NWP30222Certificate IIICurrentNWP training package
NWP30222 Certificate III in Water Industry Operations
NWP30222 is the nationally recognised Certificate III in Water Industry Operations. It prepares you for work as a waste water or water plant operator. It has been the current version on the national register since 2022, when it replaced NWP30219. Employers posted about 401 waste water or water plant operator jobs in June 2026, up 18.4% on a year earlier.
Often searched as Cert 3 in Water Industry Operations · Register data synced 18 Sept 2026 from training.gov.au
Online job ads · June 2026
401last month
Waste water or water plant operator roles advertised across Australia
Up on a year earlier
Long-term outlook
Mixed
One structural signal up; not rated in shortage
Register status
Current
Replaced NWP30219 in 2022
Enrolments
Steady
Down 2.4% in a year
Funding status
Verification pending
Checked against official state program lists
The short answer
The signals behind the Certificate III in Water Industry Operations are mixed, and both sides are worth weighing. Employment is projected to grow through 2035 and job ads in June 2026 were up 18.4% on a year earlier. The official shortage list does not rate its occupations in shortage. These are official statistics, not a promise about your result.
Jobs and Skills Australia
Is the work there?
Employers are posting more waste water or water plant operator jobs than a year ago. About 401 waste water or water plant operator jobs were advertised online in June 2026, up 18.4% on a year earlier. Over the last 12 months there were about 4,600 job ads, while 1,805 people were training in the qualification nationally (2025). Ads show the market. Enrolments show the pipeline. Neither is a job promise.
Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index · latest month June 2026 · ANZSCO 7129
Combined monthly online job ads across Waste Water Or Water Plant Operator, to June 2026
Official shortage list
Australia's official shortage list rates boiler or engine operators, bulk materials handling plant operators, cement production plant operators, concrete batching plant operators, concrete pump operators, paper and pulp mill operators, railway signal operators, train controllers, waste water or water plant operators, weighbridge operators and stationary plant operators necs as not in shortage. The 2025 Occupation Shortage List rates Boiler or Engine Operator, Bulk Materials Handling Plant Operator, Cement Production Plant Operator, Concrete Batching Plant Operator, Concrete Pump Operator, Paper and Pulp Mill Operator, Railway Signal Operator, Train Controller, Waste Water or Water Plant Operator, Weighbridge Operator and Stationary Plant Operators nec as not in shortage.
Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation Shortage List · 2025 assessment
Ten year outlook
Waste water or water plant operator jobs are projected to grow. Jobs and Skills Australia projections put these occupations at 25,455 workers in May 2025, 26,224 by May 2030 (up 3%) and 27,202 by May 2035 (up 6.9%).
25,455
workers, May 2025
26,224
workers, May 2030
27,202
workers, May 2035
Jobs and Skills Australia employment projections · May 2025 to May 2035
Occupation mapping by Get Course, shown with ANZSCO codes so it can be checked.
NCVER Student Outcomes
How graduates do
Results for Certificate III in Water Industry Operations graduates are mixed against other Certificate IIIs. In the 2025 NCVER Student Outcomes survey, 98.1% were employed or in further study after training. The typical Certificate III result is 88%, across 105 qualifications. Median income after training was $73,600, against $54,000 typical. 87.9% were satisfied with the training, against 90.6% typical. Income here is the survey median about six months after training. It includes part-time work, so it is not the full-time award rate.
98.1%
employed or in further study after training (2025)
typical 88% across 105 Certificate IIIs
$73,600
median income after training (2025)
typical $54,000 across 85 Certificate IIIs
87.9%
satisfied with the training (2025)
typical 90.6% across 105 Certificate IIIs
Level benchmarks are medians computed by Get Course across all Certificate IIIs in the same collection, not official NCVER benchmarks.
NCVER Student Outcomes · 2025 survey
NCVER Total VET Activity
Who is training
Enrolments in the Certificate III in Water Industry Operations are steady. Across Australia, 1,850 people enrolled in 2024. In 2025 it was 1,805, down 2.4% in a year. National data for NWP30222 starts in 2023.
2019
not yet introduced
2020
not yet introduced
2021
not yet introduced
2022
not yet introduced
715
2023
1,850
2024
1,805
2025
NCVER Total VET Activity · 2025 collection
training.gov.au · Australian Qualifications Framework
What does studying it involve?
The register and the national framework set some of this. Providers set the rest.
How long it takes
A Certificate III is typically 1 to 2 years of full-time study under the Australian Qualifications Framework. Providers set the exact length and pace.
Delivery
Providers set the delivery mode.
Credit for experience
Recognition of prior learning applies to NWP30222 like any qualification on the national register: an approved provider assesses your evidence against each unit.
training.gov.au national register; Australian Qualifications Framework.
State subsidised training lists
What does it cost, and who funds it?
State funding for NWP30222 is being verified against official program lists.
Eligibility and student contributions vary by program and provider. The official state listing is the source of truth. In a subsidised place the government pays most of the tuition and you pay a co-contribution set by the program and provider.
Official state subsidised training program lists, verified per state. Full-fee prices will appear here as partner courses are listed.
training.gov.au · unit packaging
What is in the qualification
The register lists 2 core units for the Certificate III in Water Industry Operations, plus 143 elective options. Prerequisites apply to Five of them, marked below.
BSBWHS308Participate in WHS hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control processes
NWPGEN019Assess, implement and report environmental procedures
View the 143 elective options
AHCCHM101Follow basic chemical safety rules
AHCSAW304Implement erosion and sediment control measures
BSBINS302Organise workplace information
BSBOPS304Deliver and monitor a service to customers
BSBOPS305Process customer complaints
BSBOPS402Coordinate business operational plans
BSBPEF301Organise personal work priorities
BSBTWK201Work effectively with others
BSBWHS307Apply knowledge of WHS laws in the workplace
BSBWHS309Contribute effectively to WHS communication and consultation processes
BSBWHS311Assist with maintaining workplace safety
CPCCCM2004Handle construction materials (has prerequisites)
CPCCWHS2001Apply WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry
CPCPPS5024Conduct a water audit and identify water-saving initiatives
CPCWHS1001Prepare to work safely in the construction industry
CPPHES4006Assess household water use and efficiency improvements
FSKNUM021Apply an expanding range of arithmetical calculations for work
FWPCOT2273Trim and cut felled trees
MSL904003Perform standard calibrations
MSL922002Record and present data
MSMWHS216Operate breathing apparatus
MSS402062Use SCADA systems in operations
MSS404063Facilitate the use of SCADA systems in a team or work area
NWPCAD001Respond to blue-green algae outbreaks
NWPCAD002Control vegetation on a site
NWPCAD003Identify and confirm blue-green algae outbreaks
NWPCAD006Monitor and coordinate catchment operations
NWPCAD008Monitor and control dam operations
NWPCAD009Monitor and implement dam maintenance
NWPCAD010Inspect and report on concrete dam safety
NWPCAD011Inspect and report on embankment dam safety
NWPCAD012Route floods through storages
NWPCAD013Conduct and report dam safety instrumentation monitoring
NWPCAD014Inspect and report river performance
NWPCAD015Operate and maintain locks and weirs
NWPCAD016Operate and maintain fishways
NWPCAD017Operate and maintain salt interception works
NWPCAD018Monitor and operate bulkwater transfer systems
NWPCAD019Monitor and operate groundwater extraction
NWPCAD020Inspect and operate groundwater regulation
NWPGEN017Apply the risk management principles of the water industry standards, guidelines and legislation
NWPGEN020Sample and test source or drinking water
NWPGEN021Sample and test wastewater
NWPGEN022Perform laboratory testing
NWPGEN023Use maps, plans, drawings and details
NWPGEN024Identify the role and functions of the water industry
NWPGEN025Apply principles of chemistry to water systems and processes
NWPGEN026Provide and promote customer service
NWPGEN027Monitor and operate pump stations
NWPGEN028Investigate and report on breaches of water industry legislation
NWPGEN034Operate and maintain flood warning sites
NWPIWS001Monitor and operate rural irrigation and domestic delivery systems
NWPIWS003Inspect and operate water diversion systems
NWPIWS004Install meters for rural water supplies
NWPIWS006Maintain meters for rural water supplies
NWPIWS007Detect and rectify faults with automated channel regulators
NWPIWS008Monitor and conduct maintenance on rural irrigation assets
NWPIWS009Monitor and control drainage operations
NWPIWS010Monitor and control rural water distribution operations
NWPIWS012Monitor and schedule water deliveries
NWPNET018Disinfect network assets
NWPNET019Prepare and restore worksite
NWPNET028Monitor and operate network systems
NWPNET030Identify and respond to water quality problems
NWPNET036Perform leak detection
NWPNET037Inspect sewer or stormwater assets
NWPNET040Maintain and repair network assets for wastewater
NWPNET047Install, maintain and repair hydrants
NWPNET048Monitor and control vacuum sewer systems
NWPNET051Monitor and operate water distribution systems
NWPNET052Monitor and operate wastewater collection and transfer systems
NWPNET053Test and commission water distribution systems
NWPNET054Test and commission wastewater collection systems
NWPNET060Clean networks using air scouring, chemical or swabbing techniques
NWPNET061Maintain and repair network assets for drinking water
NWPNET062Maintain network assets using high pressure water systems
NWPNET063Use digital imaging equipment in the field
NWPNET064Control electrical risk on network pipes
NWPNET065Perform odour and infiltration investigations
NWPTRT005Monitor and operate water treatment processes
NWPTRT006Monitor and operate fluoride addition processes
NWPTRT007Monitor and operate liquefied chlorine gas disinfection processes (has prerequisites)
NWPTRT008Operate and control iron and manganese removal processes
NWPTRT009Operate and control coagulation and flocculation processes
NWPTRT010Operate and control sedimentation and clarification processes
NWPTRT016Operate and control dissolved air flotation processes
NWPTRT017Operate and control activated carbon processes
NWPTRT018Operate and control ion exchange and softening processes
NWPTRT019Operate and control granular media filters
NWPTRT020Operate and control membrane filters
NWPTRT021Operate and control desalination processes
NWPTRT022Monitor and operate hypochlorite disinfection processes
NWPTRT023Monitor and operate ultraviolet processes
NWPTRT024Operate and control chloramination processes
NWPTRT026Monitor and operate ozone processes
NWPTRT027Monitor and operate wastewater treatment processes
NWPTRT028Operate and control reclaimed water irrigation
NWPTRT030Operate and control odour removal processes
NWPTRT036Operate and control activated sludge processes
NWPTRT037Operate and control nutrient removal processes
NWPTRT038Operate and control fixed film processes
NWPTRT039Operate and control solids handling processes
NWPTRT040Operate and control digestion processes
NWPTRT046Operate and control incineration processes
NWPTRT047Monitor, operate and control lagoon processes
PMBWELD301EJoin polyethylene plastic pipelines using butt welding
PMBWELD302EJoin polyethylene plastic pipelines using electrofusion welding
PMBWELD305EInstall polyethylene plastic pipelines for pressurised applications
PMBWELD308EInstall PVC plastic pipelines for pressurised applications
RIICBS310EConduct patching operations
RIICCM205FCarry out manual excavation
RIICCM207ESpread and compact materials manually
RIICCM208ECarry out basic levelling
RIICCM209ECarry out concrete work
RIICCM210EInstall trench support
RIICCM211EConstruct and dismantle fences and gates
RIICPL302EInstall stormwater systems
RIICPL304EInstall pre-cast gully pits
RIICPL305EInstall pre-cast access chambers
RIICRC202EInstall signs
RIICRC301EMaintain drainage systems
RIICRC303ELay pavers
RIICRC314EHandle concrete materials
RIICRC315EUse concreting materials and equipment
RIICWM501EImplement civil construction plans
RIIHAN211DConduct basic scaffolding operations
RIIHAN308FLoad and unload plant
RIIMPO327EConduct pipe layer operations
RIIRIS202ERespond to site based spills
RIISAM203EUse hand and power tools
RIISAM204EOperate small plant and equipment
RIIWHS202EEnter and work in confined spaces
RIIWHS204EWork safely at heights
RIIWHS302EImplement traffic management plans
RIIWMG203EDrain and dewater civil construction sites
TLID0021Store and handle dangerous goods and hazardous substances
TLILIC0023Licence to operate a slewing mobile crane (up to 60 tonnes)
training.gov.au national register, NWP30222 release 2
Where to study
Where can I study NWP30222?
No Get Course partner currently lists this qualification. Check the national register for organisations approved to deliver it, and remember that approval to deliver is a regulatory fact, not a recommendation. You can browse live courses from our partners and enquire today.
Get Course maps NWP30222 to its occupations using the register’s own outcome wording, shown with ANZSCO codes (here, 7129) so the mapping can be checked. Job advertisement counts come from the Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index and count online ads, not vacancies filled. Enrolment counts come from NCVER Total VET Activity and count people in training, not completions. Outcome benchmarks marked “typical” are medians computed by Get Course across all Certificate IIIs in the same NCVER collection; they are derived figures, not official NCVER benchmarks. Funding rows appear only after verification against the official state program list. Source vintages: Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index latest month June 2026; NCVER Total VET Activity 2025 collection; Occupation Shortage List 2025 assessment; employment projections May 2025 to May 2035 release; register training.gov.au, synced 5 September 2026; NCVER Student Outcomes survey 2025 survey; register synced 18 Sept 2026. Page last updated 19 Sept 2026.
About this page. Every number on this page shows its source and date. Register data synced 18 Sept 2026 from training.gov.au. Compiled by Get Course from public data sources. It is not provided or endorsed by any training organisation, and nothing here is advice about your individual situation. Statistics describe groups; your result depends on you. If you represent a training organisation and want to correct or add to this page, contact hello@getcourse.com.au.