Canadian Onsite Wastewater Training Initiative - Alberta Onsite Wastewater Practitioner

Certified Septic System Installer Training – Alberta

In order to install septic systems (onsite wastewater systems) in the province of Alberta, an individual must do their training through an approved training provider and then apply for their Certificate of Competency through the Government of Alberta, Municipal Affairs.

COWTI has been a provincial training provider since 2022 when we were approved to deliver the training for the 2021 update of the Standard of Practice. The SOP is the code that governs the rules and regulations of septic systems in Alberta. You can download the latest version of the SOP by clicking here.

In February 2026, our full training program for onsite wastewater practitioners was approved. Take our course today and apply for your Certificate of Competency when you're done!

The online program is split into 3 phases, allowing you to pay your fees in stages as you progress through the course. See the Fee Structure below.

Our training materials are living documents -- as the Standard of Practice is updated, any new requirements, new approved technologies, etc. will be reflected here. This assures you will always have up to date, relevant learning materials on hand. Program enrollment provides you lifelong access to the educational materials.

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Program Outline 3 Day Practical Training Fee Structure

FAQs Facilities & Media Contact

Program Outline

Phase 1 - Units 1, 2 & 3

Unit 1 - Training Overview and Regulatory Framework
Learn how legislation and safety codes work together to frame the onsite wastewater industry in Alberta.
Unit 2 - Wastewater and Volume
Find out what wastewater is composed of, volume and flow rates.
Unit 3 - Wastewater Strength & Loading
Learn about sewage strength as well as linear and hydraulic loading.

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Phase 2 - Units 4, 5 & 6

Unit 4 - Interaction of Soil and Effluent
The key to treating sewage is the movement of effluent through soil. Find out how soil does it!
Unit 5 - Site Evaluation
Learn how to assess a site for proper OWTS design installation. The exam for this unit includes a simulated homeowner interview and desktop investigation.
Unit 6 - Initial Wastewater Treatment - Tank Infrastructure
Find out about septic tanks, dosing tanks, equalization tanks and lift stations.

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Phase 3 - Units 7, 8, 9 & 10

Unit 7 - Initial Wastewater Treatment - Advanced Treatment
This unit covers package plants, sand filters and recirculating gravel filters.
Unit 8 - Effluent Distribution
Learn about appropriate dosing of wastewater into the soil to achieve adequate treatment and system performance.
Unit 9 - End Soil Treatment Systems - Specialized Soil Treatment Options
In this large 3 part unit, learn to design subsurface treatment fields, treatment mounds and LFH at-grade systems.
You will complete a full system design of each system type upon completion of the online material, submitted to and reviewed by the technical instructors.
Unit 10 - Unconventional Treatment Systems
This unit covers open discharge, subsurface irrigation, privies and lagoons. You will complete one design of an open discharge system during the course of this unit.

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3 Day Practical Training

Day 1 - Soil profiling 2 test pits and practice texturing of soils; visit our Soil Training Facility to complete your soil competency assessment.
Day 2 - Practice system design details, examine real components like pumps, tanks, lateral design and orifice sizing. Hands-on assessment using real materials. Complete your in-person soil treatment design assessment in the afternoon.
Day 3 - Building and testing mock scenarios of effluent distribution systems, float settings, and dose volumes.

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Fee Structure

Phase 1 & 2 are $1500 each.
Phase 3 is $1750.
The 3 day practical training component costs $750, including lunch and snacks on all 3 days as well as a complimentary toolkit.
Total cost of our program is $5500 - paid in installments as you move through the phases, with no additional taxes or fees.
You will have lifelong access to the learning materials online as well as 1:1 access to industry experts throughout your training journey.

Payments are processed via secure Interac e-transfer. Call us today to find out more and get started!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Certified Septic System Installer Training – Alberta

Tip: Click a question to expand the answer.

Q Who is this program designed for?

This training is for people who want to become certified onsite wastewater (septic) system installers in Alberta, including those entering the industry as well as plumbers, equipment operators, contractors, landscapers, and property developers who want to diversify their services.

Q How quickly can training begin after enrolling?

Right away. Many learners start Unit 1 the same day they enroll, so there’s no waiting period or delayed intake.

Q Can the online learning be completed from home?

Yes. The online portions can be completed from anywhere, helping you avoid travel, hotel stays, and extra meal expenses while you work through the content.

Q How do you keep the training content up to date?

COWTI’s training materials are “living documents.” Content is continuously reviewed and updated to reflect current standards, technologies, and best practices—when something changes, you see it right away.

Q Is there mentorship or instructor support during the online training?

Yes. 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 understanding.

Q Is the program self-paced?

Yes. You can move through the learning material at a pace that works for you—quickly or gradually—with built-in self-check quizzes to reinforce learning along the way.

Q What are the instructors like?

Instructors bring decades of real-world experience and teach with patience, professionalism, and respect. Questions are welcomed and handled thoughtfully—no one is brushed aside.

Q What is the learning environment like?

COWTI prioritizes a positive, supportive learning culture—online and in the field—so learners build confidence and skill without feeling intimidated.

Q Is the program accessible for different learning styles?

Yes. The material includes videos, animations, graphics, and text, with tools like Immersive Reader available to support comprehension and accessibility.

Q How big are the hands-on training groups?

Hands-on practical training is intentionally small—typically 6–8 learners with two instructors—so you get meaningful instruction, individual attention, and lots of time working with real materials.

Q What does “apprenticeship-style” training mean?

It means the goal is long-term success, not just finishing a course. Training emphasizes practical skills, sound judgment, and the confidence to work independently in the onsite industry.

Q How comprehensive is the content?

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

Q Will I receive job-ready resources I can use on real projects?

Yes. Learners gain access to custom design process documents and homeowner interview guides that can be used directly in professional practice.

Q Do I receive any field tools during the training?

Yes. During the 3-day hands-on training, you receive a complimentary soils field kit with practical tools and design process documents—yours to keep and use in the field after the course.

Q Where does the hands-on training take place?

COWTI has a year-round, heated field training shop outside Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, used for hands-on skills development and practical training activities.

Q Will I complete a "Soils Day" during this training?

Yes. COWTI has access to a Soils Training Facility near Westlock, Alberta where learners can apply soil assessment theory to real soil walls, identify horizons, assess texture and structure, determine soil grade, and use those findings to create a practice system design.

Q How do I access the educational materials once training ends?

Your enrollment includes lifelong access to the learning materials online, so you can revisit content anytime and benefit from ongoing updates.

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Training Facilities and Media

Below are sample visuals and videos from COWTI’s training spaces and learning resources.

COWTI heated field training shop

The COWTI team has a year-round, heated field training shop outside Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. This space is used to facilitate hands-on skills development for onsite wastewater practitioners, including activities that go hand-in-hand with the online component of the Full Training Program for Certified Installers in Alberta (CoC).

COWTI has access to a year-round Soils Training Facility near Westlock, Alberta. You will not have to wait until the summer months, as is the case with other training programs. Do your training during off-season months so once the construction season starts, you are ready to go! Learners will apply the theory of soil assessment to a soil wall: identify soil horizons, assess texture, determine soil structure and soil grade, then use these details to create a system design for a practice site.

North side of the Soils Training Facility