Photo: L-R Brian Cavey~ Chairman, Maryland, apprenticeship, and training council (MATC), Patty Shreves (MRWA), Christopher McLarion (Maryland Department of Labor, Director, apprenticeship and training, division of workforce development and adult learning.)
Water and Wastewater Operations Specialists are imperative to our community for access to clean drinking water and to ensure wastewater effluent is returned to the environment properly. But with close to 50% retiring in the next five years, communities will fail to prosper or eventually even exist if replacements aren’t put in place AND properly trained. A growing population and increased demand for water and wastewater treatment services plus an aging workforce will drive employment growth and qualified, certified Operators will be in high demand.
As part of the National Rural Water Apprenticeship Program, our nationally-registered program has been developed in response to the industry’s need to train the next generation of skilled workers and standardize training across the state of Maryland. This 2-year program is designed to train operators through both coursework and on-the-job, experience-based learning and will culminate in MDE certification.
Apprentice Benefits:
- Earn While You Learn
- Make A Real Difference In The Community
- Gain Practical Skills You Can Take Anywhere
- Train Alongside An Experienced Technician (2 year program)
- Every community is required to have a certified water / wastewater operations specialist
- Stable / Non-fluctuating Industry
Utility Benefits:
- Proven solution to recruit, train, & retain employees
- Replace retiring workforce
- Transfer knowledge from experienced technicians to new apprentice
- 2 years of hands-on training alongside an experienced technician
- Build a relationship with the apprentice
- Ensure well-rounded, highly trained employee is produced
Look for us at the Industry Unleashed Workshop on April 24, 2024!
Hawkins, Inc. Apprenticeship Scholarship: Our thanks to Hawkins, Inc., a long-time supporter of our industry, for a generous scholarship that was specifically created to support smaller utility systems that may otherwise be unable to participate in apprenticeships. We are pleased to announce that the towns of Grantsville and Berlin have received funding from this scholarship to help defray training costs related to Apprenticeship.
How You or Your System Can Participate:
Contact our Apprenticeship Development Coordinator below to discuss how your system can serve as an Apprenticeship host, or how you can sign up as an Apprentice:
Patty Shreves
Apprenticeship Development Coordinator
410-375-1827
Patty.Shreves@md-rwa.org
Questions? Schedule a meeting with Patty.