The apprenticeship program is a two-year program that draws training resources from the system sponsor, our state and federal partners, and RWAU. A water or wastewater system will either employ a new employee or enroll a current employee in the program by agreeing to
- 4000
on-site training hours from the system sponsor - 288 hours of additional training from RWAU
- The instruction will be part in-class training and part online webinars
- The DDW & DWQ will be assisting RWAU in the
creation of our online courses
- The DDW & DWQ will be assisting RWAU in the
- The online training will be provided at no cost to those who are enrolled as apprentices
- The instruction will be part in-class training and part online webinars
- Certifications in Water or Wastewater Operations, Utility Management, Cross Connection, Water Rights, and Water Conservation, etc. (certifications will vary depending on water/wastewater designation)
If you are an individual who has not yet been employed by a water or wastewater system, but would like to join as an apprentice and eventually be hired onto a system, the process is slightly different. Once you have requested an application, you will work on filling out all the required forms, similar to an already match apprentice. After RWAU has deemed the applicant
Each apprentice will have a sponsor (water/wastewater system) that will
- Wage Schedule
- Apprentices shall be paid a progressively increasing wage schedule based on the current salary of an hourly journey worker.
Currently, that salary is $16.11. By the end of the two years, the apprentice will need to be making that much an hour.
- Apprentices shall be paid a progressively increasing wage schedule based on the current salary of an hourly journey worker.
- Work Process Schedule
- The 4000 hours are broken up into five sections with hour requirements for each section.
Work Processes | Hour Requirement |
Tools, Equipment, & Work Place Safety | 240 |
Vehicles and Heavy Equipment | 400 |
System Operations & Maintenance | 1920 |
Quality Control | 960 |
Logistics, Reports, & Supervision | 480 |
Total Hours | 4000 |
- Sponsors also agree to help monitor and track employee's progress and training hours throughout the two-years.
- Sponsors will also be required to submit the following documents, but are not limited to:
- An employee
eligibility letter - An intent to hire form
- A follow-up interview form, and
- An employer acceptance agreement form
- An employee
- Additionally, if the apprentice is already hired by the sponsor they will need to work with RWAU to secure the following as part as the apprenticeship application:
- Drug screening
- Background check
- Proof of completion of educational requirements
In addition to the 4000 hours of training required by the sponsor, RWAU will provide an additional 288 hours of instruction. The apprentice will fulfill some of these hours by attending pre-established in-class
Topics | Hour Requirement |
Orientation | 2 |
Safety | 28 |
Professional Requirements | 6 |
Operations & Maintenance | 144 |
Operator Mathematics | 12 |
Security & Emergency Response | 24 |
Laws & Regulations | 32 |
Introduction to Utility Management | 24 |
Overview of Construction Projects | 16 |
Total Hours | 288 |
Rural Water will also be
Along with the
- An application request form
- An apprenticeship application
- an eligibility letter
- a
follow-up interview withchosen sponsor/employer - Standard media release
Apprentices will be required to go to some in-class courses that are held throughout the state of Utah. The apprentice is
To request an application, please complete and submit the form at the link below:
Apprenticeship Application Request Form
Each year we will be offering a full-ride scholarship to the apprenticeship program. Contact Sonia or the RWAU office if you or your system is interested in applying for the scholarship.
In addition to the full-ride scholarship, RWAU has offered 5 additional half-ride scholarships to our members interested in enrolling their employees as apprentices.
- All required in-class training fee registrations will be covered by RWAU for both years in the program
- This could be
registration to a one-day training, a certification, or conference attendance. Anythingrequired by the apprenticeship program
- This could be
- Exam and book fees will be the responsibility system for both years in the program
- Travel costs or travel reimbursement
- Reimbursement for missed work hours