Which schools offer WIOA-approved water treatment operator training?

47 schools offer these programs, and each state on this page approved its programs for workforce funding. Pick a state on the map or compare them belowCompare the states below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

What does a water treatment operator do, and how do you become one?

Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators run the machines that move and treat water. They typically need at least a high school diploma and long-term training on the job, and a state license is usually required; licenses have several levels, and employers may prefer applicants with a certificate or degree in a field such as water treatment technology.¹ Under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, every state must run a certification program for the operators of community water systems, or lose a fifth of its federal drinking water grant; the state sets the levels and exams.²

Approved programsup to 12 to 23 to 3more than 3

How much does water treatment operator training cost?

Most water and wastewater programs approved for WIOA funding cost $1,646 to $6,802 if you pay yourself. Certificates and short courses mostly cost $1,334 to $5,960 and two-year degrees $6,902 to $10,913. Prices also differ by state: most cost $1,001 to $1,263 in California and $4,706 to $6,475 in Washington.

That is the price of the whole program as the school reports it. If you qualify, WIOA funding can pay part or all of it, depending on local limits (who qualifies). The figures cover only programs approved for WIOA funding; other schools and programs may cost more or less.

Compare water treatment operator training by state: cost, pay and results

Water treatment operator training by state
State	Programs	Most cost	Earned a year, estimated	Working 6 months later	Finished
Alabama	2	Not enough data	Not enough data	Left out	Not enough data
Alaska	2	Too few figures to show
California	6	$1,001 to $1,263	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data
Colorado	4	Too few figures to show
Delaware	1	Too few figures to show
Illinois	2	Left out	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Indiana	2	Too few figures to show
Iowa	2	Too few figures to show
Kentucky	1	Too few figures to show
Louisiana	5	$1,800	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Maine	1	Left out	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Michigan	1	Too few figures to show
Minnesota	3	Too few figures to show
Montana	1	Too few figures to show
New Mexico	2	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data	Left out
North Carolina	2	Too few figures to show
Ohio	4	Too few figures to show
Oregon	1	Too few figures to show
Pennsylvania	3	Too few figures to show
Tennessee	3	Too few figures to show
Texas	1	Too few figures to show
Virginia	2	Too few figures to show
Washington	13	$4,706 to $6,475	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data
Wisconsin	2	Too few figures to show

Each figure is the middle program in that state. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools may offer water treatment operator training too. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).How these figures are made

Operator certificate, exam prep or water technology degree? What the 66 programs are

By kind, the 66 programs approved for WIOA funding are water or wastewater operator certificate (33 programs), operator exam prep or short course (13 programs), water or wastewater (associate degree, 11 programs) and water or wastewater apprenticeship (9 programs).

Across the US, 31 of the 66 programs take students without a high school diploma, 26 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 9 ask for earlier courses first.

Is there free water treatment operator training in the US?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.³⁴⁵
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁶ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁵
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by state: most water and wastewater programs cost $1,001 to $1,263 in California and $4,706 to $6,475 in Washington. Each state's page lists every program with its price.

Does WIOA pay for job training? Who qualifies and how to apply

Other training by state

Approved programs per field across every state. Each opens that field's comparison by state.

Where the water treatment program numbers by state come from

Which water treatment programs are counted?

Programs each state approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁷ Schools that never applied for approval are missing.

What the figures for each state mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the facts about water treatment operator training

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Nursing and patient care

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Water treatment operator training by state