: The name “prerequisite” makes it sound like you have to do this step before you take the Training Course with a CGP ToR (see below), but that’s not true – you can take either one first. In fact you ONLY need the ToR Course in order to qualify to take the CASQA QSP and QSD exams! (But you WILL need to complete the Underlying Prerequisite in order to get your QSP/QSD Certification.) Take a Training Course with a CGP ToR (Trainer of Record) $ $325 - $500 for the QSP content (two 8-hour training days); $100 - $250 for the QSD content (one 8-hour training day), for a total of $425 - $750. The purpose of this training is to make sure you know and understand the content and requirements included in the CA 2022 Construction General Permit. The certification exam is based entirely on the permit, and you are allowed to have a copy of the permit open on your desktop when you take the exam! You have two options for this training: live in-person (you and trainer in the same room), or live remote (you and trainer on a Zoom call or equivalent). You can look for upcoming trainings on CASQA's calendar of ToR trainings (LINK). I took the live remote option from Envirotech (LINK) and paid $550 for the QSP + QSD trainings (3 days of training via Zoom). If you’re in the San Diego area and you are looking for a live in-person training, check out Pi-Squared Environmental (LINK). Once you complete the training, the instructor will enter your information on the CASQA website, and the Take a Training Course with a CGP ToR step will automatically be marked COMPLETE. STEP 4: Complete the training course survey $ This step is FREE! After your ToR trainer marks your ToR Training Course complete you will be able to access the Training Course Survey on your qualification list. Just complete the survey to earn your green dot and mark the step COMPLETE. STEP 5: Complete the 2022 Reissuance Review $ This step is FREE! And optional...but I recommend it. Starting on September 1, 2025, CA construction projects that disturb one or more acres were required to be covered under the 2022 Construction General Permit. Before that date, some projects were still covered under the 2009 version of the permit. Because some requirements changed under the 2022 permit, CASQA developed the "2022 Reissuance Review" which highlights what's new under the 2022 permit. Now that all projects are covered under the 2022 permit, CASQA does not require that you complete the Reissuance Review in order to get your QSP and QSD certifications. After you pass your ToR training, AND complete the survey, this step will automatically show as COMPLETE on your CASQA qualification list. HOWEVER, I recommend completing this review if you have time. The videos are a good overview of the information in the 2022 CGP, and the quiz questions are good practice for the QSP and QSD exams you will take later. In fact, CASQA notes that people who complete the review have a 26% higher pass rate on the QSP exam and a 30% higher pass rate on the QSD exam! Here's what to expect when you click the green "2022 Reissuance Review" button under this step on the CASQA qualification list:
Here's a direct link to the 2022 Reissuance Review site: LINK STEP 6: Pay for Exam Registration $ The Exam Registration fee is $155 The next step is to pay the registration fee to take the exam. If you took the QSP+QSD ToR training, you will have access to both exams. If you only took the QSP ToR training, you will only have access to the QSP exam, and will have to pay another $155 to take the QSD exam later if you decide to do so. You have 30 days to take the exam(s) once you pay the fee. STEP 7: Take the QSP Exam $ No additional cost after you pay the exam registration fee in Step 6 The QSP exam is a 2-hour timed exam that you complete on your own computer. You are allowed to have a copy of the 2022 CGP open on your desktop when you take the exam. You pass the exam with 70% or more correct answers. STEP 8: Take the QSD Exam (if you are pursuing the QSD certification) $ No additional cost after you pay the exam registration fee in Step 6 The QSD exam is a 1-hour timed exam that you complete on your own computer. You are allowed to have a copy of the 2022 CGP open on your desktop when you take the exam. Like the QSP exam, you need 70% correct to pass the exam. 🎉CONGRATULATIONS - You have now completed all of the steps to become a certified QSP/QSD! What's next? When you log in on the CASQA Qualification page (LINK), it will look a little different. In the upper left, you will see this text: Qualification Status: Active Expiration Date: (Date you got your cert + 2 years) Renewal Available: (Date you got your cert + 1 year and 9 months) You will also see a link you can click to access a pdf of your "QSP/QSD Certificate". To see the requirements you must meet in order to renew your certification in two years, click the "Renewal" tab at the top of the page. On this page you will see the following steps to complete: 1. Submit Continuing Education - QSPs and QSDs must complete 6 hours of continuing education (CE) each year, for a total of 12 hours of CE before you renew in two years. There are MANY opportunities to satisfy these CEs! 2. Complete the 2022 Reissuance Review - you won't have to complete this again, it will already show as COMPLETE on your list. 3. Review the SWRCB Guidance Materials - remember when you did this in STEP 2 of your original certification process? RWQCB uses this step as an opportunity to post new guidance, so you will likely see new documents here when you complete the step for your renewal. 4. Pay for Renewal - the renewal fee is $125 if you pay before your renewal date, or $145 after the renewal date has passed. |
Why I got my QSP/QSD Certs Now
🌧️ Demand has never been higher - CA has more than $180B in infrastructure investments planned in the coming decades. 🌧️ The 2022 CGP raised the bar - The new permit requires more inspections, more sampling, and more documentation by certified professionals. 🌧️ QSP/QSD-certified professionals command higher pay - According to HR websites, environmental planners with these certs can make 20% more, engineers can make 50% more, and construction managers and workers can make up to 60% more. 🌧️Now is the right time to start - As of Sep 1, 2025, all construction sites with 1 acre or more of ground disturbance need coverage under the 2022 CGP, and companies are looking for QSPs and QSDs who understand the new regulations. QSP or QSP+QSD? Wondering if you should just go after your QSP certification, or whether it's worthwhile to get both your QSP and QSD? Here's an explanation of what each qualifies you to do: QSP = Qualified SWPPP Professional
QSD = Qualified SWPPP Developer
My opinion? Why not go after both! If you decide to go back and complete your QSD later, it will mean more time and money than if you'd done the two together. The content for the two are complimentary, and even if you don't need your QSD right away, knowing the information will make you a better QSP! |