License renewal time is coming around again! Will you have all your points by June 30? Well, do what many of your fellow license holders did last time – go online!

Hundreds of Georgia operators have discovered the benefits of online training. Two such operators are Courtney Johnson and Guy Smith. Johnson, a field service representative for Tennessee American Water, has taken two courses so far. He found the technical part of online training "pretty simple."

"The best part," says Johnson, "is that you can do it on your own time. If I go home and don't feel like logging on to the course, I don't have to. I can wait until tomorrow." Johnson, who is licensed in both Georgia and Tennessee, enjoyed the safety course and the corrosion control course. "They were both good courses. . . I have friends that take the courses and I'll take more courses with you guys."

Smith, solitary water treatment plant operator for the city of Hawkinsville, can't say enough about the convenience of online training. "The inconvenience of going out of town for training is substantial," says Smith, citing the need for arranging for care of his home and livestock, plus the need to be gone from his job for several days. "And the economics of online courses is phenomenally good," considering travel, lodging and meals.

Smith, 58, was particularly satisfied with the Corrosion Control Treatment Optimization course and the chemistry information it provided. "I learned a lot. . . I'm able to give more intelligent answers to customers now when they ask me questions about their water."

Smith encountered a few problems when attempting his first course, Chlorinator Systems and Chemical Handling, back in January. "I was doing something wrong and called tech support. They were very helpful and walked me through it. It's really very simple. Anyone not taking online is missing the boat!"

Since late 2007, GRWA, in partnership with SunCoast Learning Systems, Inc., has been offering approved online courses to drinking water and wastewater operators. Three new courses have been approved this year: Maintaining Water Quality in Distribution Systems, Wastewater Collection, and Wastewater Treatment. Maintaining Water Quality is written by Rich Giani, the author of Corrosion Control Treatment Optimization, and Texas Rural Water Association, with a long reputation for quality training, has authored the two new wastewater courses. Of course, the original six courses are still available: Basic Board and Council Training, Basic Environmental Chemistry, Chlorinator Systems and Chemical Handling, Corrosion Control Treatment Optimization, Water Utility Calculations, and Water Utility Safety. Please go to www.grwa.org for more course details.

More advantages to online training:
• You can log on and off as many times as needed, and if you don't pass a quiz, then take it again, until you do.
• Many employers not only pay for the training, but allow employees to take the course during work hours.
• Computer help is available seven days a week, 7 AM – 10 PM, except 1PM – 10PM on Sundays. Friendly, dedicated customer service is only a toll-free phone call away. Call SunCoast Learning Systems, Inc. at 800-269-1181.