Trainings

Building the Workforce That Keeps Michigan’s Water Flowing

Clean, safe water doesn’t happen by accident, it takes skilled, knowledgeable professionals at every level of a utility. MI-AWWA’s education and training programs are designed to meet you where you are, whether you’re just starting your career, stepping into a supervisory role, or looking to deepen your technical expertise.

We believe learning is most powerful when it’s practical, peer-driven, and connected to the real challenges facing Michigan’s water sector. That’s the foundation everything here is built on.

Our Training Philosophy

At MI-AWWA, we don’t just offer courses, we invest in careers. Our training programs are developed with input from utility professionals across the state, grounded in current industry standards, and designed to translate directly to the work you do every day.

We didn’t start by guessing what topics to teach. We started by asking what the field requires, using a nationally recognized framework developed by the U.S. Department of Labor specifically for the water and wastewater sector: the Water and Wastewater Competency Model. Every MI-AWWA course map to a specific, validated competency in your field. You’re not sitting through generic training. You’re building skills that employers in this industry have said matter.

Beyond the national framework, we conduct ongoing needs assessments with Michigan utilities, asking supervisors and managers what skill gaps they’re seeing and what topics keep coming up. That information directly shapes what we put on our calendar.

A Note on Michigan’s Workforce Transition

The water sector is facing a significant generational shift. A large share of experienced operators are approaching retirement, and utilities across Michigan are working to transfer knowledge and build the next generation of skilled professionals. MI-AWWA’s training program is designed to support both sides of that challenge, helping experienced operators stay current and preparing new entrants to contribute faster.

Training Curriculum & Career Pathways

Our curriculum is built on five levels of professional competency, a framework that mirrors how expertise actually develops in the water sector. Think of it as a foundation you build on: the tiers below support everything above them.

Tier	Competency Area	What It Covers	Who It Serves
Tier 1	Personal Effectiveness	Professionalism, integrity, adaptability, dependability, lifelong learning	All professionals entering the field
Tier 2	Academic Competencies	Reading, writing, math, science, communication, digital literacy, and critical thinking	Pre-employment, apprentices, career changers
Tier 3	Workplace Competencies	Teamwork, planning, problem solving, stakeholder focus, working with tools and technology	Supervisors and team leads in development
Tier 4	Industry-Wide Competencies	Water sector principles, quality control, troubleshooting, environmental law, safety awareness	New hires and early-career operators
Tier 5	Industry-Sector Competencies	Treatment operations, field infrastructure, public health & environmental protection, safety & security	Licensed operators and credentialed professionals

Use the pathway framework below to identify where you are in your career and which training offerings are the right next step.

Career Stage	What to Expect
Foundational	For those new to the water sector, pursuing initial certification, or entering through a workforce pipeline program. Focus areas: Tiers 1–4.
Intermediate	For operators and technicians building on core skills, pursuing license advancement, or expanding into new technical areas. Focus area: Tier 5 domains.
Advanced / Leadership	For experienced professionals moving into supervisory or management roles, or seeking specialized expertise. Focus areas: Tiers 3 & 5 advanced content.

Browse Training Offerings

Our training calendar is organized into three categories based on frequency. Use the links below to explore what’s available and find a session that fits your schedule.

Annual Trainings: Signature programs offered once a year, often in multi-day or conference formats
Recurring Trainings: High-demand courses offered multiple times throughout the year
Rotating Trainings: Specialized and emerging topics offered on a periodic or rotating schedule

Not sure where to start? Reach out, we’re happy to help you map a path.

What You Can Count On From Us

Training relevant to your actual work, not one-size-fits-all content
Clear connections to the competencies your employer and the industry care about
Multiple formats, in-person, regional, and online, to fit different schedules and budgets
Alignment with Michigan’s operator licensing and continuing education requirements
Regular updates as regulations, technology, and industry needs evolve
A feedback loop: we’ll ask how it went, and we’ll use what you tell us

Questions or Suggestions?

Have a question about our training offerings? Want to suggest a topic you’d like to see covered? We welcome input from the MI-AWWA community, your feedback helps shape what we offer.