New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has approved a series of training courses that can be used by certified wastewater operators to earn Renewal Training Credit (RTC) hours.
According to DEC, the courses are currently being offered at no cost through participating training providers. Because the courses are pre-approved, they do not carry individual RTC numbers. Operators who complete them must keep their certificates or letters of completion and submit that documentation to the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) with their next certification renewal.
Free Online Training Opportunities
Among the offerings are two new self-paced, online courses launched last month by the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC). The courses are designed to support workforce development across the wastewater industry, particularly for operators in rural, small, or tribal treatment systems that may have limited access to in-person training.
The NEIWPCC courses include:
- Basic Municipal Wastewater Treatment – 20 RTC hours
- Wastewater Process, Troubleshooting, and Optimization – 8 RTC hours
Both courses are available on-demand and are funded through U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants as part of NEIWPCC’s Training and Technical Assistance Program.
Additional Courses Available Through Veolia
DEC also approved several courses offered through the Veolia Workforce Academy. Operators must register through the academy’s website to enroll.
Approved courses include:
- Biological Treatment Fundamentals – 13 RTC hours
- Nutrient Removal Fundamentals – 8.5 RTC hours
- Disinfection Fundamentals – 8.5 RTC hours
- Preliminary and Primary Treatment Fundamentals – 17 RTC hours
- Activated Sludge Fundamentals – 13 RTC hours
- Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals I: Liquid Treatment (WEF) – 60 RTC hours
- Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals II: Solids Handling and Support Systems (WEF) – 60 RTC hours
Officials note that some trainings listed on the Veolia platform—specifically those offered by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality—are not approved for New York operators.
Reminder for Operators
DEC is reminding wastewater professionals to confirm that any training course they take is either assigned an RTC number or has been approved by the agency before enrolling.
The free training opportunities are intended to help operators maintain certification requirements while expanding access to professional development resources across the state.
