Learning about Registered Apprenticeships

The NKY Water Management Council Learned about a Registered Apprenticeship Program for Certified Operators for Water and Wastewater Utilities 

The Northern Kentucky Water Management Council (WMC) met for its Quarterly Meeting on March 12th at the NKADD building. The NKY WMC brought in Heather Stevenson, Workforce Development Coordinator, for Kentucky Rural Water to share information with Water and Wastewater Utilities about their Registered Apprenticeship Program. The Registered Apprenticeship Program is a nationally recognized credential aiming to increase the number of Certified Operators for Water and Wastewater Utilities in Kentucky.  

The Registered Apprenticeship Program allows for entry-level employees as well as current employees who want to increase their certification levels to be trained at the Water/Wastewater System where they work, helping the employees gain needed experience while mentors can pass on their skills and knowledge. The Registered Apprenticeship Program combines a mixture of mentorship, on-the-job training, and virtual classroom instruction to train new Certified Operators.   

All participants in the Registered Apprenticeship Program are paid. The Registered Apprenticeship Program allows participants to access K.E.E.S. funding and GI Bill Benefits. Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding can also be accessed through the Northern Kentucky Career Center, Kentucky Career Center. NKADD. There is also a Summer Internship for high school or community/technical college students to gain experience.   

If you know anyone who is interested, they can reach out to Heather Stevenson, Kentucky Rural Water Workforce Development Coordinator at h.stevenson@krwa.org.