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Certified Irrigation Designer

Overview

Certified irrigation designers establish specifications and design drawings for irrigation projects. CIDs:

• Evaluate site conditions and determine water availability and use requirements.
• Select the most effective irrigation equipment, methods and materials for the application.
• Develop efficient and cost-effective irrigation designs that meet the plant or crop’s watering requirements.
• Prepare comprehensive plans and specifications that include construction details, equipment or materials, as well as appropriate irrigation schedules.
• Ensure the installation matches the design intent.
• Provide direction to the end user on system use, scheduling and maintenance.

Available Specialties

IA certifies irrigation designers in six specialties:

Landscape/Turf Irrigation	Agriculture
Commercial irrigation	Drip/Micro Irrigation
Golf Irrigation	Sprinkler Irrigation
Residential Irrigation	Surface Irrigation

CIDs with a specialty in commercial, golf course or residential landscape/turf irrigation are eligible to become U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense® partners. CIDs with a specialty in sprinkler, surface and/or drip-micro agriculture irrigation qualify as Technical Service Providers for U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service projects.

Program Requirements

Certified irrigation designers must:

• Demonstrate a minimum of three years of irrigation-related experience and education.
• Pass a series of three written exams on general irrigation and specialty topics.
• Agree to follow the Code of Ethics established by the IA Certification Board.
• Remain in good standing by submitting 10 continuing education units and a nominal renewal fee each year.

Certification Process

To become a CID, you must:

1. Submit an application. Minimum requirement: one year of irrigation-related experience or education in an irrigation-related field.
    
2. Pass the irrigation industry exam. The 3-hour exam includes 150 multiple choice questions on basic hydraulics, soil-water-plant relationships, irrigation scheduling, irrigation terminology, basic electricity and pumps. Minimum requirement: one year of irrigation-related experience.
    
3. Pass the general agriculture or landscape/turf exam. Each 3-hour exam includes 100 multiple choice questions on irrigation equipment, hydraulics, scheduling, precipitation and application rates, spacing, soil-water-plant relationships, electrical and pumps. Minimum requirement: three years of irrigation-related experience/education.
    
4. Pass a specialty exam. Select from six specialties in drip/micro, sprinkler, surface, commercial, golf course or residential irrigation. You may take the Step 3 General Exam and Step 4 Specialty Exam on the same day.

All CID exams are offered in multiple locations throughout the year. Find one near you.

Fee Schedule

		IA Member	Nonmember
Step 1:	Application Fee	$50	$175
Step 2:	Irrigation Industry Exam Fee	$150	$275
Step 3:	General Exam Fee (agriculture or landscape/turf)	$150	$275
Step 4:	Specialty Exam Fee (drip/micro, sprinkler, surface, commercial, golf course or residential)	$150	$275
Exam Retake Fee (Step 2, 3 or 4)		$75	$125
Annual Renewal Fee (one certification)		$50	$100
Annual Renewal Fee (two or more certifications)		$100	$150