School of Applied Sciences and Technology

Water and Wastewater Technician

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Freshwater is the planet's most important resource. It's necessary to sustain life, cultivate food and generate power. Although 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, less than 1% of it is freshwater. This natural scarcity, coupled with an increasingly environmentally-conscious society, has created a strong demand for highly skilled, well-trained professionals in the field of water management.

The NAIT Water and Wastewater Technician program – the only such program in Alberta – is designed to provide you with the important skills necessary for a rewarding career in this growing industry.

Quick Facts

Credential: Certificate

Certificates are credit programs that take 1 year or less and lead to government approved and industry-recognized credentials.

Campus: Main

Any in-person components of your courses will be delivered at NAIT's Main Campus in Edmonton. View map

Delivery Options:

  • On-Campus Day - Your course activity is done in-person Monday - Friday in the daytime.

Length: 1 Year

With a typical full-time course load, this program will take 1 Year to complete.

Open Studies: Not Available

This program does not currently have any courses available for Open Studies.

International Students: Accepted

This program accepts international students, however, program availability may be limited. Check program availability for this term. This program also meets the eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program. Each student is responsible for maintaining their eligibility throughout their studies.

Grad Employment Rate

Employment rates are reported by NAIT alumni, are for information purposes, and do not guarantee future employment opportunities. Please note that data for newer programs may not be included within this report.

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Median Starting Salary: $60,778

Salaries are reported by NAIT alumni, are for information purposes, and are not a guarantee of future income.

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Work Integrated Learning: Field Placement

This program has Work Integrated Learning (WIL). WIL is a form of experiential learning that integrates academic studies with relevant work-based learning. Experiences are directly tied to curriculum and part of an approved program of study.

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Hands-on, industry-relevant skills 

In this program, you'll be instructed in the fields of water treatment, water distribution, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment. You'll experience a combination of traditional classroom delivery, self-study and tutor-supported activities.

Hands-on training in labs will help you develop the skills to maintain and operate mechanical equipment, treat water and enter the workforce prepared and ready to go.

By the time you graduate, you'll have a better understanding of:

  • Basic chemistry, math and electricity
  • Water and wastewater treatment processes
  • The operation and maintenance of water distribution and wastewater collection systems
  • Hydraulics
  • Blueprint reading
Hydrant repair

Distance offering

If you'd like to take NAIT's Water and Wastewater Technician program from outside of Edmonton, NAIT Continuing Education offers 3 distinct distance programs that can help you find a career in the water and wastewater industry:

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Career Opportunities

Highly skilled and well-trained personnel are needed to operate and maintain the wide variety of hydrologic systems now in use. Our graduates are in demand with:

  • Municipal public works departments
  • Contractors involved in the installation of water and wastewater systems
  • Companies who service and/or supply water and wastewater materials and equipment

Certification and Accreditation

Once you've graduated, you will earn a Water and Wastewater Technician certificate. That, in addition to the required amount of work experience, may also make you eligible to write the Alberta Environment Water and Wastewater Operator Certification examinations. 

Water hose

Want to learn more about this program?



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The personal information on this form is being collected under the authority of the Post-secondary Learning Act and section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). The information will be protected by the provisions of FOIP, and will be used for the purpose of registration and administration of the event. If you have any questions or concerns about the collection, use, security or disclosure of the personal information, please contact General Council at 780.471.7664 or legal@nait.ca.

Career Outcomes

Highly skilled and well-trained personnel are needed to operate and maintain the wide variety of hydrologic systems now in use.

Build your resume before you even graduate

Explore work experience opportunities that help grads get hired even sooner.

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Work Experience Placements

Courses and Advanced Credit

Current and recently admitted students can find information and updates about their program on their My Program page in the MyNAIT Portal. To monitor your course progress and the courses still needed to graduate, visit your Academic Progress Report.

Advanced Credit

You may apply for advanced credit once you have been accepted into the program. Advanced credit can be Transfer Credit (for completed post-secondary courses) or PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition).

Transfer Credit

In addition to the common guidelines outlined on the Transfer and Credit Options section, your program has other advanced credit requirements that are applied to each request including:

  • You must have completed the course or program no more than 7 year(s) ago unless a formalized articulation agreement is in place
  • You must have a minimum mark of C in the course(s) or program

Applicants who have successfully completed other post-secondary courses may be eligible for advanced standing in the Water and Wastewater Technician courses.  Applicants wishing to investigate this option must present the following:

  • Mark transcripts of the previous related training
  • Course outlines or adequate description of the courses

Contact Darren Demchuk (demchukd@nait.ca) for additional details about transfer credit.

Read more about advanced credit or contact us about applying for credit for this program.

Courses

Expand each course below to see details about credits, requisites, scheduling, and more.

Tuition & Fees

Scholarships & Awards

The following scholarships and/or bursaries are available to you as a student in this program. To access your opportunities, visit the Student Portal.

Admission Requirements

Want to learn more about this program?

Thank you for your interest! We want to get you in contact with the right person to answer your questions. If you are a current or recently admitted student you can find program and course information as well as contact details for your program on the My Program page on the MyNAIT Portal.

General inquiries

Please contact the Student Service Centre for general inquiries such as:

  • Student application support
  • Program entrance requirements, tuition & fees, and how to apply
  • Program admissions process
  • Enrolment support
  • Student funding options
  • Fee and refund inquiries
  • General program and course withdrawal procedures
  • Navigating nait.ca and MyNAITPortal

Contact Student Service Centre

Program-specific questions

Please fill out the form below if you have any program-specific questions relating to:

  • Program details
  • Work-integrated learning and cooperative education
  • Advance credit and Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
  • Program and course withdrawal



The personal information on this form is being collected under the authority of the Post-secondary Learning Act and section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). The information will be protected by the provisions of FOIP, and will be used for the purpose of registration and administration of the event. If you have any questions or concerns about the collection, use, security or disclosure of the personal information, please contact General Council at 780.471.7664 or legal@nait.ca.

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