Dive into an in-demand career with great pay, benefits, and pension options — and prepare to earn Illinois EPA certification in just one year. Water quality professionals make a vital contribution to their communities and the environment by ensuring that clean, safe water is available through the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment plants. They are also highly sought-after, with expanding employment opportunities due to projected retirements and funding for new jobs.
uniquely positions Waubonsee to train you to enter this in-demand field in just one year.
A new career in one year - without breaking the bank! Waubonsee’s Water and Wastewater Technology Program is designed to get you job-ready quickly. You'll acquire the knowledge needed for entry-level positions at public and private water and wastewater treatment plants, along with hands-on work experience. The program also offers:
Most of the required classes are online. Face-to-face courses meet Thursday nights at Waubonsee’s Sugar Grove Campus.
Students from Waubonsee's first Water/Wastewater cohort along with professionals from the City of St. Charles Water Division and Mark Halm, our Adjunct Math Instructor and Retired Engineer from Fehr Graham Company
Garett Guthrie, Public Works Division Manager
Matt Wilson, Public Works Division Manager – Environmental Services
Christina Smith, Laboratory Supervisor
Members for the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) identified and prioritized the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) for inclusion in the new certificate program.
The BILT members were actively selected to provide support and co-leadership in the following areas of partnership:
These BILT members helped align the KSAs to a 16-week curriculum where students will learn and be assessed based on course objectives that prepare them for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Class D Drinking Water and Class 4 Wastewater Operator certifications.
The new certificate program was designed by aligning existing curriculum and materials with prioritized KSAs, determining the number of courses, pre-requisites, and course sequence, and adapting or creating new course materials. The course materials were developed with two subject matter experts who were also BILT members. They have previous educational experience which enabled them to assist with the curriculum design process. One of them is affiliated with Wastewater Treatment Microbiology, Incorporated, the winner of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National “Spark Plug Award” for Operator Trainers, while the other is from the drinking water section of the Wisconsin Rural Water Association.
These BILT members helped align the KSAs to a 16-week curriculum where students will learn and be assessed based on course objectives that prepare them for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Class D Drinking Water and Class 4 Wastewater Operator certifications.
View Water/Wastewater Technology Certificate Course Requirements
Pictured: Toni Glymph-Martin, Wastewater Microbiologist and Treatment System Solutions Expert
We are using the cohort model. In Cohort 1, we have 20+ students who are taking the courses outlined on the schedule in the program brochure.
Through work-based experiential learning opportunities via credit based internships, students will be prepared with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet employer expectations.
Pictured: Cohort 1 students attended the Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), the largest conference of its kind in North America, with water quality professionals from around the world.
To connect and enrich the Illinois water community and increase the awareness of the impact and value of water.
