Water treatment operator training in Ohio

4 water and wastewater programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

2 schools offer these water treatment programs, and Ohio has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators run the machines that move and treat water. They typically need at least a high school diploma and long-term training on the job, and a state license is usually required; licenses have several levels, and employers may prefer applicants with a certificate or degree in a field such as water treatment technology.¹ Under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, every state must run a certification program for the operators of community water systems, or lose a fifth of its federal drinking water grant; the state sets the levels and exams.²

In Ohio, 3 of the 4 programs take students without a high school diploma and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 4 programs here are water or wastewater operator certificate (3 programs) and water or wastewater (associate degree, 1 program).

See the 4 programs

How much does water treatment operator training cost in Ohio?

$5,293 to $16,123

from the lowest-priced program to the highest, if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not reported; None of the 4 programs report it

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Ohio may also offer water treatment operator training. How these figures are made

Is there free water treatment operator training in Ohio?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.³⁴⁵
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁶ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁵
Or pay yourself. These programs cost $5,293 to $16,123.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 4 water and wastewater programs in Ohio approved for WIOA funding

4 programs

Water or wastewater operator certificateIn personNo diploma needed
Wastewater Certificate
Hocking College
Nelsonville
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Hocking College, NelsonvilleWater or wastewater operator certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$99,800
Price if you pay yourself$5,483
Program website, Wastewater Certificate at Hocking College
More details about Wastewater Certificate at Hocking College
Finished
63%
Working at 6 months
100%
Earned in a quarter
$24,959
Length
Not reported
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
19
Earned a year, estimated
$99,800
Price if you pay yourself
$5,483
Program website, Wastewater Certificate at Hocking College
Water or wastewater operator certificateIn personNo diploma needed
Water Certificate
Hocking College
Nelsonville
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Hocking College, NelsonvilleWater or wastewater operator certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$5,293
Program website, Water Certificate at Hocking College
More details about Water Certificate at Hocking College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
Not reported
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$5,293
Program website, Water Certificate at Hocking College
Water or wastewater operator certificateIn personPrerequisite courses
Water/Wastewater Technology Certificate
Columbus State Comm. College
Columbus
Accredited school
Prerequisite courses
Columbus State Comm. College, ColumbusWater or wastewater operator certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$6,100
Program website, Water/Wastewater Technology Certificate at Columbus State Comm. College
More details about Water/Wastewater Technology Certificate at Columbus State Comm. College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
Not reported
Cost of supplies
$2,700
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$6,100
Program website, Water/Wastewater Technology Certificate at Columbus State Comm. College
Water or wastewater (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed
Water and Wastewater Management
Hocking College
Nelsonville
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Hocking College, NelsonvilleWater or wastewater (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$16,123
Program website, Water and Wastewater Management at Hocking College
More details about Water and Wastewater Management at Hocking College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
Not reported
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$16,123
Program website, Water and Wastewater Management at Hocking College

How to pay for water treatment operator training in Ohio

WIOA funding can pay for water treatment operator training in Ohio

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for water treatment operator training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁷⁸

GI Bill for water treatment operator training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁹

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Other training in Ohio

How water treatment operator training compares with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in Ohio

Where the Ohio water treatment program numbers come from

Which Ohio water treatment programs are on this list?

These are the water treatment programs Ohio approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).¹⁰ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Ohio offers.

How the prices and results of Ohio water treatment programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about water treatment operator training in Ohio

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources

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