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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.

Upcoming Intakes

Select your preferred intake to see relevant program information. Program details, including tuition and course information, may vary by intake.

Start Date	Delivery Mode	Time	Campus	Length	Domestic Status	International Status
Sep. 02, 2025 (Fall)	In-person	Weekdays - Daytime	Main	1 Year (Full-time)	Open	Open
Jan. 08, 2026 (Winter)	In-person	Weekdays - Daytime	Main	1 Year (Full-time)	Open	Open

Swipe table to view more information for each intake.

Delivery Mode

In-person - All your class activity will be delivered in person, on campus.
Online - All your class activity will be delivered online.
Hybrid - Your classes will be a mixture of in person and online learning. You must be able to come to campus and participate remotely online.
Your choice - Your program offers a variety of class delivery options (in person, online, or a mixture of both) and you can select which type of classes to take. If you wish, you can complete your entire program either in-person or online.
HyFlex - All your classes are delivered for simultaneous participation in person and online. You can choose daily to attend your classes in person or join remotely online.

Time

Your choice - You can select class times and days that fit your schedule. There are a variety of class options for you to choose from including daytime, evening, weekdays or weekends.
No set time - No set class days or times, content is access on-demand. You can complete your studies on your own schedule within the scheduled class dates; may have set due dates and deadlines.
Evenings & Weekends - Classes are scheduled after 5 p.m. on weekdays or anytime on weekends.
Weekdays - Daytime - Classes are scheduled on weekdays, typically start before 6 p.m.
Weekdays - Evening - Classes are scheduled on weekdays, typically start after 6 p.m.
Weekends - Classes are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays.

Campus

Any in-person components of your courses will be delivered at this campus location.

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Length

Full-Time - This is the standard length to complete the program, with a full course load per term.
Part-Time - Students follow a structured schedule of classes so they can progress in their studies part-time while balancing everyday life.

Domestic Status

The program availability status for domestic applications is updated as applications are reviewed and assessed. Program availability is subject to change without notice.

Open - Program intake is accepting applications. If you apply and are qualified, you may be offered admission or be waitlisted. Open does not guarantee a seat.
Waitlisting - Program intake is accepting applications, but qualified applicants will be placed on a waitlist.
Closed - Program intake is not accepting applications.
Upcoming - Applications will open soon for this intake. View the upcoming terms for open dates.
N/A - Not available for this intake.

International Status

The program availability status for international applications is updated as applications are reviewed and assessed. Program availability is subject to change without notice.

Open - Program intake is accepting applications. If you apply and are qualified, you may be offered admission or be waitlisted. Open does not guarantee a seat.
Limited - For international applicants, the program intake is now only available if you already have a valid study permit.
Waitlisting - Program intake is accepting applications, but qualified applicants will be placed on a waitlist.
Closed - Program intake is not accepting applications.
Upcoming - Applications will open soon for this intake. View the upcoming terms for open dates.
N/A - Not available for this intake.

Credit programs that accept international applicants also meet the eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program, including programs with a Hybrid delivery mode. Each student is responsible for maintaining their eligibility throughout their studies.

Admission Requirements
International Applicants
What You Will Learn
Career Outcomes
Work Experience Placements
Courses and Advanced Credit
Tuition and Fees
Scholarships and Awards
Contact

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

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:

Water and Wastewater Technician - Water Distribution and Collection Specialization (Distance)
Water and Wastewater Technician - Wastewater Treatment Specialization (Distance)
Water and Wastewater Technician - Water Treatment Specialization (Distance)

Become a trusted professional

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.

Want to learn more about this program?

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Career Outcomes

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

Industries

Municipal public works departments
Water and wastewater system installation contractors
Companies who service and/or supply water and wastewater materials and equipment

Median Starting Salary

The expected starting salary for individuals with a(n) Water and Wastewater Technician Certificate is $60,778.
This salary information was based on graduate data from the past 3 years and reflects annual salaries for graduates who claimed they were working more than 30 hours per week. Graduates who quoted salaries below $10,000 and above $200,000 per year have been excluded. Note that NAIT publishes the median salary instead of the average to minimize the potential of outlying salaries distorting the mean. Data represented here may differ from other data sources due to differences in definition or differences in timing.

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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Take your career planning to the next level

This program can be used as a step toward earning higher credentials and/or certifications.

Certification(s)

Post-secondary articulation agreements within Alberta are approved by the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT). To view the details of specific agreements, please visit transferalberta.ca or contact articulations@nait.ca For questions regarding transfer agreements or to obtain a course description/outline that is no longer available on our website, please contact articulations@nait.ca.

Build your resume before you even graduate

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

View Work Integrated Learning

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.

Scholarships & Awards

NAIT awards over $6 million in scholarships and bursaries to more than 4,000 students each year, with the support of donors and the government. A variety of awards are available, including ones for academics, community involvement, equity/diversity grants, bursaries for financial need, program-specific awards and more!

Learn how to apply for awards

International Applicants

This program accepts international students.

PGWP Eligibility

This program does not meet eligibility criteria for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), following Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) field of study requirement. Students who applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024, are not affected by the new field of study rule and may be eligible for a PGWP.

While graduates are currently ineligible to apply for a PGWP, NAIT still welcomes international students to this program to gain valuable knowledge and skills to pursue your career goals, whether in Canada under another type of permit or in your home country or other international markets.

Co-Op Work Permit

Mandatory Co-op: This program has a mandatory work-integrated learning component. International students must apply for a co-op work permit and have it approved before the start of their work placement.

Learn more about PGWP and explore eligible NAIT programs.

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.

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Admission Requirements
International Applicants
What You Will Learn
Career Outcomes
Work Experience Placements
Courses and Advanced Credit
Tuition and Fees
Scholarships and Awards
Contact

This program is a part of the School of Energy and Natural Resources.

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