Although your present employer does not offer incentives at this time for training and certification, taking the initiative on your own will enhance your career opportunities and give you greater job satisfaction as you increase your skills. Thoroughly trained and qualified operators are essential for the protection of public health and the maintenance of safe and reliable operations of water treatment and distribution facilities. AWWA favors mandatory certification of the persons in responsible charge of water treatment and distribution facilities. Furthermore, all other operators of water treatment and distribution facilities should be encouraged to gain certification voluntarily. Mandatory certification is strongly endorsed as the means of providing qualified operators.
Most states have specific training criteria for certification.
Generally, aside from these required prerequisites, applicants have an opportunity to take accredited elective courses to make up the difference in the total number of CEUs required for each level of certification. Each state has its own list of approved training that can be used toward certification. Home study . California State University in Sacramento, Calif., offers self-study programs that award CEUs that can be used to meet educational requirements or work experience when applying for licensing exams, maintaining a license, or when necessary for continued employment or promotion. This program is recognized throughout the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Guam, and Puerto Rico.