GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has launched the Stormwater Qualified Inspector Training (SQuInT), a new online certification course designed to prepare professionals to inspect stormwater infrastructure in compliance with Florida’s 2024 update to Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP) program’s stormwater requirements.
Why this new course is needed
Effective June 28, 2025, Florida law requires regular inspections of ERP permitted stormwater systems by a qualified professional. The UF/IFAS SQuInT certification meets this requirement by providing training on the essential tools and strategies for inspecting the performance of stormwater systems and best management practices (BMPs). These systems are designed as sustainable infrastructure that helps prevent flooding events, improves water quality and enhances community aesthetics.
The SQuInT training program is a partnership between UF/IFAS, the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) program and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The course curriculum was created by Eban Bean, UF/IFAS associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering specializing in urban water resources, irrigation conservation and stormwater management.
“This training empowers professionals with the knowledge and credentials to ensure stormwater systems are functioning as intended,” said Bean. “Proper stormwater inspection is key to ensuring Florida’s water resources and communities are protected.”
How the course works
Bean and the FFL team created the self-paced, mobile-friendly course, which includes ten lecture modules, five field demonstration videos, and seven interactive learning activities. The training finishes with a certification exam which attendees must complete before they are licensed by the state.
Upon successful completion, participants receive a downloadable Stormwater Qualified Inspector Certificate valid for five years and are listed in the SQuInT online certification directory. The course is available for $100.
SQuInT is recommended for homeowners association managers, municipal employees, landscape professionals, architects, planners, land managers, and others working in stormwater management or seeking professional development in environmental sustainability.
The first two individuals to receive a license from the state after successfully completing their SQuInT training, Richard Musgrove and Matthew Sawyer, say they gained valuable knowledge about how better inspections can improve system performance and water quality.
Learn more
To enroll or learn more, visit: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/ffl-and-you/gsi/gsi-maintenance-resources/
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