Technician Week | Virtual Classes

Technician Week is an opportunity for landscape irrigation technicians to take foundational courses and become certified all in one week. Technician Week includes a set of virtual classes specifically for technicians held via Zoom Monday through Thursday, with a certified irrigation technician exam offered in person on that Friday. The four courses are an excellent opportunity to review in advance of the Friday certification exam. Technician Week is held in the spring each year.

The following is the schedule of classes and certification exam held during the most recent Technician Week held March 11-14, 2024.

Irrigation Components for Residential/Small Commercial Systems

Beginner | Landscape | 4 CEUs

Monday, March 11  |  10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern

Instructor:  Kris Loomis, CID, CLIA, Sonoma County Water Agency and Santa Rosa Junior College

Increase your understanding of components for residential and small commercial irrigation systems. This half-day course covers system components from the point of connection to the point of water application, including how control systems, valves, sprays and rotors work.

Member Price: $190 | Nonmember Price: $240 (includes workbook)

Electrical Troubleshooting: Diagnosing Field Wiring Problems

Beginner | Landscape & Golf | 4 CEUs

Monday, March 11  |  3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Eastern

Instructor: Rick Hall, CIC, CID, CLIA, K-Rain Manufacturing 

Save time and money with this practical course in electrical troubleshooting. This half-day class covers diagnosing field wiring problems and proper use of volt-ohm meters. Learn to systematically assess and resolve confusing electrical problems.

Member Price: $190 | Nonmember Price: $240 (includes workbook)

Hydraulic Troubleshooting

Intermediate | Landscape | 4 CEUs

Tuesday, March 12  |  10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern

Instructor: Christine Hawkins, CID, CLIA, Hunter Industries Inc.

Review the essentials of hydraulics for properly working landscape irrigation systems. This half-day class covers troubleshooting, design, system upgrades and more.

Member Price: $190 | Nonmember Price: $240 (includes manual)

Landscape Irrigation Technician

Beginner | Landscape & Golf | 8 CEUs

(Part 1 of 2) Wednesday, March 13  |  10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern

(Part 2 of 2) Thursday, March 14  |  10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern

Co-Instructors: Scott Knowles, CGIA, CIC, CID, CLIA, Wolf Creek Company Inc. & John Raffiani, CIC, CIT, Raffiani’s Automatic Sprinkler Service

This two-part class will cover the basics of hydraulics and irrigation system installation and maintenance, including an overview of irrigation system components and how they operate. Learn about gluing and repairing PVC pipe, installing nozzles and adjusting heads, setting and repairing electric valves, and field and controller wiring techniques. Recommended review for the certified irrigation technician exam.

Member Price: $270 | Nonmember Price: $350 (includes manual)

Certification Exam Session – Paper/Pencil

Friday, March 15  |  9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

  • IA Headquarters, Fairfax, Virginia

Following the week of review courses, all IA certification exams were offered on March 15.

Instructors

Frederick (Rick) A. Hall, CIC, CID, CLIA, began his career over 30 years ago as an owner/operator of an irrigation contracting firm servicing the green industry. He later joined K-Rain Manufacturing Corp. in 2004 with the goal of being a voice for all green industry professionals. He currently serves as K-Rain’s market development director and has traveled the world teaching and sharing his knowledge and experiences with landscape and irrigation professionals, including at many local and regional conferences. This is Hall’s second year teaching for the IA; he also serves as a member of the Advocacy – Landscape Committee and is an EPA WaterSense Partner.

Christine Hawkins, CID, CLIA, has a passion for teaching within the landscape industry — particularly on best practices in horticulture, water management and landscape irrigation. With many years of experience, she is still eager to learn about challenges and solutions from fellow professionals. After earning a degree in environmental horticultural science from Cal Poly, Hawkins focused on a variety of facets of the green industry. She is currently the specification manager for northern California for Hunter Industries. She collaborates with landscape architects, design professionals, irrigation consultants and municipalities on efficient irrigation systems.

Scott Knowles, CGIA, CIC, CID, CLIA, is the owner and president of Wolf Creek Company Inc., a distribution group that has been serving the green industry since 1961. Knowles received a degree in agriculture engineering from The Ohio State University and studied irrigation technologies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He has been an instructor for the Irrigation Association for 30 years and is an EPA WaterSense Partner. He has also served as a board member of the Irrigation Association of Ohio for the past three years.

Kris Loomis, CID, CLIA, has a passion for irrigation and gadgets like no other. Her 20+ years of experience and understanding of irrigation components along with her ability to present complex items in simple terms will make you feel at ease. She is currently a senior programs specialist with the Sonoma County Water Agency and an adjunct professor of agriculture/natural resources at Santa Rosa Junior College.

John Raffiani, CIC, CIT, is the owner and president of Raffiani’s Automatic Sprinkler Service in North Jersey and has been with the company since its beginning in 1966. He learned about piping, pumps, field irrigation, horticulture and soil texture at a very young age. When his grandfather began to sell parcels of his land in 1965 for housing developments, Raffiani (along with other family members) started to install lawn sprinklers and landscaping utilizing the leftover piping, sprays heads and shrubs from his grandfather’s business. Five decades and 16,900+ installations later, the company is still going strong.