Sources: DC Water, Water Environment Federation, Washington, D.C.
An inaugural group of 62 individuals has completed the DC Water and Water Environment Federation (WEF) National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP), designed for candidates demonstrating competency in the foundational knowledge, concepts, and terminology required to perform tasks related to green infrastructure (GI) construction, inspection, and maintenance.
“We are preparing a workforce for the jobs we know are coming to support green infrastructure projects here in the District of Columbia and across the nation,” says DC Water CEO George Hawkins, whose agency is responsible for water supply and wastewater infrastructure serving the nation’s capital. “Armed with the training and skills this program provides, this first group will blaze a trail many more will follow.”
As a part of the NGCIP pilot phase, the inaugural exam was administered in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore and Rockville, Md.; Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pa.; Fairfax, Va.; and, Milwaukee. Over the past year, DC Water, WEF, and a group of NGICP Partnering Organizations from across the nation have been working to develop the program structure, components, and requirements on an expedited schedule. Designed to meet international best practice standards, the certification will promote a skilled green workforce; help streamline the process of connecting qualified talent to in-demand jobs; support community-based job creation in U.S. cities; and, establish national standards for professionals seeking to work on GI projects.
Offered through the NGICP Partnering Organizations, the certification exam tests applicants on their knowledge of GI fundamentals, construction methods, and maintenance procedures. Additional pilot NGICP training sessions are expected in the spring and fall of 2017 with anticipated June and November exam dates. Program administrators are using the results of an operational pre-test, which contains 141 questions, to create a 100-question standardized exam form that will be used for the national rollout in 2018.