Technician Week | Virtual Classes

April 18-22, 2022

Technician Week is an opportunity for landscape irrigation technicians to take review courses and become certified all in one week. Technician Week will include a set of virtual classes specifically for technicians held via Zoom Monday through Thursday, April 18-21, with a certified irrigation technician exam offered in person in Fairfax, Virginia, on Friday, April 22. The four courses are an excellent opportunity to review in advance of the Friday certification exam. 

Register for Technician Week

Irrigation Components for Residential/Small Commercial Systems

Beginner | Landscape | 4 CEUs

Monday, April 18  |  10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern

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

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, April 18  |  3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Eastern

Instructor: Craig Borland, CIC, CID, CIT, CLIA, CLWM, The Toro Company

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, April 19  |  10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern

Instructor: Craig Borland, CIC, CID, CIT, CLIA, CLWM, The Toro Company

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, April 20  |  10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern

(Part 2 of 2) Thursday, April 21  |  10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern

Co-Instructors: Scott Knowles, CGIA, CIC, CID, CLIA, Wolf Creek Company Inc. & Keith Schweiger, CIC, CID, CIT, CLIA, CLWM, Calsense

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, April 22  |  9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Following the week of review courses, take the certified irrigation technician exam while the material is fresh in your mind. In addition to the CIT exam, all IA certification exams will be offered on April 22.

Instructors

Craig Borland, CIC, CID, CIT, CLIA, CLWM, has worked for Toro Irrigation/Irritrol for 25 years. During that time he managed the controller repair department and the service center repair program, and he also worked as the warranty administrator in inside sales and currently as senior customer resource specialist. Borland also provides technical support for the micro division and the engineering, legal, technical support and marketing departments. Borland earned a bachelor’s degree in fruit science, with a minor in ornamental horticulture from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. He has taught for the IA for the past 18 years and serves on the IA Education Committee as a subject matter expert.

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 receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in environmental horticultural science from Cal Poly, Hawkins focused on a variety of facets of the green industry, from greenhouse operations and plant propagation to landscape maintenance and design, as well as sales, distribution and education. 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.

Keith Schweiger, CIC, CID, CIT, CLIA, CLWM, QWEL, is the technical sales rep for Calsense for Colorado and Utah and was a board member of the Colorado WaterWise organization. Schweiger is a 1986 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Agricultural Engineering Department with an emphasis in soils and horticulture. He has spent 18 years in distribution and over 17 years in contracting, totaling more than 35 years of experience in the irrigation industry. He has been an instructor for the Irrigation Association for the last 17 years and has spoken and taught at many local and regional conferences on irrigation matters. He is past chair of the Irrigation Association Education Committee. Schweiger previously owned and operated his own irrigation contracting firm and is an EPA WaterSense Partner.