Water Plant Operators Short School
Water Treatment Plant Operators Short School
June 22-26, 2026 - Blacksburg, Virginia
Registration Deadline: June 8, 2026
Course Fees
Early bird: $900 by Feb 28, 2026
Standard: $1000 Mar 1-Apr 30, 2026
Late: $1100 May 1-June 8, 2026
Optional
Printed binder: $125
Must be ordered by May 20
Continuing Education Units
3.3 CEUs with passage of Short School exam
33 contact hours
Water Short Schools are created in partnership with Virginia Tech Continuing and Professional Education, the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Short Schools expose operators to the basic information that they must know in order to become licensed through the various levels of licensure. Short Schools are not structured as direct prep for licensure, but, coupled with personal preparation, will aid those planning to take licensure examinations.
Caleb Taylor, Executive Director of NRV Regional Water Authority will serve as Program Director. Our instructors include VDH and DEQ employees, plant operators, industrial personnel, employees of firms working in the field, and Virginia Tech faculty.
Participants will receive 33 continuing education contact hours for successful completion of this course, including attendance at all classes. A digital certificate will be awarded approximately 14 days after the end of the course. Those that pass the Short School exam given on the last day of the program will also be awarded 3.3 CEUs. Please note that the Short School exam is separate from the DPOR Licensing Exam.
Course fee includes all course materials, daily breakfast and lunch, and one networking dinner.
Licensure Testing
Please note that the DPOR exam is NOT offered at the Short School.
DPOR has announced that remote proctoring is now available for Class 1-6 Water Operators licensing exams.
After completing Short School, you will be able to schedule your licensure exam in the timeframe that suits you best. You may take this exam at home or at another location.
| Licensure Level | Course Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Class 4-3 | A | Introductory; helps with Class 4-3 licensing |
| Class 3-2 | B | Intermediate; those with Class 3 licensure should complete Level A before attending Level B |
| Class 2-1 | C | Advanced; helps with Class 2 & 1 licensing |
MONDAY, JUNE 22: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- Waterworks Regulatory Update
- Intro to ABC Formula Sheet
- Intro to Storage Tanks
- Groundwater Production and Geohydrology
TUESDAY, JUNE 23: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- Community Water Fluoridation
- Disinfection Principles
- Iron/Maganese
- Disinfecting System Components
- Asset Management I
- Tour of NRV Regional Water Authority's WTP
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- Distribution Systems
- Cross Connection Control
- Introduction to Pumps
- Leak Detection
THURSDAY, JUNE 25: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- Monitoring and Reporting
- Routine Sampling
- Corrosion Control
- Source Water Protection
- Small System Treatment Processes
- Intro to Membrane Filtration
FRIDAY, JUNE 26: 8:00 am-1:00 pm
- Safety & OSHA
- Licensure Regulations & Ethics
- Short School Exam
MONDAY, JUNE 22: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- Waterworks Regulatory Update
- Intro to ABC Formula Sheet
- Asset Management II
- Disinfection
- Tour of NRV Regional Water Authority's WTP
TUESDAY, JUNE 23: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- Chemistry Concepts and Applications
- Sedimentation I
- Coagulation Process
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- Coagulation Evaluation Tools
- Water Treatment Safety
THURSDAY, JUNE 25: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- DBP Control: Ultraviolet Treatment
- DBP Control: Biological Filtration
- Feeders and Calibration
- Pathogens and Microbes
- Membrane Technology
- Filtration
FRIDAY, JUNE 26: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- Safety & OSHA
- Licensure Regulations & Ethics
- Short School Exam
MONDAY, JUNE 22: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- Waterworks Regulatory Update
- Intro to ABC Formula Sheet
- Designs for Better O&M
- Residuals Management and Recycling
- Asset Management III
TUESDAY, JUNE 23: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- Chemistry Concepts and Applications
- Ozoe Treatment
- Sedimentation II
- Community Water Fluoridation
- Basics of Flow Measurement and Meters
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- Disinfection and Disinfection By-Products
- DBP Control: Ultraviolet Treatment
- Filtration
- Coagulation II
- Treatment Techniques
THURSDAY, JUNE 25: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- Process Controls and SCADA
- Nuisance Organisms
- Emerging Contaminants
- Membrane
- Tour of NRV Water Authority's WTP
FRIDAY, JUNE 26: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
- Safety & OSHA
- Licensure Regulations & Ethics
- Short School Exam
Schedule may change; registrants should watch their emails for any important updates.
Interested in the Wastewater Plant Operator Short Course? Click link at right.
More Information
Questions about the course:
Contact Lucas Kintz, Program Specialist, Virginia Tech Continuing and Professional Education, at lkintz@vt.edu.
Information about registration:
Please contact Continuing and Professional Education by email: cpeinfo@vt.edu or phone: 540-231-5182.