Several organizations provide wastewater treatment training programs. Those involved in the waste treatment industry typically receive training from programs set up by universities or government agencies.
The company or agency that manages the waste treatment plant often hires those with only a high school education. In this case, the plant may hire first and also provide the training. However, it is also possible to attend certain training programs for wastewater treatment on your own. This is generally a good idea if you want to increase your chances of getting a job at one of these plants.
If you are interested in obtaining waste treatment training on your own, then you will have to contact individual training providers to see about their rules. Some programs are set up to handle training for particular employees or trainees of specified plants. You may not even be eligible for such wastewater treatment classes. This is why you often should just seek a job first and see if you can get the training for free as a benefit of employment.
With that said, some states have certification requirements for wastewater treatment. These states set up a certification program and approve training providers. For example, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation approves certification training for wastewater treatment plant operators.
As in New York, there are also different kinds of wastewater treatment training programs. In that state, there are Basic Operator, Basic Laboratory, and Activated Sludge courses. There are also management and supervision courses for wastewater treatment plants. There is even a home study course for wastewater treatment. Refer to your local state, county, or city environmental agencies to determine the training options and certification requirements for wastewater treatment plant operators.
Resources:
New York Department of Environmental Conservation: Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Training