Summary | - Surface Water Identification Training and Certification (SWITC) Spring 2026

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the high demand for this workshop and our need to prioritize certain registration types, your registration request will be in PENDING STATUS. You will receive a notification email approximately 5 weeks prior to the start of the workshop once a decision has been made about your registration.

The Surface Water Identification Training and Certification (SWITC) Course is offered by the North Carolina Division of Water Resources (DWR) and NC State University (NCSU) to comply with N.C. General Statute 143-214.25A. This statute requires DWR to train and certify staff of the North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS), the Division of Water Resources (DWR), and local delegated programs.

Certification from this training course is required in order to make a legal determination of stream origins and identify surface waters subject to buffer rules enacted by the NC Environmental Management Commission. Staff within DWR, NCFS (who are also Registered Foresters), or delegated local programs who take the course and pass both the written and field tests will be certified to make determinations of stream origins subject to the buffer rules. Please note that completion of this course by those individuals not part of DWR, NCFS, or local delegated programs will result in a “Certificate of Training” but does not authorize legal determination of stream origins for buffer rules. However, we strongly encourage these individuals to take part in this course in order to help understand the stream identification methodology and improve communication with DWR, NCFS, and delegated programs regarding buffer rules.

For additional information and resources, including a list of certified professionals, please visit NC DEQ’s website.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Upon registering, you will receive an email stating that you are in pending status. The overall class size and the number of individuals who register requiring this training as it relates to their official duties will determine how many individuals will be accepted into the training. Individuals will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis after the DWR/NCFS and delegated local programs individuals have been accepted and registered into the course. If you are selected, you will receive a registration confirmation email approximately five weeks prior to the start of class, at which time payment will be accepted. If you are not selected, you will receive an email regarding the waitlist process.

DWR/NCFS Registration Fee - Complimentary

A limited number of openings are available at no fee for Division of Water Resources (DWR) & North Carolina Foresty Services (NCFS) employees who attend the training program “in connection with the employee’s official duties” (per NC General Statute 143-214.23). Applicants who are not selected for no-fee status will have the opportunity at that time to withdraw their registration, add themselves to the waitlist for the next class, or proceed with payment of the course fee if they wish to attend the class.

Cancellation requests should be sent to bae_training@ncsu.edu for processing. The cancellation request must be submitted at least thirty-one (31) days before the date of the workshop to receive a full refund. Cancellation requests made between thirty (30) days and eight (8) days before the date of the workshop will receive a full refund minus a $25 administrative processing fee. Any cancellation requests made on or within seven (7) days of the workshop will be ineligible for a refund.

Attendee substitutions from within the same company may be made at any time at no cost. Please send an email to bae_training@ncsu.edu with the name of the current registrant and the name and email address of the new registrant.

In the event of severe weather, this workshop may be postponed or canceled at the discretion of the workshop instructors and coordinators. If the workshop is postponed, you may receive a refund if you are unable to attend the newly scheduled date, time, and location. Please contact bae_training@ncsu.edu if you are unable to attend the rescheduled workshop. If the workshop is canceled, you will receive a full refund. If the workshop is postponed or canceled, the workshop instructors and coordination staff are not responsible for participants not meeting their PDHs or CEUs requirements with their various professional licensing boards.

Certification from this training course is required in order to make a legal determination of stream origins and identify surface waters subject to buffer rules enacted by the NC Environmental Management Commission. Staff within DWR, NCFS (who are also Registered Foresters), or delegated local programs who take the course and pass both the written and field tests will be certified to make determinations of stream origins subject to the buffer rules. Please note that completion of this course by those individuals not part of DWR, NCFS, or delegated local programs will receive a “Certificate of Completion” but this does not authorize these individuals to make legal determinations of stream origins for buffer rule subjectivity. However, we strongly encourage these individuals to take part in this course in order to help understand the stream identification methodology and improve communication with DWR, NCFS, and delegated programs regarding buffer rules.

DWR Staff

Certified to make definitive determinations of stream origins subject to the buffer rules
Certified to make legal determinations of Waters of the State

NCFS Staff

Certified to make definitive determinations of stream origins subject to the buffer rules for silviculture operations

Delegated/Designated Local Government Staff

Certified to make definitive determinations of stream origins subject to the buffer rules within their jurisdiction

Staff from Other Agencies

Receive a “Certificate of Completion”

All exams are hand graded by NC DWR Staff as quickly as possible and they appreciate your patience. All attendees will be notified whether they passed or failed the exam directly by NC DWR staff. Certificates will be mailed to all individuals who passed. In addition, those individuals’ names and information will be posted on the NC DEQ SWITC Website. We kindly ask that you allow at least 4 weeks for grading and emailing and that you check the DEQ website link before contacting NC DWR staff about exam results.

Surface Water Identification
Training & Certification
(SWITC) Spring 2026

About the Workshop

Who Should Attend

What to Bring

Registration Information

Payment Information

Cancellation, Severe Weather and Refund Policy

Course Schedule

Instructors

Lodging

Certification Information

About the Certification

"Certification" vs. "Certificate of Completion"

I’ve Taken the Exam – Now What?

Professional Development Hours

McKimmon Center

Surface Water IdentificationTraining & Certification(SWITC) Spring 2026