Certification programs help homeowners and businesses identify qualified and competent irrigation contractors and designers. When you hire a professional certified by the Alberta Chapter or the Irrigation Association (ACIA), you ware hiring someone who is experienced, trained and working to meet irrigation industry standards. Certified irrigation specialists must have a certain level of experience and/or training and then pass a comprehensive exam covering general irrigation subjects as well as specialty areas, and agree to follow a code of ethics. To maintain active certification,specialists must take continuing education classes. To verify an irrigation professional is currently certified - or find an ACIA certified professional - by visiting www.irrigationalberta.org. Here are some tips in recognizing and locating a certified professional:

• ACIA certified individuals identify themselves with initials signifying their certifications after their name. For example, John Doe, CIC, CID is a Certified Irrigation Contractor and a Certified Irrigation Designer.
• Companies are not certified, but individual owners and employees can hold a variety of certifications.

if you're not certain, ask the contractor who provided his certification and what was required to receive the certification. -ACIA