Ewing Irrigation, Golf & Industrial, in partnership with the Irrigation Association (IA), will offer Landscape Irrigation Auditor preparatory workshops and the IA Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) exam, becoming the first organization outside the IA to offer both the workshop and exam.
The 1 1/2-day workshop, designed to prepare students for the CLIA exam, will be held August 29-30 in Phoenix, Ariz.; Sept. 11-12 in Tucson, Ariz.; Sept. 19-20 in Highlands Ranch, Colo.; and Oct. 17-18 in Las Vegas. The CLIA exam will follow the conclusion of each workshop on the second day. The exam date for the Tucson class will be announced at a later date.
The workshop will train students how to collect data from irrigation systems to determine uniformity, precipitation rates, and overall efficiency, as well as how to calculate accurate irrigation schedules based on plant water use, soil conditions, and local weather data.
“Our mission at Ewing is to enhance our customers’ value in the marketplace by creating avenues to further their professionalism and advance their training in industry best practices,” says Douglas York, president of Ewing Irrigation. “By hosting IA Education, we can help our customers get ahead of the curve while educating them to become efficient and effective water management purveyors.”
The IA began offering education programs in 1983 to give qualified professionals a way to showcase their industry experience and technical aptitude. Since then, thousands of landscape professionals have been certified, even prompting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to recognize Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditors through their WaterSense program.
Last year, the IA started the Accredited Provider Program, which granted outside organizations like Ewing the opportunity to supplement IA Education with their existing training programs.
“We immediately jumped at the opportunity to offer IA Education,” said Jim Borneman, vice president of education for Ewing Irrigation and workshop instructor. “This supplies a forum for Ewing to promote water conservation at a more professional level. By understanding the strong correlation between technical proficiency and water conservation, students can strengthen their credibility in the market.”
According to Dennis McKernan, the IA’s education director, accredited providers extend IA Education to more irrigation industry personnel, which is important in paving the way for more trained and certified irrigation professionals.
“At the grassroots level, local government agencies and water purveyors are mandating irrigation certifications in light of ongoing water restrictions,” McKernan says. “Certifications will soon become an absolute requirement in communities throughout the country. This is the future of our industry.”
Jeffrey Knight, central region education manager for Ewing Irrigation and associate workshop instructor, believes professionals need to become certified now in order to get ahead of the mandates that are spreading across the country.
“It is important for our customers to give more to water conservation than just lip service,” Knight says. “They need to get certified so they can show their customers, fellow industry professionals, and society that they are serious about their job and the livelihood of our industry.”
To register for the workshop, visit Ewing’s education Web site at www.ewingeducationservices.com .
To register for the optional CLIA exam, go to the IA’s Web site at www.irrigation.org. Registration for the CLIA exam must be completed with the IA 30 days prior to each examination date. It is important to note that you do not have to register with the IA if you only wish to attend the workshop.
For questions regarding the workshop or exam, contact Jamie Thayer at 800/343-9464, or jthayer@ewing1.com .