Legionella and Other Waterborne Pathogens: Fundamentals for Technicians
The Legionella and Other Waterborne Pathogens: Fundamentals for Technicians Certificate Program is designed for professionals who are new to building water management programs as well as experienced practitioners seeking a deeper, more practical understanding of the risks posed by waterborne pathogens, particularly Legionella found in premise plumbing, drinking water systems, and recreational water systems. The program emphasizes the foundational knowledge, skills, and abilities technicians need to safely and reliably assess building water systems, perform measurements, and collect samples that support effective risk management and compliance with standards such as ASHRAE 188.
Developed by industry experts with decades of experience in outbreak investigations, public health response, industrial hygiene, and remediation of contaminated water systems, this certificate program addresses a critical gap in technician-level training. Participants gain real-world, defensible skills for conducting assessments that generate reliable data, withstand scrutiny, and meaningfully support both routine water management programs and outbreak response efforts.
To support broad access and informed decision-making, the first portion of the program — Legionella and Other Waterborne Pathogens: Fundamentals for Technicians Certificate Program – Introduction — is available as a free registration option. This 1-hour introductory module provides essential context on Legionella, other waterborne pathogens, disease impacts, and technician competencies, allowing learners to explore the content before committing to the full certificate program and assessment.
The full Legionella and Other Waterborne Pathogens: Fundamentals for Technicians Certificate Program includes 19 hours of core instruction, with an additional 1-hour introductory module available for free, bringing the total to 20 hours of learning. Successful completion prepares participants to collect water samples for pathogen analysis, measure critical water parameters, recognize health and safety hazards, document findings, and contribute effectively to Legionella risk assessments and water management programs.
Certificate Program Outline
Free Introductory Module (1 Hour)
Legionella and Other Waterborne Pathogens: Fundamentals for Technicians Certificate Program – Introduction
- Welcome and Course Foundations: The Technician’s Role in Water Safety
- Legionella and Waterborne Pathogens: Disease, Ecology, and Public Health Impact
- Defining Competency: Technician vs. Professional Roles and Required Skills
Glossary and Visual Reference
This standalone section supports learners throughout the certificate program by establishing a shared technical vocabulary and familiarizing technicians with common system components before and during application in later modules.
- Foundational Terms: Legionella and Building Water Systems
- Visual Dictionary of Building Water System Equipment and System Components
Core Certificate Program Modules (19 Hours)
Water cycle fundamentals, water chemistry processes, microbiology of building water systems, and engineered system risk factors.
Scale control, corrosion control, microbiological growth control strategies, and suspended solids management.
Occupational health and safety principles, hazard recognition, control strategies, and safety culture when performing building water system assessments.
Understanding Legionella amplification, implementing control measures, and post-remediation monitoring.
Sampling strategies, standard methods, equipment operation and calibration, laboratory submission, interpretation of results, case studies, and safety considerations.
Risk assessment principles, regulatory context, executing Legionella Source Risk Assessments, and maintaining safety during assessments.
Diagnostics, corrective actions, water treatment technologies, and long-term monitoring strategies.
Cooling tower operations, Legionella risk factors, monitoring, testing, remediation, and technician safety.
Review of Legionella biology and risk, and an overview of regulatory and management frameworks.
Knowledge checks are included throughout the course to reinforce learning objectives and support preparation for the end-of-course exam and certificate of completion.
Why a Certificate Program?
This certificate program provides formal recognition that foundational knowledge has been acquired and technician-level skills have been demonstrated through guided learning activities and assessment.
Who Will Benefit
This certificate program is ideal for professionals who perform or support water system assessments, sampling, or routine water management activities, including:
- Public health and environmental health professionals
- Infection preventionists and healthcare facility staff
- Building engineers and facility managers
- Industrial hygienists
- Water treatment and maintenance technicians
- Professionals supporting ASHRAE 188 water management programs
Participants will benefit from a technician-focused, practical approach that emphasizes safety, consistency, data quality, and real-world application. The program also serves as the foundational first step in a broader, multi-level waterborne pathogen certificate pathway, establishing the technician competencies required for advanced program and responder professional roles.
Time to Complete
The Technician certificate program will take approximately 20 hours to complete. Participants will have 6 months from the date of purchase to complete the education and take the assessment.
Future Offerings
Under development: The Responder Professional certificate program will take approximately 8 hours of contact time to complete, with reading, writing, and other assignments completed between each 1-hour online course. The program and accompanying certificate are scheduled for release in November 2026.
Under development: The Program Professional certificate program will take approximately 8 hours of contact time to complete, with reading, writing, and other assignments completed between each 1-hour online course. The program and accompanying certificate are scheduled for release in March 2027.
Certificate of Completion
Each program awards a certificate of completion upon successful completion of all program requirements and assessment.
This certificate is not a professional certification or licensure.
Web Course Materials
All program materials are provided as PDF downloads via the online classroom (registrant access only). No hardcopy materials are mailed for this course. Registrants connect and get unlimited 24/7 web access for six months from the date of purchase.
Program content is compatible with desktop and mobile devices, allowing participants to complete the program using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Materials in this certificate program include:
- A mobile-first e-learning program delivered across 9 modules, using interactive lessons, short videos, and built-in activities designed for self-paced, online learning.
- Legionella Technical Framework (PDF) — Included; $19.99 value
- Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Legionella in Building Water Systems, 2nd edition (PDF) — Included; $60.00 value
- Principles of Good Practice Section 5: Legionella and Waterborne Pathogens
To successfully complete this program in the online classroom, participants must view all content, complete all module activities, and pass an assessment. An online evaluation of the course is included as part of the program package.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Time to Complete | Approximately 20 hours |
| Access Period | 6 months from date of purchase |
| Certificate | Certificate of Completion awarded upon passing assessment |
| Devices | Desktop, Tablet, and Smartphone compatible |
Questions? Email the AIHA education team.
Legionella and Other Waterborne Pathogens in Building Water Systems: Fundamentals for Technicians
Featuring: Dr. David Krause, PhD, MSPH, CIH
Course Developer, Former ACGIH Bioaerosols Committee Member, and Past Chair of the AIHA Indoor Environmental Quality Committee
In this episode of the Healthier Workplaces Show Podcast, we interview the developer of the "Legionella and Other Waterborne Pathogens in Building Water Systems: Fundamentals for Technicians" course, Dr. David Krause, PhD, MSPH, and CIH.
As a former member of the ACGIH Bioaerosols Committee and past chair of the AIHA Indoor Environmental Quality Committee, Dr. Krause has published research on novel control methods to prevent Legionella in building water systems by reducing dissolved oxygen in building hot water systems.
Today, we're here to learn more about "Legionella and Other Waterborne Pathogens in Building Water Systems: Fundamentals for Technicians"—the first level of the Legionella and Other Waterborne Pathogens Certificate Program.
Watch the full episode below and join the conversation with industry leaders in the Catalyst and Healthy Workplaces Show communities.
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