Final Approval for CoC Program in Alberta!

 

As of February 27, 2026, COWTI's full program for onsite wastewater system practitioners in Alberta has been approved.

 

This allows successful learners to apply for their Certificate of Competency with Municipal Affairs. This is a department of the Government of Alberta that certifies all onsite wastewater practitioners in the province. They are also responsible for publishing and updating the Standards of Practice, the SOP, which lays out all the safety regulations and requirements for all private sewage systems in Alberta. You can download the latest version of the SOP by clicking here. You can view our approval letter by clicking here.

 

If you want to install septic systems in Alberta and pull the required permits for your work, you need a Certificate of Competency from the provincial government. An additional certification fee of $40 is payable directly to Municipal Affairs upon completion of our program. More information is found on their site here.  

 

Our course will give you all the information you need, as well as invaluable practical experience so that you can feel job-ready as soon as you leave the field shop!

 

COWTI's flexible program is made up of 10 units, done online from the comfort of your home on any device. Once you have completed the online component, complete the course by attending and passing the hands-on portion of the program -- done over 3 days at our field training shop and soils training facility near Edmonton, Alberta.

 

The major benefit of taking your training with us is individualized support -- before you start, have a chat with our lead instructor who will be your guide through the program. Each unit and exam is followed by a 1:1 mentoring session to review your feedback and any questions you may have.

 

Call us today to start your registration process or find out more information at 1-888-729-5139

Benefits of taking your training with COWTI:

Get started right away
Begin learning immediately—many students complete Unit 1 the same day they enroll, so there’s no waiting period or delay.

Learn from home
Complete the online portions of the program from anywhere, saving time and money by avoiding travel, hotel stays, and meal expenses.

Up-to-date “living” training materials
Our content is continuously reviewed and updated to reflect current standards, technologies, and best practices—when something changes, you see it right away.

Individual Mentorship
You’ll meet one-on-one with a technical instructor as you progress through the units, giving you space to ask questions, review concepts, and deepen your understanding.

Self-paced Learning
Move through the material at a pace that works for you, whether that’s quickly or gradually, with built-in self-check quizzes to reinforce learning along the way.

Year-Round Heated Facility
Both hands-on training facilities are heated for year-round instruction—earn your certification in winter and be ready for construction season in spring.

Respectful and Knowledgeable Instructors
Our instructors bring decades of real-world experience and approach teaching with patience, professionalism, and respect—no question is dismissed.

Positive and Supportive Learning Environment
We prioritize a learning culture that builds confidence both online and during field training, so participants feel supported rather than intimidated.

Accessible for Different Learning Styles
Learn through videos, animations, graphics, and text, with tools like Immersive Reader available to support comprehension and accessibility.

Small Class Sizes
 Our 3-day hands-on training runs with just 6–8 students and two instructors, ensuring every student has a chance to apply their knowledge and design real effluent distribution systems (i.e. students build a lateral system and dose it using a pump!)

Apprenticeship-style Approach
Like other trades, we train for long-term success, so you leave with practical skills, sound judgment, and confidence to work independently in the onsite industry. 

Comprehensive Content
You’ll learn how to design and install all major soil treatment systems, including fields, mounds, LFH at-grades, and open discharge systems.

Job-ready Resources
Gain access to custom design process documents and homeowner interview guides you can use directly in your professional practice.

Complimentary Soils Field Kit
Receive a practical set of tools and worksheets during the 3-day hands-on training—yours to keep and use in the field after the course ends.

The COWTI team is proud to announce that we have a year-round, heated field training shop outside Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. We will be using this space to facilitate hands-on skills development for onsite wastewater practitioners. One of the programs running out of the field shop will be the 3 day practical component that goes hand-in-hand with the online component of our Full Training Program for Certified Installers in Alberta (CoC). Check out the video below for a sample of what you will be building and learning in the shop space!

 

 

 

We have also been busy building a Soils Training Facility near Westlock, Alberta. This facility will be part of our field training component for the Alberta certification program for onsite wastewater system installers/designers (we call them practitioners!). Here, each learner will get a chance to apply the theory of soil assessment to a soil wall. Learners will identify soil horizons, assess texture, determine soil structure and soil grade. These real-world details will then be used to create a system design for a practice site.

North Side of the Soils Training Facility

 

Bottom level of STF facility with platform for soil analysis

West side of Soils Training Facility

We've been working hard with 2 wonderful animators to bring the world of septic systems to life for our learners. Check out the animation of a "basic" septic system below: