Rain Bird Services put in place dates and locations for the Rain Bird Academy Boot Camp in more than 30 U.S. locations from December 2013 to April 2014.
The four-and-a-half-day boot camp is a review for the Irrigation Association’s (IA) Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT) exam. At the end of each event, Rain Bird hosts the IA CIT exam.
Rain Bird is kicking off the campaign by offering a 15 percent discount to individuals who enroll in this series of Boot Camp classes with promo code RainBirdCIT by March 1. The IA also is offering a discount on the CIT exam for those who register for the exam by March 31.
“We’re excited to work with organizations like Rain Bird that help candidates review for the CIT and then host the exam,” said Sherrie Schulte, certification director for the IA. “By working together to train and certify irrigation technicians, we’re able to improve the level of professionalism within our industry. It’s truly a win-win situation.”
Paul Lierheimer, director of Rain Bird’s contractor division, added: “It’s always been Rain Bird’s goal to provide the best possible training in the industry. By working with the IA, we’re able to help irrigation professionals at all skill levels improve their career prospects and better serve their current and future customers.”
Rain Bird Academy classes aren’t limited to companies that buy Rain Bird products; they are open to all participants.
“We only sell training that benefits all attendees, regardless of the products they choose to purchase and install,” said Robert Pfeil, marketing group manager for Rain Bird. “Our Rain Bird Academy programs focus squarely on the needs of the contractor—not on selling Rain Bird products.”
For nearly a decade, Rain Bird has offered general irrigation classes as well as training on irrigation products from various manufacturers. Its boot camp provides hands-on experience for those wanting to learn irrigation or for those that want to learn new tricks of the trade. In less than a week, participants learn installation, maintenance and basic design of residential and small commercial irrigation systems through four classes:
- Introduction to Irrigation and Installation (one day);
- Irrigation Technician’s Course (two days);
- Landscape Irrigation Design Process (one day); and
- Efficient Irrigation Scheduling (one-half day).
Jeremy Mansell, senior technical trainer for Rain Bird, cautioned, however, that Rain Bird doesn’t guarantee every boot camp participant will pass the exam.
“Our classes are meant to prepare you to be an irrigation professional and review for the CIT exam,” Mansell said . “We cover all of the functional areas covered in the CIT outline, but passing the exam is up to each person’s preparation and experience.”
The tentative boot camp/CIT training schedule is as follows:
2013
- Las Vegas, Dec. 9-13;
- San Diego, Dec. 16-20; and
- Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 16-20.
2014
- Dublin, Calif., Jan. 6-9;
- Norfolk, Va., Jan. 6-10;
- Meridian, Ind., Jan. 6-10;
- Green Bay, Wis., Jan. 14-17;
- Atlantic City, N.J., Jan. 20-24;
- Chicago, Jan. 27-31;
- Atlanta, Feb. 3-7;
- Portland, Ore., Feb. 3-7;
- Washington, D.C., Feb. 10-14;
- East Hartford, Conn., Feb. 10-14;
- Long Island, N.Y., Feb. 17-21;
- Burlington, Iowa, Feb. 24-28;
- Salt Lake City, March 3-7;
- Huntsville, Ala., March 3-7;
- Oklahoma City, March 3-7;
- Little Rock, Ark., March 10-14;
- Denver, March 10-14;
- St. Louis, March 17-21;
- Atlanta, March 17-21;
- Denver, March 17-21;
- Seattle, March 24-28;
- Cleveland, March 31-April 4;
- Albuquerque, N.M., March 31-Apr. 4;
- Dublin, Calif., April 7-11;
- Charlotte, N.C., April 7-11; and
- Tucson, Ariz., April 14-18.
Rain Bird Academy classes follow the IA’s best management practices, and all Rain Bird Academy instructors are IA-certified.
