Path to Becoming an Accredited AIS Judge
The following “Quick Start” guide to becoming an AIS Accredited Judge was prepared by request in AIS Region 21 based on the AIS requirements. Some Regions have requirements in addition to the AIS requirements.
All AIS members are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about irises and, in their own time, to consider taking the step from Candidate to Apprentice.
Qualified judges are needed by every affiliate hosting an iris show.
Tips For Getting Started
- It is recommended that a log of all Judges Training be kept for personal records.
- When attending Judges Training outside of your home region, it is your responsibility to provide documentation to your home region RVP.
- Judges Training Year of Record runs August 01 through July 31
To Become a Candidate
Requirements: None
Time Limit: None
AIS Membership Requirement: None
Reporting Requirements: None
Educational and Guideline Resources:
- AIS Handbook for Judges and Show Officials, current edition. Available for purchase from AIS Storefront, or as free download in the AIS Digital Library and the AIS Encyclopedia.
- All approved, structured, classroom AIS Judges Training events
To Become an Apprentice Judge
Entry Requirements:
- 3 years continuous AIS membership at the time of application.
- Successful completion of at least two approved judges training session for a minimum of 10 hours.
- Application to Regional Judges Training Chair with written recommendations from five (5) accredited judges
To Become a Garden/Exhibition Judge
Time Limit: 3 Years to complete
AIS Membership Requirement: Continuous AIS membership
Reporting Requirements: Annual Activity Report, due August 1
Educational and Guideline Resources: Same as above
Training as an Apprentice Judge
- 10 hours of approved AIS Judges Training.
- Successfully complete AIS Awards and Balloting Judges Training session of at least 2-hours in length, taught by an accredited AIS Judge. (If successfully completed as a candidate, can be counted toward Apprentice requirements but does not count as current judges training hours.)
Required Tutored Activities:
- In garden judging of blooming seedling or named cultivars on two (2) separate occasions, under tutorship of two (2) different fully accredited AIS judges. Each session must be for a minimum of two (2) hours and must be spent truly evaluating iris plants (e.g. vigor, stalk, branching, substance, durability, bud count, form).
- Exhibition training at two (2) different accredited shows, or simulated show conditions (must be pre-approved by RVP), under the tutorship of two (2) different fully accredited AIS judges, limited to listening to the evaluations being made by the judges and to learn from their deliberation and in no way participating in the judging, clerking or other related activities. However, the apprentice should have the opportunity to evaluate one or more specimens independent of judging and related official activities.
The this quick start guide is provided by the judges training chair for AIS Region 21 and can be referenced in the Region 21 Bulletin 149, p 20-21 (2017)
The requirements for maintaining continued accreditation as an AIS judge can be found in Chapter 1 – of the current Handbook for Judges and Show Officials.