Drinking Water Protection
Minnesota Water Operator Training

On this page:

• Water Operator Training with Exams
• Water Operator Training without Exams
• Management Institutes/Special Training
• Expected Annual Training Schedule for AWWA Schools
• Water Operator Exam Information
• Non-MDH Sponsored Training Opportunities

Water operator training with exams

Please note: Exams are subject to change. To schedule an exam, contact Noel Hansen, noel.hansen@state.mn.us.

Applications must be received by no later than 15 days prior to the exam. Applications received after the deadline will not be processed.

April 12, 2023
Southwest Water Operators School
Redwood Falls
Contact Brady Powers: bpowers@fairmont.org, for more information.
Exam: 1:00 p.m. (deadline for exam application March 28)

April 18-20, 2023
Northeast Water Operators School
Timberlake Lodge, Grand Rapids
Contact Wade Klingsporn: wadekling@yahoo.com, for more information.
Exam: 8:30 a.m. on April 20 (deadline for exam application April 5)

May 9-11, 2023
Metro Water Operators School
Eagan Community Center
Contact Stew Thornley: stew.thornley@state.mn.us, 651-201-4655, or Erin Culver, erin.culver@state.mn.us, 651-201-4697, for more information.
Exam: 8:30 a.m. on May 11 (deadline for exam application April 26 - 80-person limit for exams)

June 28, 2023
Minnesota Rural Water Association
Water Operations and Maintenance
Wahkon
Contact Bob Klug, bob.klug@mrwa.com, 800-367-6792, for more information.
Exam: 1:00 p.m. (deadline for exam application June 13)

July 19, 2023
Minnesota Rural Water Association
Water Operations and Maintenance
Rushford
Contact Bob Klug, bob.klug@mrwa.com, 800-367-6792, for more information.
Exam: 1:00 p.m. (deadline for exam application July 5)

August 16, 2023
Southwest Water Operators School
Mankato
Contact Brady Powers: bpowers@fairmont.org, for more information.
Exam: 1:00 p.m. (deadline for exam application August 1)

October 10-12, 2023
Minnesota Rural Water Association
Water/Wastewater Certification Refresher
St. Cloud
Contact Bob Klug, bob.klug@mrwa.com, 800-367-6792, for more information.
Exam: 8:00 a.m. on October 12 (deadline for exam application September 27)

October 24-26, 2023
Northwest Water Operators School
Holiday Inn Lakefront, Detroit Lakes
Contact Dean Sletten, Dean.Sletten@ApexEngGroup.com, for more information.
Exam: 8:30 a.m. on October 26 (deadline for exam application October 11)

November 1, 2023
Minnesota Rural Water Association
Water Operations and Maintenance
Clarks Grove
Contact Bob Klug, bob.klug@mrwa.com, 800-367-6792, for more information.
Exam: 1:00 p.m. (deadline for exam application October 17)

April 16-18, 2024
Northeast Water Operators School
Timberlake Lodge, Grand Rapids
Contact Wade Klingsporn: wadekling@yahoo.com, for more information.
Exam: 8:30 a.m. on April 18 (deadline for exam application April 3)

May 7-9, 2024
Metro Water Operators School
Eagan Community Center
Contact Stew Thornley: stew.thornley@state.mn.us, 651-201-4655, or Erin Culver, erin.culver@state.mn.us, 651-201-4697, for more information.
Exam: 8:30 a.m. on May 9 (deadline for exam application April 24)

Expected Annual Training Schedule for AWWA Schools
Although exact dates vary from year to year, most districts in the Minnesota Section of AWWA have a regular schedule for one-day and three-day schools:

• Southeast District: conducts a three-day school (Wednesday to Friday) in Rochester in mid-March and a one-day school in Owatonna on a Friday in mid-October.
• Southwest District: conducts one-day schools in April and August.
• Metro District:conducts a three-day school (Tuesday to Thursday) in early May (in conjunction with Safe Drinking Water Week) in Eagan..
• Central District: conducts a one-day school at St. John's University in Collegeville in October.
• Northeast District:conducts a three-day school (Wednesday to Friday) in April.
• Northwest District: has been conducting a three-day school (Wednesday to Friday) in late October, alternating between Bemidji and Detroit Lakes.

Agendas for Minnesota AWWA District Water Operator Schools

Water operator training without exams

Unless otherwise noted, participants will receive 16 credit hours for attendance at a three-day water operators school and 6 credit hours for a one-day school.

Minnesota Section - American Water Works Association (No Exam)

Surface Water Treatment Workshop

April 18-20, 2023
Hilton Garden Inn, Fargo
Contact Marisha Lunde, marisha.lunde@ae2s.com, 701-746-8087, for more information

Minnesota American Water Works Association Annual Conference

September 19-22, 2023
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center
Contact Roger Scharf, roger.scharf@jacobs.com, for more information.

Future dates of Minnesota AWWA Annual Conference:

• September 17-20, 2024
• September 16-19, 2025
• September 15-18, 2026
• September 21-24, 2027
• September 19-22, 2028

 

• American Water Works Association Webinars

Minnesota Rural Water Association (No Exams)

MRWA Training Calendar
Contact Bob Klug, bob.klug@mrwa.com, 800-367-6792, for more information.

April 4, 2023
Water Operation and Maintenance
Milaca

April 12, 2023
PFAS Workshop (morning) and Sustainable Utility Management (afternoon)
Marshall

April 26, 2023
Water Operation and Maintenance
International Falls

May 17, 2023
Water Operation and Maintenance
Pipestone

May 24, 2023
Line Tracing
Chanhassen

May 25, 2023
Hydrant Repair
Chanhassen

June 8, 2023
Line Tracing
Detroit Lakes

July 13, 2023
Water Operation and Maintenance
Fosston

July 19, 2023
Water Operation and Maintenance
Rushford

August 2, 2023
Water Operation and Maintenance
Blackduck

August 10, 2023
Hydrant Repair
Hibbing

August 16, 2023
Water Operation and Maintenance
Comfrey

August 24, 2023
Hydrant Repair
Winona

August 31, 2023
Operator Expo
Waconia

September 7, 2023
Water Operation and Maintenance
Mountain Iron

September 13, 2023
Line Tracing
Redwood Falls

October 4, 2023
Winterizing Your Water System
St. Cloud

October 25, 2023
Cross Connections and Backflow Prevention
St. Cloud

October 26, 2023
Water Operation and Maintenance
Hermantown

November 28, 2023
Financing Community Projects
St. Cloud

December 6, 2023
Water Operation and Maintenance
Waite Park

December 13, 2023
Engineering for Non-Engineers
Sauk Rapids

Small Water System Workshops: Class D & E (No Exams)

Specifically designed for nonmunicipal water systems and Class E water operators, these classes are free for operators of any public water systems serving a population of fewer than 3,300.

Class D Workshops (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Contact Kyle Kedrowski: kyle.kedrowski@mrwa.com, 800-367-6792, for more information.

April 25, 2023
Detroit Lakes

May 9, 2023
North Branch

Class E Workshops (8:00 a.m. to noon)
Contact Jennifer Koenig: jennifer.koenig@mrwa.com, 800-367-6792, for more information.

April 4, 2023
Redwood Falls

May 23, 2023
Hastings

May 31, 2023
Cologne

Note: Class D workshops, provided by Minnesota Rural Water Association and designed for Class D operators at nonmunicipal and noncommunity nontransient systems, are eight hours. The morning session of these is the same as a stand-alone four-hour workshop for Class E operators; thus, Class E operators may attend either the stand-alone four-hour workshop or the morning session of the Class D workshop.

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Management institutes/special training

Fluoridation Learning Online

Community Water Fluoridation: Fluoridation Learning Online

Contact hours are available of Minnesota water operators who complete this training. Operators will need to attach the certificate of completion to their renewal forms for credit.

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Water operator exam information

• Exam References
• Exam Application (PDF)

For more information on the examination schedule and preparation classes, contact:
Noel Hansen: noel.hansen@state.mn.us, 651-201-4690

To receive a Class D or E study guide, contact:
Noel Hansen: noel.hansen@state.mn.us, 651-201-4690

Indicate which class of license you are studying for.

To be eligible to take a certification exam, applicants must have hands-on operations experience at a drinking water system.

Exam applications must be postmarked
at least 15 days prior to the exam.

Non-MDH sponsored training opportunities

• Anoka Technical College: contact Kristin Benson, kbenson@anokatech.edu, 763-576-4955
• CEU Plan: Online Continuing Education for the Environment: Contact Bill Edgar, wwedgar@ceuplan.org.
• Environmental Finance Center Network has workshops and webinars on asset management and financial topics.
• Groundwater and Well Care for Public Water Systems presented by WaterOperator.org. Free enrollment.
• JADE Learning, which offers on-line water operation continuing education.
• Midwest Assistance Program (MAP) has two free workshops intended for utility operators, staff, city council members, and clerks. Participants will receive 5 contact hours for each workshop. Contact Pete Smith: psmith@map-inc.org, 218-983-4330.
• Hach Technical Training Center - Water and Wastewater Analysis Workshops. Call 800-227-4224, extension 2344. Hach Calendar
• California State University, Sacramento (Office of Water Programs) provides distance learning courses for persons interested in the operation and maintenance of drinking water and wastewater facilities.
• University of Wisconsin, Madison Department of Engineering Professional Development offers multi-day courses for professionals, owners, and consultants interested in water and wastewater. Contact Ned W. Paschke, paschke@epd.engr.wisc.edu, or 800-462-0876 or 608-262-1299.
• @YPOTech offers on-line water operation continuing education. Contact Patrick Caldwell: contact@atyourpaceonline.com, 877-724-6150.
• Target Solutions offers on-line water operation continuing education.
• Water Treatment Plant Operations Class C & B Training Course - Online by the University of Florida, Center for Training, Research, and Education for Environmental Occupations.
• Courses from Safewater.edu

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