Training & Certification

Become Certified

SWANA Certification is available in eight disciplines. You can also earn certificates of completion for the Landfill Operations Basics and Organics Collection courses.

  • Certification Requirements for Manager of Landfill Operations (MOLO)

    Experience Education Level
    Minimum five (5) years of experience in MSW Management High School Degree or GED
    OR:
    Minimum four (4) years of experience in MSW Management Two-year degree in Civil Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Environmental Health, Environmental Science, Public Administration, or related or equivalent fields
    OR:
    Minimum three (3) years of experience in MSW Management Four-year Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Environmental Health, Environmental Science, Public Administration, or related or equivalent fields

    Management/Supervisory Requirements

    • Minimum of two (2) years experience in management/supervisory position related to discipline
    • Direct responsibility for daily operations related to discipline (For instance, compliance with design and permit conditions, utilization of field equipment and services, personnel management, utilization and retention, responses to regulatory agencies, and budgeting.)
  • Certification Requirements for all other SWANA disciplines

    • High School degree or GED
    • Minimum one year of experience working in the solid waste industry OR a two-year associate degree or bachelor's degree in a related field (Civil Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Environmental Health, Environmental Science, Public Administration, or equivalent fields).

    Note: There are no minimum requirements to earn a Certificate of completion for the Landfill Operations Basics and Organics Collection.

Preparing for Certification

Individuals seeking certification should note that attending a training course does NOT guarantee success on a certification exam. Passing a certification exam requires amassing knowledge, skills, and abilities over time from a variety of sources; no one course provides all of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to pass a certification exam. Knowledge is gained over time from years of experience in the field; online courses, webinars, and podcasts; in-person seminars and events; hands-on workshops; on-the-job training; local, regional, and national conferences; mentoring programs; trade publications; and more.

GET STARTED!

A SWANA ID Number is required to purchase an exam online. If you do not have a SWANA Membership or ID number, set up a SWANA login account now.

Apply for Certification Online

For certification exams only, fill out the Certification Application. You must complete the application for each certification exam you wish to take. When complete, close the application window and return to this page. You do not need to submit an application for certificate assessment tests.

Register for Online Testing

Exam Costs

Members: $250.00
Non-Members: $400.00

Online Testing Registration

  • Register for an exam using your unique email address.
  • Pay by credit card, check or invoice. Registration is complete and access is provided once payment is received.
  • Registration confirmation is emailed within one (1) one hour of completed registration. Check spam folder if not received.
  • You must take the exam within six (6) months of completed registration.

Online Testing Results and Certificates

Once you begin your exam, you will have a maximum of three (3) hours to complete it. The minimum score to pass is 70%. Results are emailed within 24 hours. Those who successfully pass will receive instructions on how to print their certificate.

Online Testing Re-Takes

Those who do not pass can re-register and take the exam immediately. The full registration fee applies to each re-take. There is no limit on the number of times you may re-take an exam.

Technical Support

In North America, technical assistance is available Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET at 1.866.348.7888 or support@captus.com. Outside North America, contact support@captus.com during business hours. We recommend taking your exam during business hours in case technical support is needed. SWANA staff cannot help you with technical issues during testing.