Certification
Certified Agricultural Irrigation Specialist (CAIS)
Irrigation Association
Median earnings
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Cost
$200
Duration
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Completion
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Certified agricultural irrigation specialists manage and operate on-farm irrigation systems.
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Skills taught
Apply soil-plant-water relationship principles including soil texture, water movement, field capacity, wilting point, and leaching to support irrigation management decisionsEvaluate soil moisture conditions using field measurement tools and techniques to assess water availability and inform irrigation schedulingDesign and apply drip, micro, surface, and sprinkler irrigation systems by understanding layout, key components, equipment, and operational constraintsApply basic hydraulic principles including pressure loss, flow rate, and field pressure measurement to support irrigation system performanceAssess irrigation efficiency and uniformity using distribution uniformity concepts, application efficiency estimates, and water destination diagramsSchedule irrigation using evapotranspiration, soil moisture content, crop stress indicators, crop coefficients, and management allowable depletionCalculate net and gross irrigation application rates using flow meter readings and system scheduling constraints across multiple irrigation system typesEvaluate water quality and salinity using ECiw, ECe, and ECsw values to assess crop production impacts, soil structure, and irrigation system performanceApply leaching requirements and drainage system evaluation to manage salinity and maintain soil productivityMonitor climate conditions using appropriate tools to assess temperature thresholds, wet-bulb, dew point, and humidity factors affecting irrigation controlApply chemigation techniques including injection methods, fertigation, chlorination, and acid treatments to maintain system performance and prevent pluggingUse soil moisture sensors, telemetry tools, environmental monitors, and plant monitoring devices to support data-driven irrigation schedulingCollect field data on weather, growth stage, and soil conditions to estimate irrigation requirements and develop basic irrigation schedulesMonitor irrigation system performance by tracking soil moisture, pressure, flow, and fertilizer output against established benchmark dataDetermine irrigation plan adjustments based on monitoring data, pressure and flow changes, and system performance evaluationPerform equipment maintenance and sensor placement optimization based on system type, field conditions, and outlet or plant layout factors