How to track backflow tester certification expiration dates

Updated 2026-10-08

Short answer: keep one register with every tester's name, certification number, issuing body, scope and expiration date, set reminders well before expiry, and never assign a test to someone whose certificate has lapsed. A report signed by a tester with an expired certificate can mean the customer's test does not count and has to be redone.

The register

Tester name and employee.
Certification number and issuing body (state, county or recognized provider).
What it covers. Scope can differ: Los Angeles County's page says that effective July 1, 2026 the State Water Resources Control Board will require certification through a recognized provider for meter protection backflow testers, while county certification stays valid for internal assemblies. Read your own issuer's page for the current rule.
Issue date and expiration date.
Test gauge calibration date, if your authority requires it to be on file.
Renewal status and who owns the renewal.

Reminders that work

Set reminders at 90, 60 and 30 days before expiry. These intervals are a suggestion, not a rule: renewal can take weeks, and 30 days is often too late.
Send each reminder to the tester and the office, so it does not depend on one person.
Block the tester from testing assignments the day after expiry, not the day the office notices.
Keep the old certificate on file. The test reports it covers are still valid records.

Why the hard stop matters

The utility cares who tested the assembly. San Antonio's rules, for example, say irrigation assemblies need a licensed tester who files the report. If you find an expired certificate after the report is filed, the customer pays for a second visit and you pay for the relationship.

The faster way, honestly scoped

In Sprinklerly the office manages each technician's backflow-tester certification and expiration date, and recording a test requires the assigned tester to hold a current, non-expired certification on file (Pro plan and above). An expired or missing certification is rejected before the test record can be saved. The generated report carries the tester's certification number. Sprinklerly does not verify a certificate with the issuing body, so the number and date are what your office enters. Sprinklerly is free during early access for contractors who sign up by December 31, 2026 (no credit card). Planned prices at general availability are $79, $149 and $249 per month, locked in for early-access accounts.

Start free Free during early access for sign-ups by December 31, 2026, no credit card required.

Common questions

Can an uncertified technician perform a backflow test?

Not where the local authority requires a certified or licensed tester, which the examples cited on this page do. Confirm the requirement with your own utility or state agency.

How far ahead should I renew a tester certification?

There is no universal number. Renewal lead times differ by issuer, so a 90-day first reminder is a safe working default; check your issuer.

Sources

San Antonio Water System: annual testing of backflow prevention assemblies, read 2026-10-08
Los Angeles County Public Health: backflow device testing and registration, read 2026-10-08

Sprinklerly is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any utility, agency, manufacturer or publisher linked on this page. Names are used only to identify the sources. Rules for backflow testing, licensing and insurance differ by state, utility and customer, so confirm with your own authority; this page is practical guidance, not legal advice. The Sprinklerly features described are those currently shipped in the product.