Certification provides differentiation of irrigation professionals committed to best practice and professionalism of the industry at large. The ability to use certification to recognise and differentiate skilled and committed people will benefit:

Certified individuals – expressing their commitment to excellence by participating in a process to assess their knowledge. They can be confident that they are doing the job right and this can bring advancement and recognition. Certified Irrigation Designers can use a special logo on their letterhead and on designs. All certified personnel are listed on IAL’s national database.

Employers - knowing that staff members who are certified have the skills for the occupation.

 

Job seekers - certification can provide young people and other job seekers with national industry recognition of skills and knowledge, and improved career pathways.

 

Irrigation businesses - by insisting on using certified personnel they are practising sound risk management.

 

Project managers – one-step identification of skilled industry personnel. Some specifiers and purchasers are stipulating in their tender documents that irrigation system plans are to be signed by a Certified Irrigation Designer.

 

The irrigation industry - can grow more professional as a result of gaining, recognising and documenting the skills for each occupation. As more and more people become certified the level of professionalism in the irrigation industry will continue to improve.

 

The environment - will be better off as well-informed irrigation practice can reduce water use and prevent inappropriate run-off and deep percolation that can damage aquifers and waterways.

 

Consumers - will know when they use a certified irrigation specialist to install or run their systems, that those people have the skills to install or operate or manage a system efficiently, effectively and with least environmental impact.