(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA • December 22, 2016)—Delaware County Community College is offering a drinking water operator certification program, with classes beginning on January 24 at the Marple Campus (901 S. Media Line Rd., Media, PA). Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the program prepares entry-level operators for certification and employment. The minimum education level for operator certification is a high school diploma, or GED. The program offers all of the coursework and module review necessary to help students pass the licensing exam for DEP certification. The program is divided into two 90-hour sessions. Successful candidates must enroll for certification levels 1 and 2. 

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, drinking water operator certification is crucial in protecting public health and in the maintenance of safe, optimal and reliable water treatment and distribution facilities. The goal of certification is to ensure that skilled professionals are overseeing the treatment and distribution of safe drinking water, and it is an important step in promoting compliance with the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for water treatment operators is $44,790, and the field is projected to grow by six percent over the next decade. 

The cost of certification is $950 per semester. Students can save $150 by registering for both semesters at once (paying $1,750 instead of $1,900). For more information, contact Mary Kay McClatchy at 610-723-4010.