Surface Water Identification Training & Certification Workshop (SWITC) SPRING 2024
May 13 – 17, 2024
Day 1 – 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Days 2, 3, 4 – 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Day 5 – 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
McKimmon Center
1101 Gorman Street Raleigh, NC 27606
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.
Registration Fee – $715.00
Fee is increased to $765.00 after April 12, 2024
Fee is increased to $765.00 after April 12, 2024
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.