Workforce development
California's water industry runs on certified operators. Safe water every day depends on them.
Most students have never heard the job described. CAAWEF works to change that.
We connect people to training, to mentorship, and to the agencies that hire. Three certified pathways lead into the industry.
None of them require a four-year degree.
A treatment operator on shift. Every water system in California runs on somebody doing this job.
Pathways
Operators run treatment plants and distribution systems. They monitor quality and protect public health.
Certification covers both treatment and distribution. Each has its own grade levels and its own path up.
Drinking water certificationWastewater operators treat water before it is discharged or reused. The work protects the environment directly.
It combines science, technology, and hands-on operations. Advancement is steady and the ceiling is high.
Wastewater certificationThe OIT pathway is the entry point. Trainees work beside certified operators and get paid while they learn.
It is the shortest route from no experience to a certified career.
Operator-in-Training pathwayCertification is issued by the State Water Resources Control Board. Each link goes to its program page.
That is the whole goal, and it is not complicated.