Hiring and retaining excellent operators remains a challenge for drinking water and clean-water utilities. An excellent way to meet it is through registered apprenticeships.For six years, the National Rural Water Association has offered such apprenticeships, delivered through its state affiliates. NRWA provides guidelines to the states that lay a solid foundation for apprentices to thrive during their training and in the careers that follow.Apprentices go through what is typically a two-year program. From classroom instruction and on-the-job training, they acquire the tools they need to become successful water or wastewater operations specialists. They earn while they learn under the mentorship
