Inspector Certification Lookup
Which certifications are required or accepted for stormwater construction site inspectors — by state.
23
states require certification
21
have state-specific credentials
27
require no specific credential
50 of 50 states
No state-specific cert required
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
No state-specific cert required; EPA CGP requires 'qualified personnel' knowledgeable in E&SC
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
No state-specific cert required; inspector must be trained and knowledgeable
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
No state-specific cert required; inspector must be a 'qualified person'
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP) REQUIRED for all site inspections; Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD) required for SWPPP preparation — both are mandatory state credentials (CASQA-administered)
No state-specific cert required; CDPHE requires a trained 'SWMP Administrator'; CDPHE-approved training recommended
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
Certified Soil Erosion and Sediment Control (SESC) Inspector (CT-specific credential) required or qualified professional with equivalent training; DEEP-recognized
No state-specific mandatory cert; inspector must be knowledgeable in E&SC and SWPPP
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
No state-specific mandatory cert; FDEP-recognized stormwater inspector training accepted; licensed PE/PG qualifies for SWPPP preparation
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
GSWCC Level 1B CIESC (Certified Inspector of Erosion and Sediment Control) REQUIRED for all SWPPP inspections; CPESC satisfies the Level 2 requirement; Level 1A required for all construction personnel
No state-specific cert required; inspector must be a 'qualified individual' knowledgeable in E&SC
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
No state-specific cert required; EPA CGP requires inspector to be a 'qualified person'
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
IEPA-approved training OR CPESC OR licensed PE required; state-approved training is the primary pathway; CISEC also accepted
IDEM-approved training effectively required; licensed PE/RLS also qualifies; CPESC, CESSWI accepted in conjunction with Indiana-approved training
No state-specific cert required; inspector must be 'knowledgeable in the principles and practice of erosion and sediment control'
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
No state-specific cert required; inspector must be a 'qualified person' knowledgeable in stormwater pollution prevention
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
KY EPSC certification (required for Kentucky Transportation Cabinet projects); CPESC, CESSWI, licensed PE accepted for private construction; state EPSC training is the primary pathway
No state-specific cert required; inspector must have 'sufficient training and experience'
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
State-approved CESCL (Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead), CESSWI, or CPESC REQUIRED for site inspectors; Maine DEP enforces this requirement
Maryland MDE Erosion and Sediment Control Inspector certification REQUIRED (state-specific); licensed PE or CPESC may be accepted in lieu; MDE-approved training is the baseline
No state-specific cert required; EPA CGP requires 'qualified personnel'; some local Conservation Commission orders require a certified professional
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
EGLE-approved training REQUIRED ('Qualified Operator'); CESSWI, CPESC accepted; Michigan Part 91 SESC permit may require separate county-level inspector qualification
MPCA-approved Construction Stormwater Inspector training REQUIRED; CESSWI, CPESC, CISEC accepted as qualifying credentials; training must be documented in permit file
No state-specific mandatory cert; inspector must be 'qualified personnel' knowledgeable in permit and SWPPP requirements
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
CESSI (Certified Erosion, Sediment and Stormwater Inspector) designation REQUIRED by Missouri DNR; CPESC, CESSWI accepted as equivalents through MDNR-approved training programs
No state-specific cert required; inspector must be 'qualified personnel' knowledgeable in E&SC principles; MT DEQ recommends but does not mandate certification
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
Certified inspector REQUIRED; CESSWI is the primary accepted credential; CPESC, CISEC also accepted; NDEE enforces the requirement for a documented certified inspector
No mandatory state-specific cert; NDEP-approved training required; inspector must understand arid-region and monsoon-season BMP requirements
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
No state-specific cert required; inspector must be a 'qualified person' knowledgeable in E≻ NHDES recommends NH Stormwater Management Handbook familiarity
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
Certified Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Inspector (CSESCI) REQUIRED or direct supervision by one; administered by the NJ State Soil Conservation Committee — state-specific mandatory credential
No state-specific cert required; inspector must be a 'qualified person' familiar with SWPPP
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
NYS DEC-approved erosion and sediment control training REQUIRED; CPESC, CESSWI explicitly listed as qualifying credentials in the SPDES CGP
NC E&SC Program Level II certificate (or higher) REQUIRED; administered by NCDEQ DEMLR; CPESC satisfies the requirement; licensed PE or Registered Landscape Architect also qualifies
No state-specific cert required; inspector must be a 'qualified individual' knowledgeable in BMP design, installation, and maintenance
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
Ohio EPA Qualified Inspection Personnel (QIP) certification REQUIRED or equivalent; CPESC, CESSWI, licensed PE/PS accepted; OEPA-approved training is the primary pathway
No state-specific mandatory cert; inspector must be a 'qualified person' with knowledge of BMPs and SWPPP
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
CESCL (Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead) or Oregon-specific CESCL REQUIRED; meets 1200-C Erosion and Sediment Control Inspector (ESCI) requirement; WA CESCL (BMP C160) also accepted
DEP Clean Water Academy Qualified Site Inspector training REQUIRED every 2 years; OR active CPESC or CESSWI certification; PA-specific training is the mandatory baseline
No state-specific mandatory cert; inspector must be a 'qualified person' with appropriate training
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
state credential is an accepted alternative to national certs; licensed PE/RLS also qualifies
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
No state-specific cert required; inspector must be a 'qualified inspector' knowledgeable in stormwater pollution prevention
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
No state-specific mandatory cert; inspector must be 'qualified personnel'; municipalities under Phase II MS4 permits may impose additional local requirements
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
No state-specific cert required; inspector must be 'knowledgeable' in permit requirements and BMP implementation
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
UDEQ-sponsored stormwater training recommended; inspector must be a 'qualified person'
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.
Licensed Site Technician (LST) REQUIRED — Vermont-specific credential administered by VT DEC; licensed PE also qualifies; one of the most stringent inspector requirements nationally
Qualified Personnel (QP) Certificate from DEQ REQUIRED as of July 1, 2025; Responsible Land Disturber (RLD) is a prerequisite; licensed PE or DEQ Dual Inspector cert also qualifies
Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL) REQUIRED for ALL sites including ≤ 1 acre under the 2026 CSGP; Ecology-approved training provider required; renewal every 3 years
WVDEP-approved training REQUIRED (e.g., WV Land Development Stormwater Training Program); no separate state certification credential equivalent, but training completion is mandatory
Qualified Stormwater Management Inspector (QSMI) — WDNR-approved training REQUIRED; UW-Extension and other WDNR-approved providers; periodic re-training required; QSMI must sign all inspection reports
No state-specific cert required; inspector must be a 'qualified person' knowledgeable in E≻ WDEQ recommends nationally recognized training programs
No specific credential is mandated — any qualified person knowledgeable in E&SC principles meets this requirement.