100+ Free ASSE 12080 Practice Questions

ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI 12080 is the national professional qualifications standard for Legionella Water Safety and Management Personnel. It is intended for water management team members in hospitals, long-term care facilities, hotels, universities, large commercial buildings, and industrial sites — facility engineers, plumbers, water treatment professionals, infection-control staff, consultants, and inspectors — who develop and operate a written water management program under ASHRAE 188-2018 and the CDC toolkit.

Candidates must complete an ASSE-approved 24-hour training course covering all aspects of the ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI 12080 standard. There is no formal degree or licensure prerequisite, but the credential is targeted at professionals who already work in building water systems, plumbing, water treatment, or infection control.

The ASSE 12080 written examination is 100 questions and requires 80% or higher to pass. The exam is proctored by ASSE and may be delivered online or in person depending on the training provider. Candidates must demonstrate competence in environmental testing, risk assessment, water management programs, mitigation and remediation, construction and renovation, and case investigation.

ASHRAE 188-2018 is the consensus standard that requires building owners to establish a water management program. The CDC toolkit operationalizes ASHRAE 188 in seven steps. ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI 12080 is the personnel standard that certifies the qualifications of the people who develop and run that program. A facility complies with ASHRAE 188 by following a program; the people who write and run the program are typically ASSE 12080 certified.

ASHRAE 188 and most public-health guidance call for hot water to be stored at 60 deg C (140 deg F) or higher and delivered at 50 deg C (122 deg F) or higher, with cold water held at 20 deg C (68 deg F) or lower. Legionella grows fastest between approximately 25-43 deg C (77-110 deg F), so any system that holds water in that range is a hazard until controlled.

Yes. CMS Survey & Certification Memorandum S&C 17-30, originally issued in 2017 and updated in 2018, requires Medicare-certified hospitals, critical access hospitals, and long-term care facilities to develop and adhere to policies and procedures that reduce the risk of growth and spread of Legionella and other pathogens in building water systems, consistent with ASHRAE 188 and the CDC toolkit.

ASSE 12080 certification is valid for three years. Recertification requires completion of an ASSE-approved refresher course and passing a recertification written exam before the credential expires.