University of Nevada, Reno Extension invites local green-industry professionals, including landscapers, groundskeepers and nursery workers, to attend the Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) training Tuesday –Thursday, Oct. 5 – 7. The training series, offered both online and in person, will prepare participants to take the certification exam, offered Friday, Oct. 8, to become certified QWEL professionals.

“This training provides the opportunity for green-industry professionals to step up their education, making them more competitive in the industry and training them to help Nevadans become more water efficient,” Extension Horticulture Specialist Heidi Kratsch said.

Instructors include Extension faculty and local green-industry professionals. Participants will learn about local water, soil and plants; basic and advanced irrigation principles; and hands-on water audit skills they can use in the field.

Anyone can take the training for personal knowledge, and professionals are encouraged to take the exam following the training, 9 a.m. – noon, Oct. 8, to become certified. Workshops will be held:

• Oct. 5, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Oct. 6, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Oct. 7, 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Cost for the training is $100, or $75 dollars for online training, and includes the hands-on water audit and reference manual. The certification exam will be offered both in-person and online, and the cost is $50. The in-person training and certification exam are at the Extension office at 4955 Energy Way in Reno.

The training is part of Extension’s Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Certification (QWEL) Program. Professionals certified by the program, which was designed by the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership and is recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency, will be listed on the EPA’s WaterSense website and on the QWEL website, where local landowners can find them for hire. In addition, certified QWEL professionals can use the QWEL logo on their vehicles and business cards as a means of marketing their qualifications to their customers.

Register online by Oct. 1 at the program’s website. For more information on classes or certification, email Extension Commercial Landscape Horticulture Program Coordinator Chad Morris or call 775-336-0249. Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should call at least three days prior to the beginning of the workshops. All in-person activities will be conducted following all current COVID-related requirements.