Water treatment operator training in Wisconsin

2 water and wastewater programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

2 schools offer these water treatment programs, and Wisconsin has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

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

In Wisconsin, 1 of the 2 programs asks for a high school diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 2 programs here are water or wastewater (associate degree, 1 program) and water or wastewater operator certificate (1 program).

See the 2 programs

How much does water treatment operator training cost in Wisconsin?

$2,250 to $9,210

from the lowest-priced program to the highest, if you pay yourself

These two programs

Finished the program: 41% to 100%
Working 6 months later: 50% to 80%
Earned a year, estimated: about $35,200 to $50,600
Length: 16 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Wisconsin may also offer water treatment operator training. How these figures are made

Is there free water treatment operator training in Wisconsin?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.³⁴⁵For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁵
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. These programs cost $2,250 to $9,210.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 2 water and wastewater programs in Wisconsin approved for WIOA funding

2 programs

Water or wastewater (associate degree)OnlineEducation and courses
Water Quality Technology
Moraine Park Technical College
Based in Fond du Lac, WI
Accredited school
Education and courses
Moraine Park Technical College, based in Fond du Lac, WIWater or wastewater (associate degree) · Accredited schoolOnline · Education and courses
Earned a year, estimated$50,600
Price if you pay yourself$9,210
Program website, Water Quality Technology at Moraine Park Technical College
More details about Water Quality Technology at Moraine Park Technical College
Finished
41%
Working at 6 months
80%
Earned in a quarter
$12,654
Length
Not reported
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
56
Earned a year, estimated
$50,600
Price if you pay yourself
$9,210
Program website, Water Quality Technology at Moraine Park Technical College
Water or wastewater operator certificateIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Water Technician
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Milwaukee Area Technical College, MilwaukeeWater or wastewater operator certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$35,200
Price if you pay yourself$2,250
Program website, Water Technician at Milwaukee Area Technical College
More details about Water Technician at Milwaukee Area Technical College
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
50%
Earned in a quarter
$8,790
Length
16 weeks, 19 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,411
Students counted
11
Earned a year, estimated
$35,200
Price if you pay yourself
$2,250
Program website, Water Technician at Milwaukee Area Technical College

How to pay for water treatment operator training in Wisconsin

WIOA funding can pay for water treatment operator training in Wisconsin

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for water treatment operator training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁷⁸

GI Bill for water treatment operator training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁹

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Other training in Wisconsin

How water treatment operator training compares with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in Wisconsin

Where the Wisconsin water treatment program numbers come from

Which Wisconsin water treatment programs are on this list?

These are the water treatment programs Wisconsin approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).¹⁰ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Wisconsin offers.

How the prices and results of Wisconsin water treatment programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about water treatment operator training in Wisconsin

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources

Nursing and patient care

Medical office and lab

General healthcare

Skilled trades

Transportation and logistics

Computers and IT

Business and office

Beauty and personal care

Public safety

Food and hospitality

Education and social services