What is a Certified Irrigation Contractor (CIC) and why is it important?
The Irrigation Association certification program is designed especially for irrigation professionals to demonstrate their experience and technical competence to other industry peers and to clients. Certification elevates your ability to make knowledgeable field decisions and provide clients with confidence in your abilities. There are six nationally recognized certifications in agriculture, turf/landscape and golf irrigation.
Jeremy obtained his Certified Irrigation Contractor (CIC) Certification in 2005. Jeremy is one of only six CIC’s in Lincoln and one of 3,500 nationally. Jeremy’s focus has always been on professionalism and he has been an industry leader for over a decade.
Anyone who intends to provide professional services in any aspect of irrigation… consultants, designers, architects, contractors and technicians… should be certified in one or more IA certification programs.
Experience and education are the cornerstones to effective in water management. In an effort to standardize and improve the level of knowledge and proficiency industry-wide, the Irrigation Association introduced certification in 1983. The program continues to be expanded and updated, especially in light of increased demand on water resources and the growing focus on water conservation in communities everywhere.
The Irrigation Association Certification Board has established certification programs to achieve national recognition of irrigation professionals. Certification exams are designed to meet standards of validity, reliability, and difficulty. Certification indicates that the successful Irrigation Contractor applicant has:
- A minimum of three years of irrigation-related experience/education.
- Successfully passed a written examination covering general irrigation subjects and specialty areas.
- Agreed to follow a specific Code of Ethics established by the Certification Board.
Irrigation Contractors are specialty contractors whose principal contracting business is the execution of contracts and subcontracts to install, repair, and maintain irrigation systems in such a manner that projects can be executed in an acceptable way, meeting all specifications and requirements. They are involved in the layout, installation, maintenance and repair of irrigation systems used for landscape and turf irrigation.
Certified Irrigation Contractor Requirements
Certified Irrigation Contractors will be educated in layout, staking, excavation, boring, trenching, grading, back-filling, and limited design. They will install all piping and water delivery components. They will install the irrigation controls, including mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical systems. Contractors will troubleshoot and repair all of these components and systems.
Certified Irrigation Contractors read site, contour, and grading plans, as well as the various “shop drawings” used in installation. They should have knowledge of the various soil conditions which affect the installation and operation of the irrigation system. They should be able to effectively choose and schedule the required installation equipment.
Certified Irrigation Contractors work with all types and classifications of pipe. They should be able to perform the necessary cutting and joining of these different materials, understand the limitations of each piping system, and have knowledge of the required fittings and components of the water delivery system, including backflow prevention components. They should understand basic hydraulics as applied to pumps, irrigation piping, sprinkler heads, water hammer, and backflow prevention principles.
Certified Irrigation Contractors have the knowledge of the various types of control devices used in irrigation systems, including mechanically, hydraulically, and electrically controlled valves and irrigation controllers. They should have basic electrical knowledge needed for installation of electric motors and associated electronic control systems. They should have knowledge of the required licensing laws and codes in their respective states.
In addition, they should know the principles of good business practices, organization, accurate bookkeeping, and timely material and labor take-offs and bids. They should be able to organize and schedule projects. They should understand construction contracts, as well as their legal rights and obligations.
Eligibility and Application
Certification as an Irrigation Contractor is a two-step process.
Certification as an Irrigation Contractor is a two-step process.
Step 1 – Applying to the Program
- In order to apply to the IA Certified Irrigation Contractor Program, you must meet the requirement of at least one year of work experience in an irrigation-related field. However, you must have at least three years of irrigation-related field experience to take the exam.
- After your application has been received and verified, you will receive a letter informing you of your status in the program.
- If you have less than the required three years experience, you will be notified of the date when you will be eligible to take the examination. You will not have to re-apply.
Step 2 – Examination
- In order to become certified, you must take and pass the Contractor examination scoring no less than a 70%.
- A candidate will be allowed to take the exam no more than three times within this two-year period. If unsuccessful on the third attempt, the candidate must wait two years before they will be allowed to re-apply to the program and take the examination.
Exam Description
The examination is a 4-hour, closed book exam consisting of 180 equally-weighted, multiple choice questions. The content and approximate percentages for each area of the exam are:
26% Water Conservation/Irrigation Scheduling
18% Irrigation Design
15% Irrigation Installation
15% Codes and Laws
11% Equipment and Terminology
9% General Business Knowledge
6% Maintenance