Water monitoring is a high demand position in the East Kootenay region and across Canada. Build the foundational and technical skills you need to work effectively in the field in just five weeks with our Environmental Water Monitoring micro-credential. Developed in collaboration with industry specialists, this program prepares you for field-intensive work related to water testing and monitoring for a variety of government and industry stakeholders.
Upon successful completion of this program, you will be awarded a College of the Rockies Continuing Education Certificate of Achievement.
Next program intake: September 30 – October 30, 2026
Program Overview
The course provides an overview to environmental water monitoring. There are four key modules. Sessions in the first module consist of an online orientation and training in several workplace health and safety and wilderness preparedness courses. This introductory module is followed by a Module on field work expectations and skills including data management, collection, sampling, and analysis, while learning several industry-standard software and technology skills. Module 3 begins with a focus on in-the-field training in lakewater and groundwater monitoring and extends this field training to rivers with a Hydrometrics focus. The course concludes with a capstone project and an online conclusion.
Industry Certifications
Basic First Aid
WHMIS
H2S Aware
Wildsafe BC
Swift Water Rescue Awareness
Program Length:
This is a 5-week program with 24 hours of instruction per week.
Operations Curriculum:
Field work expectations
Communication
Wilderness preparedness
Road safety
Risk Assessment and Job Safety Analysis
H2S Aware
Environmental Data Fundamentals
Field notes best practices
Water Quality and Sampling
Groundwater Monitoring
Lakewater Monitoring
Streams and River Monitoring
Hydrometrics
Software Skills – Navigation
Software Skills – Data entry and analysis
Troubleshooting and Problem Solving
Course Descriptions
PVIN-116 – Environmental Water Monitoring
Module 1 | Orientation | Work safety | Wilderness preparedness
Module 2 | Basic field skills | Data collection, sampling, and analysis | software programs and technology
Module 3 | Lakewater | Groundwater | Streams/Rivers water sampling and hydrometrics
Admission Requirements
Secondary (high) school graduation or equivalent.
Tuition and Fees
This program is eligible for the StrongerBC future skills grant. Find out more.
Tuition: $2,995.00
*Tuition and Fees for students are estimates and are subject to change. Depending on course electives there may be additional lab fees. Tuition and Fees do not include textbook costs or supplies. Tuition fees include student technology fees, student activity fees, and alumni fees. For more information, visit: Tuition and Fees.
Career Info and Pathways
Completion of the Environmental Water Monitoring micro-credential can prepare you for an in-demand career at one of the regions mines or in other environment related industries.
With additional education, career opportunities may include:
If you are applying for the StrongerBC Future Skills Grant for this program, please complete the Online FSG Application Form.
If you are applying to the program without the StrongerBC Future Skills Grant, please complete the Environmental Water Monitoring Application and submit to the Golden campus in person or by email: golden@cotr.bc.ca
StrongerBC future skills grant
This program is eligible for the StrongerBC future skills grant.
