To accommodate expanding educational programs and bring policies in line with the Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense label, the Irrigation Association will change some aspects of its certification program.
Beginning in April, it will no longer be mandatory for courses and exams for Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) and Certified Golf Irrigation Auditor (CGIA) to be offered or taken as a unit. The courses and exams may still be offered together, but they will not be required to be taken together.
CLIA and CGIA candidates must also verify that they have at least one year of field experience and turn in an independently completed audit verified by an Irrigation Association auditor in good standing.
The IA was accepted as the first WaterSense partner in November, and the EPA is reviewing applications to allow IA certifications to carry the WaterSense label.
The labeling program was designed to raise consumer awareness of water efficiency and the importance of certification in the same way the Energy Star label raised awareness of energy efficient products. Professionals with WaterSense approved IA certifications will be eligible to be WaterSense partners and use the WaterSense label as well as the IA certification logo.
To offer an exam, download the exam site agreement from the IA website, complete it and mail it to the IA at least 60 days in advance. For additional information, e-mail [email protected].
For the exam site agreement click here.
