Water Resources Engineering | ASCE

Water Resources Engineering | ASCE
Join
Water Resources Engineering
Board-certified water resources engineers demonstrate advanced knowledge and expertise that sets them apart in the field.
Benefits of Water Resources Engineering Board Certification
Recognizes leaders in water resources engineering.
Widely respected by clients, employers, peers, and the public.
Demonstrates expertise in specific areas of water resources engineering and a commitment to staying up to date with new technology.
Reflects a strong dedication to professionalism, ethics, and continuous professional development.
Board-certified individuals may qualify for an additional
discount on liability insurance through ASCE, saving 5 to 7.5%
ASCE eLearning webinar on BC.WRE certification
Watch the recorded ASCE eLearning webinar to learn more about the benefits of the BC.WRE certification.
Become a Board Certified Water Resources Engineer
The baseline requirements set the minimum standards for applying for post-licensure board certification in civil engineering specialties. Board certification demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for competent practice, as outlined in the
Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge (CEBOK3)
and the relevant Specialty Area Bodies of Knowledge (SABOK).
1.
Professional Characteristics
1.1
Adherence to the
ASCE Code of Ethics
1.2
Strong communication skills.
1.3
Demonstrated project management and/or leadership abilities.
1.4
Commitment to continuing education and advancing the profession.
2.
Education
: Formal education in engineering and the specialty area supports achievement of the CEBOK3 and specialty area of body of knowledge.
2.1
A bachelor’s degree in engineering or another related field, from an ABET-accredited program is required. Alternatively, a relevant postgraduate degree (master’s or PhD) may fulfill this requirement.
2.2
Thirty or more postgraduate education credit hours, or completion of recognized certificate program(s). Alternatively, additional work experience can also qualify (see Item 4.2 below for details).
3.
P.E. License or Approved Equivalent
3.1
A current P.E. license or approved equivalent is required. In countries without this, additional work experience may substitute (see item 4.3 below).
4.
Work Experience
: Work experience may include planning, design, analysis, operations, management, governance, research, and/or teaching. The applicant must be currently actively engaged in the specialty area of water resources engineering and have:
4.1
At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in civil engineering after the first bachelor's degree, with 8 years in water resources engineering.
4.2
Without postgraduate education (see item 2.2 above), 15 years of experience (13 in the specialty) is required.
4.3
If an applicant lives and works in a country without a P.E. license or equivalent (as per requirement 3), they must have at least 15 years of civil engineering experience, with 13 of those years in water resources engineering.
5.
Validation
5.1
The applicable administrative unit validates achievement of the requisite CEBOK3 and SABOK outcomes in a manner appropriate for the certification. Validation applies to all applicants and follows a uniform process for each certification developed and administered by the applicable specialty board.
View the complete CEC eligibility requirements
If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for certification, contact
[email protected]
To apply for certification in Water Resources Engineering, follow these steps:
1.
Prepare Your Application Materials
Ensure the following items are included in your application submission:
Completed Application Form
• Resume or CV
• Three References (see details below)
• Application Fee Payment
2.
Request Professional References
Obtain references from licensed professional engineers representing at least three different organizations.
While a minimum of three references is required, you may submit additional references, provided at least three meet the organizational requirement above.
Please use this
reference form
to request and collect these references.
3.
Submit Your Application
Once your application is complete, including supporting documentation and payment, submit everything using
this link
Important: Once an application is submitted and paid, the application fee is non-refundable, please ensure you have met eligibility requirements before paying the application fee
Applicants for the water resources engineer board certification must complete the application in its entirety and remit the appropriate fees to be considered. The application must be completed in English and all payments must be in U.S. dollars.
Once the application has been submitted, it will be reviewed for completeness by CEC staff before it’s sent to the Admissions Committee. If an application is deemed incomplete at the published deadline, further processing/review will be delayed until the next application cycle.
There are the following possible outcomes that result, once an application has been fully reviewed by the Admissions Committee:
The applicant may be approved for the board certification, with the panel oral exam waived.
The applicant may be recommended for the panel oral examination.
The applicant may be required to submit additional documentation and/or clarify their professional experience and expertise.
The applicant is denied board certification.
All recommendations from the Admissions Committee are provided to the AAWRE Board of Trustees.
The AAWRE Board of Trustees is responsible for issuing the certificate of special knowledge to an applicant, indicating attainment of the water resources engineer board certification.
All applicants must submit an application fee that covers program expenses including application review, oral examination, record keeping, issuance of a certificate, and first year's board certification fee.
ASCE and/or Institute members - $350
Nonmembers - $450
Spring application deadline: March 31
Summer application deadline: June 30
Fall application deadline: Sept. 30
Winter application deadline: Dec. 31
Our program involves thorough applicant reviews by volunteer member boards and panelists, so the timeline from application submission to board certification can span several months. An overview of typical processing times is outlined below.
1.
After submission, your application undergoes a completeness check by CEC staff (7-10 business days) before it is sent to the respective Review Committee.
2.
Complete applications are reviewed quarterly for winter, spring, summer, or fall intake (6-8 weeks).
For example, if an application is received in February, your application will be reviewed with other applications that are received by the March 31 deadline for the spring applications review. (
allow 6-8 weeks for review time by Review Committees after each published application deadline
3.
Incomplete applications by the deadline are deferred to the next cycle for review.
4.
If you are recommended for the panel exam interview, depending on your schedule and the panel’s availability, the normal period for a panel interview to be scheduled is
within 4-6 weeks after the committee’s recommendation for your panel interview
5.
If you have participated in a panel exam interview, you can expect to hear the results of your interview
within 2-3 business days
Below are the following possible outcomes once an application has been fully reviewed by the Review Committee and the timeline after an application is submitted:
1.
In rare circumstances, the applicant may be approved for the board certification, with the panel oral exam waived. (
6-8 weeks after the review deadline
2.
The applicant may be recommended for the panel oral examination. (
12-14 weeks after review deadline to participate in a panel interview after the review deadline
3.
The applicant may be required to submit additional documentation and/or clarify their professional experience and expertise. (
6-8 weeks after the review deadline + additional weeks for additional review
4. The applicant is denied board certification. (
12-14 weeks after the initial review deadline + additional review of additional documentation of application materials
Please contact
[email protected]
for any questions regarding the timeline for the application process.
The candidate is to give a 30-minute presentation that should cover his/her professional work experience with example projects as appropriate. Through this presentation, the candidate should demonstrate mastery of one of the bodies of knowledge (BOK) elements in the application. The candidate should be specific about which BOK elements they believe they have mastered.
Following this presentation, the candidate will be given a series of questions by the examiners to clarify the full extent of the applicant’s experience. The examiners’ questions will relate to the applicant’s specific presentation, as well as any other areas of his professional career as necessary to provide a basis for assessing whether the candidate has:
Demonstrated advanced and accurate knowledge in water resources engineering.
Demonstrated progressive responsible charge in the water resources engineering profession since obtaining his/her P.E.
An attitude regarding continued professional development that is consistent with that of the Academy and ASCE.
Current responsibilities include either routine performance or routine review of technical aspects in water resources engineering.
In addition, a scenario or a few scenarios may be presented for the applicant to discuss and thereby demonstrate aspects of their professional judgment. These scenarios will not be provided to the candidate before the interview. The responses will be used to evaluate the candidate's understanding of water resources engineering and approaches to solving problems.
Board certification demonstrates advanced expertise, leadership, and commitment to the profession. Supporting your pursuit of becoming a Board-Certified Civil Engineer benefits not only your career, but also your organization’s reputation and impact.
Why employers should support certification:
Professional Credibility: Board-certified engineers are recognized for meeting rigorous standards—enhancing your team’s credibility with clients and stakeholders.
Visibility for Your Organization: Certified professionals are listed in the CEC public directory, increasing exposure and potential business opportunities.
Company Recognition: CEC highlights newly certified engineers on LinkedIn, offering immediate visibility and positive branding for your organization.
Leadership Development: Certification supports professional growth, helping your team lead projects, drive innovation, and manage change effectively.
Download and customize this template
to request employer support for your certification journey
Still have questions? Check the CEC
frequently asked questions here
Water Resources Engineering Body of Knowledge
The Water Resources Engineering Body of Knowledge, version 3 (WRBOK3) describes the knowledge and core competencies integral to understanding the practice of water resources engineering.
The water resources engineering body of knowledge (WRBOK) describes the knowledge and core competencies integral to achieving expertise in the practice of water resources engineering. This document articulates the body of knowledge for the practice of water resources engineering. The WRBOK describes the knowledge and skills required to practice water resources engineering at the expert level. The WRBOK is based on and builds upon the
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Body of Knowledge 3
rd
edition (CEBOK3)
for the practice of Civil Engineering, of which water resources engineering is a part. The WRBOK consists of five technical outcomes and four professional outcomes that go beyond the CEBOK3 requirements. The typical path to fulfill these outcomes is through a combination of bachelor’s degree-level work, master’s degree-level work, mentored experience, professional experience, continued self-development, and service. The American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE) Board of Trustees uses the WRBOK in the process of evaluating candidates for board certification in water resource engineering.
A water resources engineer (WRE) must have a broad array of technical and non-technical knowledge, abilities, skills, and attitudes. This document articulates the body of knowledge for the practice in the specialty area of water resources engineering. The water resources engineering body of knowledge describes the knowledge and skills required to practice water resources engineering at the expert level. The WRBOK is based on and builds upon the
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Body of Knowledge 3
rd
edition
for the practice of Civil Engineering, of which water resources engineering is a part. The WRBOK also builds upon and updates content from the previous WRBOK (AAWRE, 2009). Leading practitioners and engineering educators realize there is a need to identify this knowledge and these skills and to articulate how they might be best acquired via a defined water resources engineering body of knowledge. Given the expanding nature of the water resources engineering discipline and the many changes occurring today and in the future, defining a WRBOK is particularly important. The American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE) Board of Trustees uses the WRBOK in the process of evaluating candidates for board certification in water resource engineering.
The water resources engineering body of knowledge describes the knowledge and core competencies integral to achieve expertise in the practice of water resources engineering and leading to specialty certification. The WRBOK captures the knowledge and skills of the archetypical water resources engineer that were deemed important by the consensus of the AAWRE Board of Trustees. Achieving the WRBOK relies on a combination of formal undergraduate and postgraduate education, professional experience, extracurricular activities, practitioner mentoring, and peer interactions. It is not expected that every practicing water resources engineer will achieve all outcomes at the same level, but rather each educational program and each individual will follow an educational and experiential path suitable to their respective professional objectives.
Acquiring the WRBOK should lead to licensure and later could lead to specialty board certification through AAWRE. The WRBOK builds on the body of knowledge appropriate for civil engineers, then expands into areas specific and unique to water resources engineering. The WRBOK is not overly prescriptive and is outcomes-based. As does the CEBOK3 adopted for civil engineers, the outcomes are intended to help educators design curricula that provide the basis to gain the competencies needed for professional practice and licensing boards to determine the expertise required for licensure. The WRBOK provides a basis for the AAWRE to evaluate the education and experience of water resources engineers applying for board certification.
The third edition of the Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge (ASCE, 2019) was used as the basis to revise the WRBOK. Some concepts and ideas from Ressler and Lenox (2019) were considered in this revision. This WRBOK is consistent with ASCE Policy Statement 524 on advanced credentialing (ASCE, 2022a) and ASCE Policy Statement 568 on fulfilling the Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge (ASCE, 2022b). A brief revision history of the WRBOK is included in the Appendix.
Water resources engineering is the professional discipline for the stewardship and sustainable use of the world's water and related resources. Water resources engineers develop and apply scientific and engineering principles to plan, design, construct, manage, operate, regulate, and maintain infrastructure and programs. Water resources engineers are employed in both public and private sectors, as well as by colleges and universities.
The
third edition of the CEBOK3
is described by 21 outcomes in four categories. Each of the 21 outcomes is described by an outcome rubric, which includes the level of achievement required for entry into the practice of civil engineering at the professional level. The outcomes are listed in Table 2 in the Appendix.
The ASCE CEBOK3 specifies 21 outcomes one must achieve at various cognitive domain levels. The cognitive domain describes the development of intellectual skills, ranging from the simple recollection of specific facts to the integration and evaluation of complex ideas and concepts. There are six cognitive domain levels of achievement that are defined in ASCE (2019) and are listed below.
Level 1 – Remember: The ability to remember previously learned material.
Level 2 – Comprehend: The ability to grasp the meaning of learned material.
Level 3 – Apply: The ability to use learned material in new and concrete situations.
Level 4 – Analyze: The ability to break down learned material into its component parts so that its organizational structure may be understood.
Level 5 – Synthesize: The ability to put learned material together to form a new whole.
Level 6 – Evaluate: The ability to judge the significance and importance of learned material for a given purpose.
One can meet the
CEBOK3
requirements by achieving cognitive domain Levels between 3 and 5 for the 21 outcomes (Table 2 in the Appendix). The CEBOK3 defines the typical pathway for fulfilling the level of achievement using four components that are listed below (ASCE, 2019 p. 8):
Undergraduate Education (UG): undergraduate education leading to a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a closely related engineering discipline, in general, from a four-year program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (EAC/ABET).
Postgraduate Education (PG): postgraduate education equivalent to or leading to a master’s degree in civil engineering or a closely related engineering discipline, in general, equivalent to one year of full-time study.
Mentored Experience (ME): early career experience under the mentorship of a civil engineer practicing at the professional level, which progresses in both complexity and level of responsibility.
Self-Developed (SD): individual self-development through formal or informal activities and personal observation and reflection.
One typical pathway to achieve the CEBOK3 is the following:
Complete a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering (UG)
Obtain mentored experience (ME),
Complete professional licensure (PE),
Obtain postgraduate education (PG),
Perform self-development (SD).
The WRBOK focuses on a subset of nine outcomes from the 21 listed in CEBOK3. It expands the CEBOK3 to include one additional outcome – service, and an additional component - experience (E). The associated cognitive domain Levels of achievement are between 4 and 6 for the 10 WRBOK outcomes. These levels exceed the CEBOK3 in several important areas that are needed for specialty certification. Achieving the WRBOK is required for specialty certification in water resources engineering, as the CEBOK3 does not fully address outcome levels needed for specialty certification. ASCE Policy Statements 524 (ASCE, 2022a) and 568 (ASCE, 2022b) support this.
Download the complete WRBOK3
Maintain Your Certification
Board-certified engineers must recertify annually by paying the designated fee, maintaining a valid professional engineering license, and completing the necessary continuing professional development hours (PDHs)
Annual recertification fees
ASCE and/or Institute members - $200
Nonmembers - $250
Annual retired fees
ASCE and/or Institute members - $100
Nonmembers - $125
A minimum of 20 PDHs, including 2 PDHs in ethics, is required annually. All PDHs must adhere to the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) guidelines for continuing professional development and be relevant to the specialty field of practice.
For full CEC continuing professional development requirements
View the full annual recertification process and requirements
Prepare for and Maintain Your CEC Certification with ASCE Continuing Education
Prepare for and maintain your CEC board-certified engineer credential with ASCE’s expert-taught continuing education programs, featuring diverse in-person, live online, and on-demand courses designed to support and advance your career. Explore the many ways to grow your knowledge, advance, and stay current with your professional career and maintain your CEC credential.
CEC Board Certified Engineer Directory, Events and Announcements & FAQs
Board-Certified Engineer Directory
This tool helps owners, employers and the public locate board-certified engineers.
CEC Events and Announcements
Stay up to date on CEC events, webinars, news and announcements.
CEC FAQs
Got questions? Check the CEC frequently asked questions.
View AAWRE Board of Trustees
CEC’s Water Resources Engineering Board Certification program is administered by the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE).
Show your pride in being a CEC board-certified engineer with CEC-branded merchandise
Purchase a polo or long sleeve shirt with the CEC logo from our new CEC Lands' End Store!
Simply choose your item, click the “Apply Logo” button and select logo placement.
Not all products can be personalized with the CEC logo.
CEC Lands' End Store
Testimonials
"I can easily say that, right after becoming a licensed professional engineer, getting my board certification in water resources engineering was the single most important post-collegiate career advancement move I made."
Rick Van Bruggen
P.E., BC.WRE
"As an academic and researcher, I am uncertain of the benefits of the BC.WRE board certification in relation to monetary contracts and awards. However, when I am asked to give expert testimony to a State, Federal, or House, or a U.S. government agency, the BC.WRE board certification clearly sets us apart."
Robert Traver
Ph.D., P.E., BC.WRE, F.ASCE
"I have found my board certification in water resources engineering to be valuable in one of the most important areas of our consulting engineering practice, marketing. When our firm submits a statement of qualifications in competition with other firms, the documented qualifications of the project team members is a critical criterion that is considered by the evaluators. This certification makes me more valuable to our firm, and I am sure that is reflected in my compensation."
Terry Winn
P.E., BC.WRE, F.ASCE
Jennifer Hofmann
Director, CEC
[email protected]
Frank Kim
Program Manager, CEC
[email protected]
Kim Jayavelu
Coordinator, CEC
[email protected]