Course FAQs
View frequently asked questions related to education programming at the BC Water & Waste Association (BCWWA).
FAQ Filters:
- All
- Becoming an Operator
- Enrollment
- Instructor-led
- Learning Portal
- Operator Cert. & CEUs
- Self-Paced
- Taking Courses
Regrettably, we do not offer courses or certifications on septic systems, but we have some information that may help.
- Septic systems are small sewerage systems which typically serve a single residence or duplex or several structures on one or more parcels, in rural areas. Septic systems receive and treat wastewater from residences (e.g., sink drains and toilets) and discharge the treated effluent to the ground via a septic field.
- The Sewerage System Regulation (SSR) under the Public Health Act , these systems regulate if they have a designed daily domestic sewage flow of 22,700 litres or less, and discharge effluent to ground.
- Systems designed to receive greater than 22,700 litres per day and/or which discharge to surface water such as a stream or lake, are regulated by the Municipal Wastewater Regulation under the Environmental Management Act , administered by the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy.
- The SSR is outcomes-based; it uses the professional reliance model of regulation.
- Professional reliance in the SSR has the intention of achieving public health protection by restricting work on sewerage systems to authorized persons who hold current registration with a designated regulatory body.
- The SSR defines authorized person as a registered onsite wastewater practitioner (ROWP) or a ‘professional’.
- Regulatory bodies for authorized persons :
- The Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) is the regulating body for ROWP.
- Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC) is the regulating body for professionals who would conduct design, installation, and maintenance work on septic systems, for example, Professional Engineers.
- ASTTBC and EGBC govern the professional practice of these authorized persons and conduct investigation and enforcement of professional conduct, under the authority of the Professional Governance Act .
Individuals who do not hold current registration with one of the above regulatory bodies may not construct or maintain a sewerage system regulated by the SSR, unless under the direct supervision of an authorized person.
- Login to the online learning portal.
- Select ‘Courses’ on the left-hand side panel and open the specified course.
- Within your course, select ‘Resources’ on the left-hand side panel.
- The student handbook and all the other resources should be listed here.
Please reach out to contact@bcwwa.org.
We encourage you to check your EOCP profile or contact the EOCP directly at eocp@eocp.ca or (604) 874-4784 to retrieve this information.
Please read about Facility Classification on EOCP’s website. Kindly contact them directly for further assistance.
Please contact education@bcwwa.org or contact@bcwwa.org for any cancellation requests. For a full refund, we require a one-week cancellation notice before the course launch date. Read our Customer Policy for more information.
Level I operators require 12 months (1,800 hours) of hands-on experience. The experience must be verified in the Application for Certification and you must work or reside in BC or the Yukon. If you have more questions, please contact EOCP at eocp@eocp.ca or (604) 874-4784.
The online courses are structured to provide you with learning modules that build your knowledge and competencies. The presentations, student forums, exercises, case studies and quizzes are important components of the learning experience, and you are encouraged to take advantage of these tools.
Operator in Training (OIT) Is an optional certification for new operators, but it is not required to become a Level I operator. OITs require three months (500 hours) of hands-on experience or 90 hours (9.0 CEUs) of training through a directly applicable, approved course. If you have more questions about this certification, please contact EOCP at eocp@eocp.ca or (604) 874-4784.
Visit the Course Calendar on the BCWWA website to view our current schedule.
We try our best to offer a variety of courses within the water and wastewater discipline. However, if you do not see a course of your interest in our upcoming course calendar, please reach out to us at education@bcwwa.org.
Please refer to our Course Preparation table to view CEUs and select the most viable course for your certification. Then, look at the Course Calendar to view a list of upcoming courses and register for the selected course.
However, we would suggest you check with the EOCP or on your EOCP profile if you need the core (C) or related (R) CEUs. For your convenience, we have also included their contact information below:
Phone: (604) 874-4784
Toll Free: 1-866-552-3627
Fax: (604) 874-4794
Email: eocp@eocp.ca
Please contact your instructor or education@bcwwa.org at least one week before the course end date. We will do our best to provide an extension.
An enrollment email is sent by BCWWA Education within 24 hours of registration. This email will consist of your login credentials and instructions on how to access your course. This email may land in your junk/clutter folder. If you do not receive this email and require assistance, please contact education@bcwwa.org.
For the self-paced online courses, please submit your downloadable course completion certificate to EOCP. For virtual instructor-led courses, the BCWWA will submit your courses to EOCP. If your credits are not updated on your EOCP profile three weeks after the course completion date, please contact EOCP at eocp@eocp.ca or (604) 874-4784.
Now that you have registered and paid for a self-paced online course, the BCWWA Education team will enroll you to the specified course and email further instructions. Please note that it may take up to 48 hours for the enrollment to complete.
here are no pre-requisites for taking our courses.
Please express your interest by sending your CV/resume to education@bcwwa.org.
There is no textbook for our self-paced online courses, but our student handbook is compiled in reference to the related textbooks. You do have the option to purchase the textbooks from the American Water Works Association (AWWA) or Sacramento State University for supplemental material.
We have developed a troubleshooting guide with easy instructions on how to resolve common issues.
Please read exam requirements on EOCP’s website. If you have more questions, please contact EOCP at eocp@eocp.ca or (604) 874-4784.
Virtual instructor-led courses typically run from 8 am – 4 pm PT. If there are any changes, BCWWA Education will be sure to let you know at least one week in advance.
Self-paced online courses are launched every quarter. Semesters are defined January to March, April to June, July to August and September to December.
Our self-paced online courses are designed to be taken on your own time, at your own pace. There is no set schedule for completing the course, however, we advise you to spend 5-7 hours per week to complete the course within the three-month instructor-supported timeline.
Please refer to the Course Catalogue on the BCWWA website to view our current course offerings.
The Operator in Training certification requires you to complete 90 hours (9.0 continuing education units (CEUs)) of training via an ‘Operator in Training’ course. Many training providers offer this course in one sitting through a 15-day course. The BCWWA offers the following courses that can be taken in an online self-paced manner. These courses serve the same purpose as an operator in training course and provide you with 9.6 CEUs.
- Water Treatment 1
- Wastewater Treatment 1
- Water Distribution 1
- Wastewater Collection 1
Once you complete all these courses, we can provide you with an Operator in Training course completion certificate.
The operator reciprocity applications are managed by Environmental Operators Certification Program (EOCP). Please contact EOCP at eocp@eocp.ca or (604) 874-4784 to book your exam.
The BCWWA Education team will send out the course completion certificates to your email on file within 48 hours of the course completion time. Please be sure to check your junk/clutter folder.
The EOCP provides step-by-step information on how to become an operator on their website.
Members receive a $140 discount on many BCWWA course and event registrations and much more. Read more about membership benefits and how to purchase a membership here.
We offer flexible special request courses to organizations where we can schedule the course, supply an instructor and course materials to your facility on a day that works for you. Please reach out to education@bcwwa.org with the:
- Course name(s),
- Preferred training date, and
- Number of employees.
Please read the CEU requirements on EOCP’s website.
To sign up multiple employees for a course, please email contact@bcwwa.org with a list stating the name of each employee and their contact email address. Any employees you wish to register must have an existing BCWWA account or they will need to create one. A BCWWA representative can cross reference that information for you.
The operator certification exams are conducted by Environmental Operators Certification Program (EOCP). Please contact EOCP at eocp@eocp.ca or (604) 874-4784 to book your exam.
Yes, all our certification preparation self-paced online courses are instructor-supported. The instructors will regularly check in your progress. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the instructor of the course using the contact information found your learning portal. Please note that it may take 24-48 hours for the instructor to respond.
Yes. Successful completion is defined as completing all of the coursework by the time the course closes. If you do not complete all of the work, you will not pass.
- Login to your online learning portal.
- On the left-hand side, click on ‘Courses’. Select the ‘Completed’ tab and click to open your completed course.
- On the right-hand side, click on ‘Awards’.
- Select the ‘Award’ you would like to download.
- This will open your certificate in PDF format. Download the file to save it.