Track D · SDI
Sewer & Drain Camera Inspection Certification
Master the standards-based process for inspecting sewer and drain lines with a CCTV camera, accurately diagnosing what is wrong inside the pipe, and proving your skill with a credential homeowners, plumbers, and inspectors trust.
Get certified online — certificate the same day.
- Self-paced
- Instant certificate
- 2-year validity
- Format
- Online, self-paced
- Lessons
- 6 lessons
- Exam
- 10 questions
- Pass mark
- 75% · retries
- Certificate
- Same day
- Validity
- 2 years
Earning potential
How much can you earn?
Technician hourly
$22-40 / hr
Self-employed inspection ticket
$150-650+
Owner potential
mid five-to-six figures
Illustrative ranges — actual earnings vary by location, effort, and experience, and are not guaranteed.
Why it pays
Why get certified?
Diagnose with confidence
Stop guessing where the problem is. A camera inspection lets you see roots, breaks, and bellies on screen, so you can tell a customer exactly what is wrong and what it will take to fix it.
Charge more per job
A documented camera inspection with a clear report and locate is a billable service on its own, and it justifies the larger repair or replacement work that follows.
Build trust fast
Video footage and a written report turn a vague sales pitch into proof. Customers, real estate agents, and insurers act faster when they can see the pipe for themselves.
Start or grow a business
Camera inspection is a low-overhead service you can add to plumbing, drain cleaning, or a standalone inspection company, opening doors to pre-purchase real estate work and municipal subcontracting.
Curriculum
Inside the Sewer & Drain Camera Inspection course
6 self-paced lessons, then a 10-question exam — 75% to pass, unlimited retries.
- 1
The Camera System and How It Works
A sewer and drain camera, often called a CCTV inspection system, has a few core parts you need to know cold. The camera head holds a lens, an LED light ring, and usually a transmitter called a sonde. The head connects to a flexible push rod, sometimes called a push cable, that is stiff enough to drive forward but flexible enough to follow bends. The rod feeds off a reel and connects to a monitor where you watch and record the inspection.
- 2
Safe Access and Getting the Camera In
The best entry point is a cleanout, a capped fitting made for access. Look for them outside near the foundation, in basements, crawl spaces, or at the base of a stack. Removing a cleanout cap can release standing wastewater under pressure, so stand to the side, wear gloves and eye protection, and have a bucket and rags ready.
- 3
Reading Blockages, Roots, and Buildup
Once the camera is moving, your job is to interpret what you see. Clean water flowing and clear pipe walls are normal. Trouble shows up as anything that narrows or interrupts the flow.
- 4
Structural Defects: Bellies, Breaks, Offsets, and More
Structural problems are the findings that drive repair and replacement, so accuracy matters. A belly, also called a sag, is a section where the pipe dips below grade and holds standing water even when nothing is draining. On camera you see a pool of water that the rod travels down into and back up out of. Bellies collect debris and cause repeat clogs.
- 5
Pipe Materials and On-Screen Clues
Knowing the pipe material helps you predict problems and explain findings. You usually identify material by its look on camera, since you rarely see it from outside.
- 6
Locating Depth and Writing the Report
Finding a defect is only half the job. The customer needs to know where it is in the ground so they can dig or plan a repair. The camera head contains a sonde, a small transmitter at a set frequency. On the surface you use a handheld locator, sometimes called a wand, tuned to that frequency to pinpoint the head.
Curriculum
What you’ll learn
- Set up, operate, and maintain a push-rod CCTV camera system and self-leveling head
- Safely access sewer and drain lines through cleanouts, vents, and pulled fixtures
- Identify and distinguish root intrusion, grease buildup, blockages, and foreign objects on screen
- Recognize structural defects including bellies, breaks, cracks, offsets, and collapsed sections
- Determine pipe material and approximate diameter from on-screen visual cues
- Locate the depth and ground position of a defect using a sonde and locator wand
- Capture clear, well-lit video and still images with accurate footage references
- Produce a professional inspection report that documents findings and recommended next steps
What's included
Everything you get with enrollment
One price — the course, the exam, the certificate, and the tools to put it to work.
Self-paced lessons
Practical, standards-based lessons you can start, pause, and finish on your own schedule.
A real certification exam
A short multiple-choice exam that confirms you absorbed the material — 75% to pass.
Instant certificate
Pass and download your personalized Certificate of Completion the same day.
Unique verification ID
Every certificate carries an ID anyone can confirm online — proof customers trust.
2-year validity + renewal
Your credential is valid for two years, with a simple renewal path before it expires.
Free Find-a-Pro listing
Once certified, claim a free listing so homeowners in your area can hire you.
The process
How it works
Enroll & pay
Secure checkout, instant course access.
Complete the course + short quiz
Self-paced lessons, then a short quiz — 75% to pass, unlimited retries.
Download your certificate
Personalized certificate generated instantly, with a unique verification ID.
Your credential
Your certificate
- Holder name and course title
- Unique certificate ID
- Issue date and expiry date (2-year validity)
- Online verification by ID
A NISCR Certificate of Completion confirms completion of NISCR training and examination. It is a professional credential, not a government license. Where local law requires a license to perform a service, the technician is responsible for obtaining it.
Certificate
of Completion
This certifies that
Your Name
has completed
Sewer & Drain Camera Inspection
- Certificate No.
- Valid
- NISCR-SDI-2026-XXXXXX
- 2 years
Keep going
Related certifications
Questions
Frequently asked questions
- Is this a license?
- No. A NISCR Certificate of Completion is a professional credential confirming that you completed NISCR training and passed the examination. It is not a government license. You are responsible for any license, registration, or permit your state or locality requires to perform plumbing or sewer work.
- How fast do I get my certificate?
- Same day. As soon as you finish the course and pass the exam, your Certificate of Completion is available to download and print immediately, with no waiting period.
- Do I need a state license to do camera inspections?
- It varies by state and locality. Some places require a plumbing or contractor license to perform or sell sewer work, while a standalone visual inspection may be treated differently. Always check the rules in your area before taking paid work.
- How long is the certificate valid?
- The certificate is valid for 2 years (24 months). After that you can renew by completing the current version of the course, which keeps your knowledge of equipment and best practices up to date.
- Is there an exam?
- Yes. There is a short exam at the end of the course. You need 75% to pass, and you get unlimited retries at no extra cost, so you can review the material and try again whenever you are ready.
- Is the course self-paced?
- Yes. The entire course is online and self-paced. You can start, stop, and resume on any device, and there are no scheduled class times or live sessions to attend.