Find Professional Development Opportunities
Certificants are required to complete 7 hours of professional development hours every year to meet recertification requirements. These are typically completed via participation in webinars, conference sessions, and/or classes that are aligned with the certification exam.
Certificants can fulfill their PDH obligations through online programming, mentoring, and technical publications on topics reflected by the exam (see Exam Topics). Certificants can earn an unlimited number of hours through online programming, and a maximum of 2 PDHs per year through mentoring and technical publications.
Certificant PDH Log
A certificant must document participation in a minimum of 7 hours of continuing education training in topics directly related to constructing, inspecting, or maintaining green infrastructure (GI) during each one-year certification cycle. For verification purposes, each certificant needs to submit a log of their PDHs. Download a PDH log.
Learn more about each type of PDH activity.
- Watershed Fundamentals – Free (4 hours); Fee-based (6.5 hours)
- Green Infrastructure Practices – Free (11.35 hours); Fee-based (1.5 hours)
- Methods and Materials – Free (5.5 hours); Fee-based (6 hours)
- Functionality and Appearance – Free (5 hours);
The following organizations and entities offer a sequence of stormwater/GI trainings that fulfill multiple professional development hours:
- Iowa Storm Water Education Partnership
- International Erosion Control Association (IECA) courses
- StormwaterONE courses
Available PDHs through E-learning courses are 52.75 hours.
Mentoring provides a fantastic opportunity for individuals to advance their professional and personal development through interpersonal relationships. Certificants working with a mentor the field of green infrastructure as defined by the exam (see Appendix A) can earn up to 2 PDHs per year towards recertification. Two (2) hours of mentoring is equal to one (1) PDH. Using this formula, certificants could engage in 4 hours of mentoring per year to reach their (2) PDH annual maximum.
Mentoring shall be separate from staff supervision of employment duties or job functions by, but not limited to, department director, department manager, project manager, or contractor.
The certificant’s mentor must sign a record of interactions of any mentoring sessions. Mentoring is recorded in the PDH Log
Available PDHs through Mentoring are 4 PDH max. (2 PDH/year)
PDH reading materials shall be separate from required readings as part of employment duties or job functions including, but not limited to, memos, reports, instructions, or briefings.
The certificant’s supervisor/mentor must sign the reading entries in the PDH log indicating the reading material and time read.
Available PDHs through technical Publications (with specific publication equivalencies to be calculated) are 4 PDH max. (2 PDH/year)
See below for list of programming options
WATERSHED FUNDAMENTALS (FREE)
Title of Training: Hydrology: Watersheds 1 PDH
Format: Online training
Duration: 55 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: COMET ® Program in partnership with the National Environmental Education Foundation with funding by the U.S. EPA
A six-unit course for broadcast meteorologists to understand the connections between weather and watersheds.
Exam Area: Watershed Fundamentals
Title of Training: Highway Hydrology: Basic Concepts and Methods Web-Based 2 PDH
Format: Online course
Duration: 2 hours
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: National Highway Institute
The first lesson focuses on the hydrologic cycle, associated terms, and the relationship of risk to return period and probability of exceedance. The second lesson explains the variability of storms based on three general types of storms, how variations in storm duration and intensity impact runoff, and the watershed characteristics that influence runoff. The third lesson discusses the Rational Method, the NRCS Graphical Method, and Regression Equations as methods to determine peak flow quantities.
Exam Area: Watershed Fundamentals
Title of Training: Basic Hydrology 1 – Rainfall & Time of Concentration 0.25 PDH
Format: Online training
Duration: 14 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Clemson Public Service Activities
This training for the South Carolina Certified Stormwater Plan Reviewer Course covers basic hydrology, rainfall characteristics and how they affect runoff, and how to calculate time of concentration. It is part of a series of four training videos that also cover runoff curve numbers, peak flow, and rational method for those who want to learn more.
Exam Area: Watershed Fundamentals
Title of Training: Urban Stormwater Management 0.25 PDH
Format: Online training
Duration: 14 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Colorado State University
A lecture covering the evolution of stormwater management by Chris Olson, P.E. for Colorado State University’s free Massive Open Online Course.
Exam Area: Watershed Fundamentals
Title of Training: The Water Cycle (1 of 5) 0.5 PDH for the collection (you must watch all 5 videos)
Format: Video
Duration: 7 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: National Science Foundation
Explains basic processes within the hydrologic cycle, including precipitation, interception, runoff, infiltration, percolation, groundwater discharge, evaporation, transpiration, evapotranspiration, and condensation.
Exam Area: Watershed Fundamentals
Title of Training: What is a Watershed? (2 of 5) 0.5 PDH for the collection (you must watch all 5 videos)
Format: Video
Duration: 1 minute
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Battle River Watershed
A short video explaining the concept of a watershed.
Exam Area: Watershed Fundamentals
Title of Training: What the Heck is Storm Water Runoff? (3 of 5) 0.5 PDH for the collection (you must watch all 5 videos)
Format: Video
Duration: 5 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: California Water Boards
This video discusses the issues associated with stormwater runoff and how green infrastructure can help improve stormwater management.
Exam Area: Watershed Fundamentals
Title of Training: Soils – Digging Up the Dirt on Soil (4 of 5) 0.5 PDH for the collection (you must watch all 5 videos)
Format: Video
Duration: 7 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: California Water Boards
This video discusses the importance and factors for healthy soils to support plant growth and drainage.
Exam Area: Watershed Fundamentals
Title of Training: Ever wondered where the rain goes? (5 of 5) 0.5 PDH for the collection (you must watch all 5 videos)
Format: Video
Duration: 3 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA)
This short animation demonstrates how changes to the natural water cycle caused by development can be positively managed using green infrastructure, also known as sustainable urban drainage systems or SuDS.
Exam Area: Watershed Fundamentals
WATERSHED FUNDAMENTALS (PAID)
Title of Training: Hydrology 101 – Understanding the Processes 1.5 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1.5 hours
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: American Society of Civil Engineers
This webinar explores the concepts, terms, and analyses behind hydrology, as well as the basis for analyses that go into hydrologic studies. It teaches learners how to find sources for hydrologic data and how to read data from hydrographs.
Exam Area: Watershed Fundamentals
Cost: Member $99.00 | Non-Member $159.00
Title of Training: Basic Hydrology – Part One & Part Two 2 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 2 hours
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: International Erosion Control Association
This course will describe and discuss the factors that influence stormwater runoff and demonstrate the methodology and procedures to quantify runoff volumes. Precipitation, drainage areas, hydrologic soil groups, land use cover and hydrologic conditions will be explained using a design example to convert rainfall to runoff with USDA-NRCS TR55 hydrologic analyses.
Exam Area: Watershed Fundamentals
Cost: Member $75.00 | Non-Member $100.00
* WEF members receive a 10% discount on IECA courses with coupon code WEF16.
Title of Training: Forester University On-Demand Catalog 3 PDH
Format: Online training
Duration: Varied
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Forester University
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PRACTICES (FREE)
Title of Training: Green Stormwater Infrastructure / Low-Impact Development Toolbox of Solutions
0.5 PDH
Format: Online training
Duration: 28 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Seattle Public Utilities
Landscape design, installation, and maintenance professionals get an introduction to stormwater problems and the green stormwater infrastructure tools that can be used to slow, filter, and infiltrate rainfall onsite.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
Title of Training: Using Green Infrastructure to Reduce Stormwater Runoff 0.75 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 48 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Penn State Extension
Melissa Hess, Senior Project Manager for URS, discusses using green infrastructure in watershed assessments to reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
Title of Training: Introduction to Low Impact Development – Low Impact Development O&M Training
0.1 PDH
Format: Recorded presentation
Duration: 7 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Washington Department of Ecology
This presentation provides an introduction to green infrastructure for operations and maintenance professionals.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
Title of Training: Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Management: Parking Lots and Hardscapes 1 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Lake Champlain Basin Program
This webinar for municipal officials in the New York portion of the Lake Champlain Basin focuses on green infrastructure practices and case studies appropriate for parking lots and hardscapes. Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
Title of Training: Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Management: Buildings 1 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Lake Champlain Basin Program
This webinar for municipal officials in the New York portion of the Lake Champlain Basin focuses on green infrastructure practices and a case study appropriate for buildings.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
Title of Training: Ahead of the Curve – Implementing Green Infrastructure in Rural and Growing Communities 1.25 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour, 18 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Green infrastructure can provide multiple benefits for small and rural communities. This webcast showcases two such communities, Monona, Iowa and Clarkesville, Georgia, that are ahead of the curve in using green infrastructure to address some of their stormwater management challenges.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
Title of Training: Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Management: Rural Roads 1 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 53 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Lake Champlain Basin Program
This webinar for municipal officials in the New York portion of the Lake Champlain Basin focuses on green infrastructure practices and case studies appropriate for rural roads.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
Title of Training: Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Management: Village Streets 1 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour, 6 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Lake Champlain Basin Program
This webinar for municipal officials in the New York portion of the Lake Champlain Basin focuses on green infrastructure practices and case studies appropriate for the street environment.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
Title of Training: Full Cycle Bioretention 1.5 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Chesapeake Stormwater Network
The webcast will explore how bioretention knowledge gained over the last few years from monitoring and operational experience can be used to perfect the practice over the full cycle of implementation — site assessment, design, construction, inspection, routine maintenance and periodic makeovers.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
Title of Training: Low Impact Development and the Basics of Bioretention 1 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: StormwaterONE
Bioretention systems represent one of the most commonly applied low impact development devices in green infrastructure today. This webinar introduces the basics of bioretention systems, how they work, why they work, and how they can save on project costs.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
Title of Training: Green Roofs for Stormwater Management 1.25 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour, 11 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Penn State Extension
A webinar on green roofs for stormwater management presented by Robert Berghage, Director of the Center for Green Roof Research at Penn State University.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PRACTICES (PAID)
Title of Training: Low-Impact Development: How LID Works in Different Regions 1.5 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Forester University
This webinar explores different types of LID (impervious area disconnection, rain gardens, bioswales, bioretention, permeable pavement, and green roofs) and how each type of LID works in varying climates to reduce stormwater runoff.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
Cost: $79
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE METHODS AND MATERIALS (FREE)
Title of Training: Planting Stormwater Control Systems 1.5 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour, 26 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Penn State Extension
A webinar on planting stormwater control systems presented by Connie Schmotzer, Horticulture Educator at Penn State Extension.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials
Title of Training: LID Stormwater Construction Practices 0.25 PDH
Format: Video
Duration: 15 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Center for Watershed Protection and the Chesapeake Bay Stormwater Training Partnership
This video discusses types of stormwater controls, their construction elements, the importance of proper construction sequencing, and proper construction techniques.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials
Title of Training: Construction Sequence/Inspection & Maintenance of Bioretention 1.25 PDH
Format: Recorded presentation
Duration: 1 hour, 13 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Tom Schueler and Cecilia Lane of the Chesapeake Stormwater Network discuss the importance of construction inspection for bioretention practices.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials
Title of Training: Map Reading Skills for Site Plan Review 0.5 PDH
Format: Video
Duration: 24 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: University of Connecticut Land Use Academy
This series of four videos provides basic guidance for reading maps and site plans and includes basic skills such as measuring distances and slope and understanding the use of scale and topography.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE METHODS AND MATERIALS (PAID)
Title of Training: Lessons in LID Construction 1 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: International Erosion Control Association
Construction of low impact development practices involves techniques and specifications that differ from traditional stormwater management construction practices. Instructors will take participants through each step of low impact development construction, highlighting potential errors and explaining proper techniques.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials
Cost: Member $75.00 | Non-Member $100.00
* WEF members receive a 10% discount on IECA courses with coupon code WEF16.
Title of Training: Construction Site Erosion and Sediment Control: Best Practices and Low Impact Solutions 1 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: International Erosion Control Association
Learners will understand how construction phase stormwater management relates to the ultimate success or failure of post-construction practices. Understand peak flow rate, volume and runoff frequency changes due to development of impervious surfaces and how to mitigate them.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials
Cost: Member $75.00 | Non-Member $100.00
* WEF members receive a 10% discount on IECA courses with coupon code WEF16.
Title of Training: Amending Site Soils to Enhance Infiltration on Compacted Urban Sites 1.5 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: American Society of Landscape Architects
Learn how to amend physical, chemical, and biological soil properties to achieve high infiltration rates.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials
Cost: $185
Title of Training: Construction Management: Reading Drawings & Specifications 2.5 PDH
Format: Online training
Duration: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: LinkedIn Learning
In this course, learn how to read construction drawings, know the components that make up construction plans, and understand the language of construction drawings.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials
* The first month of LinkedIn Learning is free, but an ongoing individual subscription is $24.99 per month.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FUNCTIONALITY AND APPEARANCE (FREE)
Title of Training: Lessons Learned in Green Infrastructure 1.25 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This webcast highlights lessons learned from on-the-ground implementation of green infrastructure practices.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
Title of Training: Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Management: Operation and Maintenance 1.5 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour, 27 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Lake Champlain Basin Program
This webinar for municipal officials in the New York portion of the Lake Champlain Basin focuses on operation and maintenance of green infrastructure projects.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Functionality and Appearance
Title of Training: Maintaining Green Infrastructure Systems in Your Community 1.25 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar
Duration: 1 hour, 11 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Penn State Extension
A webinar presented by Robert Traver, Director of the Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership on maintaining green infrastructure systems.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices; Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials
Title of Training: Permeable Pavement Maintenance – Low Impact Development O&M 0.25 PDH
Format: Recorded presentation
Duration: 21 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Washington Department of Ecology
This presentation covers routine maintenance, corrective maintenance, and repair of pervious concrete, porous asphalt, permeable pavers, and plastic grid systems.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices, Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials, Green Infrastructure Functionality and Appearance
Title of Training: Vegetated Roof Maintenance – Low Impact Development O&M 0.25 PDH for both
Format: Recorded presentation
Duration: 8 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Washington Department of Ecology
This presentation covers the maintenance and repair basics of several components associated with vegetated (green) roofs.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices, Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials, Green Infrastructure Functionality and Appearance
Title of Training: Water Strategies & Vegetation Maintenance – Low Impact Development O&M Training
0.25 PDH for both
Format: Recorded presentation
Duration: 7 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Washington Department of Ecology
This presentation describes vegetation maintenance techniques and shows different tools for watering plants.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials, Green Infrastructure Functionality and Appearance
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PRACTICES (E-LEARNING COURSES)
Title of Training: Iowa Green Stormwater Infrastructure Certificate Webinars 11 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar series
Duration: Total 11 hours
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Rainscaping Iowa
This eight-session webinar series covers an introduction to green infrastructure, bioretention cells, bioswales, green roofs, native landscaping, rain gardens, soil quality management and restoration, and permeable pavement systems.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Practices
Cost: $50 per webinar or $250 for package
Training: IECA Course Catalog 15 PDH
Format: Online training
Duration: 1 – 10 Hours
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: International Erosion Control Association
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE METHODS AND MATERIALS (E-LEARNING COURSES)
Title of Training: Permeable Pavement Master Class Series 6 PDH
Format: Recorded webinar series
Duration: 6 hours
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: Forester University
This four-session master class series explores the ins and outs of permeable pavement design, construction, and performance.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials
Cost: $250
Title of Training: Stormwater Management for Construction Activity 6 PDH
Format: Online training
Duration: 6 hours
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: StormwaterONE
This online training provides an overview of the Clean Water Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, and the proper installation and maintenance of temporary pollution controls for sediment and erosion control and pollution prevention.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials
Cost: $239
Title of Training: Basic Construction Surveying 3 PDH
Format: Online training
Duration: 3 hours
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: National Highway Institute
This training reviews the basics of construction surveying and is intended for those who are new to the construction surveying experience or for anyone needing a refresher.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials
Cost: $25
Title of Training: Green Infrastructure Lecture Series 3.25 PDH
Format: Recorded presentation
Duration: 3 hours, 20 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: DECO Resources, LLC through a grant from the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority
A green infrastructure lecture series covering green infrastructure practices (green roofs, rain gardens, pervious pavement, and pavers) and their construction, materials, and maintenance considerations.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Methods and Materials
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FUNCTIONALITY AND APPEARANCE (E-LEARNING COURSES)
Title of Training: Post-Construction Stormwater Maintenance 2.5 PDH
Format: Online training
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Agency/Organization Administering the Training: StormwaterONE
This training covers post-construction stormwater maintenance on various types of best management practices including: structural, manufactured, green infrastructure, and detention and retention systems.
Exam Area: Green Infrastructure Functionality and Appearance
Cost: $99.00