Rose State College Announces Oklahoma’s First Water and Wastewater Treatment Apprenticeship Program Environmental Training | Published April 13, 2015 by Rose State College

Rose State College recently announced the approval of its new water and wastewater operator apprenticeship program by the U.S. Department of Labor.

“This is a significant accomplishment,” said Stan Greil, vice president for workforce development. “Once implemented, the apprenticeship program could have broad regional impact—Rose State staff members have already been discussing the program with colleagues in Kansas and Missouri.”

The program will offer a two-year wastewater treatment operator apprenticeship and a three-year water treatment operator apprenticeship. Apprenticeships include extensive online and in-person classroom training, and paid on-the-job training in all aspects of water and wastewater treatment plant systems operation and maintenance. Upon completion of the program, graduates receive nationally recognized Department of Labor journeyman-level certification.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, possible employer benefits of the apprenticeship program include:
· reduction of turnover rates;
· increased productivity due to development of custom skillsets;
· lower cost of recruitment;
· increased workplace safety; and,
· the creation of a stable pipeline of highly trained workers.

As the only gubernatorial appointed environmental training center in the state, the Rose State College Oklahoma Environmental Training Center has offered training in water and wastewater operations for 30 years. For more information about the Rose State College Oklahoma Environmental Training Center or instructions on how to enroll, call 405-733-7488 or email bclark@rose.edu.