Upcoming Trainings: Professional Development Opportunities for the Wetland Community

Upcoming Trainings

• Hammer Environmental Soil Training
• Owned and operated by Greg Hammer, retired USDA NRCS soil scientist
• Become a VAWP member to be notified of upcoming training opportunities!

• Virginia DEQ Wetlands Stream Identification Training
• Session 1: June 4, 2026
• Session 2: September 30, 2026
• Time: 9:00am – 4:30pm for both sessions
• Location: DEQ Piedmont Regional Office (PRO), Glen Allen VA
• Cost: $220 per class
• Register in ELMS
• https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/wetlands-streams

• NC State University Biological and Agricultural Engineering Extension Workshops
• https://bae.ncsu.edu/workshops-conferences/

• Surface Water Identification Training and Certification (SWITC)
• May 18-22, 2026
• Raleigh, NC
• https://bae.ncsu.edu/workshops-conferences/switc/

• River Course 201: Stream Morphology Assessment
• April 1-3, 2026
• Raleigh, NC
• https://web.cvent.com/event/b84441f8-4e7c-4973-8589-c5e8ee029c62/summary

• Wildland Hydrology Stream Restoration Short Courses
• https://wildlandhydrology.com/courses/

• Level I – Applied Fluvial Morphology
• September 21-25, 2026, in Steamboat Springs, CO
• November 2 – 6, 2026, in Asheville, NC

• Level II – River Morphology & Applications
• June 22-26, 2026, in Bend, OR
• September 14-18, 2026, in Ennis, MT

• Level III – River Assessment and Monitoring
• April 13-23, 2026, in Asheville, NC
• July 20-29, 2026, in Alta, WY

• Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Living Shoreline Training Certificate
• https://certified.cblpro.org/product/cblp-shorelines-va/
• Registration for Fall 2026 Coming Soon!
• Other CBLP Workshops ( https://certified.cblpro.org/workshops/ )

• Environmental Concern Inc. Professional Courses
• Basic Wetland Delineation: April 27 – May 1 and October 5 – 9, 2026
• Winter Woody Plant ID: February 24 – 26, 2026
• Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes: July 15 – 17, 2026
• Evaluating Hydric Soils in the Field: October 22 – 23, 2026
• Wetland Plant ID: August 12- 14, 2026
• All courses take place in Easton, MD
• https://wetland.org/education/professional-courses/

• NAWM Hydric Soils Online Training Series
• National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM)
• https://www.nawm.org/webinars-trainings/nawm-s-online-trainings/nawm-hydric-soils-online-training-series

Unless expressly stated, the Virginia Association of Wetland Professionals does not endorse any of the above advertised training opportunities. Please reach out to ben.sagara@dwr.virignia.gov if you would like to recommend a training program for advertisement.

Upcoming Exams

Commonwealth of Virginia Professional Wetland Delineator Examination

• Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)
  • Exam Date: August 7, 2026  Application Deadline: May 7, 2026
  • https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/boards/SSWP/A543-3402CIB.pdf
  • https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/SSWPG

Are you interested in becoming a Virginia Professional Wetland Delineator (PWD)?

Watch our informational webinar to learn more about becoming a PWD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kjGlDOsvYg

Virginia State Waters Delineator (VSWD) Certification

• To obtain a VSWD certification, complete DEQ Wetlands Stream Identification training curriculum and obtain Professional Wetland Delineator (PWD) certification.
• DEQ – Wetlands Stream Identification Training: VA (Register in ELMS)
• VSWD Program Overview & Requirements
• https://www.deq.virginia.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/19130/638640787430670000
• https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/wetlands-streams