Tennessee: State rules

Tennessee’s Fleming Training Center, in the Department of Environment and Conservation, says a valid Tennessee Certificate of Competency in Testing and Evaluating Backflow Preventers is required to test backflow prevention assemblies. People who pass the written and practical examinations are issued that certificate. People who pass the practical examination for renewal have the certificate renewed. The Department’s course description says the certificate is issued to individuals who successfully complete the written and practical exams in the cross-connection control basic workshop. Certificates are renewed every three years. The public portal lets a holder view the backflow certificate number, expiration date, and status after linking an operator identification number.

Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.

The basic workshop description says the class covers how backflow occurs, how hazards are prevented or corrected, and procedures for testing a double check valve and a reduced-pressure assembly. It is aimed at water-system personnel, plumbers, industrial and institutional employees, irrigation personnel, and fire-protection personnel. The Department lists approved training providers and gives the Fleming Training Center as one of them, with a Murfreesboro address. The cross-connection page names Ben Rodriquez as the program coordinator at 615-898-6508 and gives a general registration line of 615-898-8090. Those telephones are printed on the Department pages.

The state’s cross-connection manual says water-system personnel, administrators, or testers in a cross-connection program should obtain the state certificate of competency for testing backflow prevention assemblies. It also says existing commercial or nonresidential premises are inspected for cross-connection hazards, with high-risk premises first. That manual includes state guidance on the certificate. It is not a do-it-yourself test script for a property owner, and this record does not repeat test steps. A customer should ask for the current Tennessee certificate and can ask the holder to confirm the number in the public portal.

The workshop description lists a class charge. That is a training charge, not the price a customer pays a tester, so it is not copied into the fee field. Renewal is the practical examination on the Department page, every three years. An out-of-state card is not described as a substitute. The public portal is where the holder checks the certificate number, the expiration date, and the current status.

Official resources in Tennessee

TDEC cross-connection control

Says a valid Certificate of Competency in Testing and Evaluating Backflow Preventers is required and is renewed every three years.

Cross-connection basic workshop description

Says passing the written and practical exams leads to the certificate of competency.

Fleming Training Center public portal

Lets a certificate holder view the backflow certificate number, expiration, and status.

Key facts for Tennessee

A valid Tennessee Certificate of Competency in Testing and Evaluating Backflow Preventers is required.
The certificate is issued after written and practical examinations.
Renewal follows a practical examination and occurs every three years.
The public portal shows the certificate number, expiration date, and status.
The Department lists approved training providers, including the Fleming Training Center.
The cross-connection page lists 615-898-6508 for the program coordinator and 615-898-8090 for registration.

What to do next

Ask for the Tennessee certificate of competency and the expiration date.
Use the three-year renewal period as a check on an old card.
Ask the water system to confirm it accepts that certificate for your assembly.
Do not treat a workshop receipt as the certificate; the Department issues the certificate after the exams.

Looking for your city or county in Tennessee?

We haven't found official program-level pages for Tennessee we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:

General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Tennessee, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.
Tennessee Fleming Training Center cross-connection control
Website →
Phone: (615) 898-8090 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)
Your city or county office: Local governments →
Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Tennessee page on USA.gov can point you to the right office.
Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.

Helpful guides

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