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Division of Environmental and Community Health

Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention

A Division of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services

DHHS → MeCDC → Environmental and Community Health → Drinking Water → Partners → Water Operator Licensure → Water Operator Training and Professional Development

Water Operator Training and Professional Development



Page Index

Training Contact Hours

Training Calendar

Upcoming or New Training

In-House & Online Training

Free Online Resources

Becoming a Training Provider and Forms


 

Training Contact Hours (TCHs)

License holders must earn continuing education credits for license renewal. The number of training contact hours (TCHs) required for license renewal depends on the classification of the license. Operator training is available in a variety of programs. Self-study programs are also available. Training topics must be relevant to the treatment or distribution licenses held.

Relevant Training topics will:

  • Have an influence on water quality, water supply, or public health protection; and
  • Be directly related to the operation or maintenance of a water system; or
  • Be directly related to managing the operation or maintenance of a water system.

Please review Relevancy Fact Sheet (PDF).

Training Contact Hours Attendance Sheet

Trainers and training providers may use this fillable PDF form to document attendance at training events. This is particualrly useful for in-house training.

Training Contact Hours Attendance Sheet (PDF)

Operator TCH Records

The Drinking Water Program maintains a record of operator contact hours. You can review your TCH record here.

Montana Water Center CD No Longer Allowed

For many years the Maine Board of Licensure of Water Operators awarded TCHs for reviewing the 2005 Surface and Ground Water Systems Course compact disc from Montana Water Center.  Unfortunately, the Board can no longer grant training contact hours for reviewing this disc, as its content has become outdated.  A list of current, approved training providers is available below.

 

Professional Development Training Calendar

The Drinking Water Program strives to maintain an updated listing of Maine-based training opportunities to meet continuing education requirements for license renewal. Contact the DWP Licensing Clerk for paper copies of the training calendar. Please contact training providers directly to sign up for courses.



 

Upcoming or New Trainings

AWRA Webinars for TCH
Operators needing three or fewer training contact hours for the current licensing cycle may wish to consider taking webinars being offered by the American Water Resources Association (AWRA).  Each webinar is rated for 1.0 TCH and costs $25.00. For more information, visit their website at https://www.awra.org .

This reference is not an exclusive endorsement by the Board of Licensure of Water System Operators, acknowledging the competing training providers.

EPA Small Systems Monthly Webinar Series: Challenges and Treatment Solutions for Small Drinking Water Systems
Free webinars typically held the last Tuesday of each month from 2:00-3:00 pm ET (optional Q&A sessions continue from from 3:00-3:30 pm ET). Attendees have the option of receiving a certificate for one continuing education contact hour for each live webcast attended. https://www.epa.gov/water-research/small-systems-monthly-webinar-series


 

In-House Training

Public water systems may offer training in-house provided by a water training professional. These trainings may need prior approval or may have been previously approved. Safety programs offering training do not need to be preapproved whether offered by an outside provider or in-house trainer. Accurate records must be maintained, and signed attendance sheets should be kept on file in case of audit. Topics may only be used once during a renewal cycle. General safety topics (for example, first aid) do not meet relevancy requirements. Contact the DWP Licensing Clerk for more information.

A Training Contact Hours Attendance Sheet (PDF) must be submitted after each training session.


Online Training

E-learning courses deliver a series of lessons to a web browser or mobile device, to be conveniently accessed anytime, anyplace. They can be offered continuously or for a set duration – 8-10 weeks, on average. An e-learning class is one in which both learners and instructors communicate via their computers. Syllabi, assignments, class lectures, and other course materials are provided on screen, while communication with the instructor and other students in the class is via messaging platforms, personal e-mail, and other media. E-learning classes do not meet in person, and learners work on assignments according to their own time schedules. In many cases there are deadlines for assignments but no set timeframe in which to accomplish them; tests, however, are usually scheduled and most have time restrictions.

Webinars are an important means of getting quick training about topics of interest. Many providers today are producing webinars, some of which are free. In some cases they are one-off presentations, often of relatively short duration; others are presented as a series. Unlike e-learning, webinars generally do not work with textbooks, and there tend to be no assignments or exams. Most webinars are live broadcasts, although some providers will post recordings of their webinars online for future viewing. However, it should be noted that recorded webinars do not offer the opportunity for attendee participation as some live broadcasts will. Webinars that are approved by the Board will be added to the training calendar. In many cases, webinars have little lead time for advertising, so check the calendar regularly.


Very Small Water System Study Guide

From the Association of Boards of Certification: The Very Small Water System Operators' Guidebook to Preparing for Certification provides study guidance for certification to operate a small public water system.


 

WaterOperator.org Free Online Resources

WaterOperator.org offers a collection of small system manuals and training materials.

For more certification preparation resources, visit WaterOperator.org's document database and search by the category Certification/Exam Prep.


Training Providers

For mor information, please contact the DWP Licensing Clerk: Email, or phone (207) 287-2070.


 

Becoming a Training Provider

Some organizations wish to become approved training providers. The following information will assist your organization in reviewing the options to provide water operator training in Maine. Contact the DWP Licensing Clerk for further guidance.


Updated 12/21/2022