EDUCATION
For more than four decades, the BC Water & Waste Association (BCWWA) has been one of the largest and most trusted source of training in BC and the Yukon, preparing operators for certification exams, providing continuing education unit (CEU) credits and helping operators advance their careers. Want to progress your career as a water or wastewater operator? Take one of our certification preparation courses, online or in-class, ahead of a certification exam. To learn new skills and gain CEUs, complete one of our skill-specific, elective in-class courses.
If you have any questions about our courses, please contact education@bcwwa.org.
TRAINING DELIVERY OPTIONS
The BCWWA offers courses using a variety of delivery options.To address the restrictions in place due to the pandemic, the BCWWA education team has converted our instructor-led classes to a virtual classroom format. These courses are delivered by a live instructor in real-time and they run for the same length and time that would occur in a physical classroom.
The BCWWA education team has been working hard to support our instructors and students with the transition to an online format, so that the experience is as close to a classroom environment as possible.
For example, a typical five (5) day course that would run from 8 - 4 pm from Monday to Friday will run during the same hours and days, but you'll be listening and interacting with your live instructor from the safety of your computer instead of being in a physical classroom. Keeping you safe while providing opportunities to acquire your continuing education units (CEUs) is our top priority.
Are you looking for more flexibility? Do you enjoy learning at your own pace? Are you a self-disciplined and self-driven learner?
If so, you may want to consider taking one of our self-paced online courses. The online content covers the same material as the in-class course and offers the same number of continuing education units (CEUs).
Online learning doesn't have to be lonely learning. Most of our online courses include access to a course instructor who is available to answer questions and guide your learning - a great safety net for your investment.
Self-paced online courses are offered in 12-week sessions throughout the year. You can expect to study an average of about three (3) hours per week. Visit our class calendar and register today!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Can I complete the course at my own pace?
Yes, for the majority of the time you set the pace. You decide when you want to view the presentations and complete the course work. However, every course has an end date and you are expected to compete all reading and assignments by the time the course closes. If you do not complete the course work on-time, you will not be eligible to receive CEUs.
Q: What if I prefer to read the manual and study offline, on my own?
The online courses are structured to provide you with learning modules that build your knowledge and competencies. The presentations, student forums, exercises, case studies, and quizzes are important components of the learning experience, and you are encouraged to take advantage of these tools.
Q: Do I need to complete all the course work to pass?
Yes. Successful completion is defined as completing all of the course work by the time the course closes. If you do not complete all of the work, you will not pass.
Q: How does the BCWWA monitor and report to the Environmental Operators Certification Program (EOCP) on CEUs?
Our online courses are hosted on a learning management system that keeps track of when you log in, which pages you look at and how much time you spend on every activity. It also keeps a log of which quizzes you work through.
When the publicly scheduled course offerings do not meet the needs your organization, we can work with you to coordinate a special request course.
- Custom Course – The course is offered directly within your organization. When this occurs, the instructor can work with you to focus discussions on areas of key interest. These courses are offered either at the worksite or virtually.
Custom courses are a great way to train a large number of employees at the best time for your organization, without the additional expense of travel.
- On-Demand – When there are too few participants to make a custom course viable, the BCWWA will partner with individuals and organizations to offer a needed course. Typically, the requesting parties will guarantee a minimum number of attendees. The BCWWA will combine those efforts with public registration.
If you are interested in coordinating a special request course, please contact education@bcwwa.org.
UPCOMING COURSES
Online Courses with Continuous Enrollment | |||
Date | Course | CEUs | Location |
Continuous | Chlorine Handling Refresher | 1.2 | Online |
Continuous | Hypochlorination | 1.2 | Online |
Online Courses | |||
Date | Course | CEUs | Location |
April 5 - June 30, 2024 | Water Treatment 1 | 2.4 | Online |
April 5 - June 30, 2024 | Water Distribution 1 | 2.4 | Online |
April 5 - June 30, 2024 | Water Distribution 2 | 2.4 | Online |
April 5 - June 30, 2024 | Wastewater Collection 1 | 2.4 | Online |
April 5 - June 30, 2024 | Wastewater Collection 2 | 2.4 | Online |
April 5 - June 30, 2024 | Wastewater Treatment 1 | 2.4 | Online |
April 5 - June 30, 2024 | Small Water Systems | 1.2 | Online |
April 5 - June 30, 2024 | Small Wastewater Systems | 1.2 | Online |
Instructor-led Classes | |||
Date | Course | CEUs | Location |
May 14 – 15, 2024 | Watermain Disinfection for Field Operator | 1.2 | Virtual Classroom |
May 21, 2024 | Calculations for Water and Wastewater Operators | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
May 22, 2024 | Odor and Corrosion Control | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
May 23, 2024 | Ultraviolet Disinfection | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
May 24, 2024 | Preventing Waterborne Illness | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
May 27 – 31, 2024 | Managing People | 3.0 | Virtual Classroom |
May 30 – 31, 2024 | Water Quality and Sampling for Water Systems | 1.2 | Virtual Classroom |
June 10 – 14, 2024 | Water Distribution 3-4 | 3.0 | Virtual Classroom |
Sept. 24, 2024 | Calculations for Water and Wastewater Operators | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Sept. 25, 2024 | Pumps and Pumping Hydraulics | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Oct. 3 – 4, 2024 | Watermain Disinfection for the Field Operator | 1.2 | Virtual Classroom |
Oct. 8, 2024 | Process Control and SCADA Fundamentals | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Oct. 9, 2024 | Distribution System Breaks and Repairs | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Oct. 10, 2024 | Operational Best Practices in Water Distribution Systems | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Oct. 21 – 25, 2024 | Water Treatment 3-4 | 3.0 | Virtual Classroom |
Oct. 28 – Nov. 1, 2024 | Project Management Skills | 3.0 | Virtual Classroom |
Nov. 6, 2024 | Unidirectional Flushing | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Nov. 7, 2024 | Municipal Plan Readings | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Nov. 8, 2024 | Water Right Basics for Groundwater Users in British Columbia | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Nov. 14, 2024 | Managing Infiltration and Inflow in Wastewater Collection Systems | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Nov. 15, 2024 | Wastewater Collection System Odor and Corrosion Control | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Nov. 18-22, 2024 | Communication & Financial Skills | 3.0 | Virtual Classroom |
Nov. 25 – 29, 2024 | Wastewater Treatment 2 | 2.4 | Virtual Classroom |
Nov. 27, 2024 | Lift Stations Operations and Maintenance | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Nov. 28, 2024 | Preventing Waterborne Illness | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Nov. 29, 2024 | Ultraviolet Disinfection | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Dec. 2, 2024 | Introduction to Supervisory and Leadership Skills | 1.2 | Virtual Classroom |
Dec. 4 – 5, 2024 | Water Quality & Sampling (Water & Wastewater) | 1.2 | Virtual Classroom |
Dec. 6, 2024 | Reservoir Maintenance & Cleaning | 0.6 | Virtual Classroom |
Please contact the EOCP directly for operator certification exam information.