AIS Judges Summary of Requirements

Source: AIS Judges Handbook 8th Edition July 2021 Chapter 1: Judges; Page 9

Requirements to be completed as a candidate for judgeship:

1. Maintain three years of continuous AIS membership.
2. Make application for entry into the judges training program
3. Successfully complete a minimum of two training sessions for a total of ten hours, passing written examinations on each occasion.
4. Obtain the recommendation of five fully accredited judges.
5. Complete any additional regional requirements.

Requirements to be completed as an apprentice judge:

1. Maintain continuous AIS membership.
2. Complete two two-hour sessions of garden training under different AIS fully accredited judges.
3. Complete two two-hour sessions of show judging under different AIS fully accredited judges.
4. Successfully complete a two-hour course on Awards and Ballots. (A training session on Awards and Ballots taken within the three years immediately prior to appointment as apprentice judge can be counted to satisfy this requirement.)
5. Complete all requirements within three years after being appointed an apprentice judge.
6. Complete the annual activity report.
7. Complete any additional regional requirements.

Requirements for maintaining status as a garden/exhibition or master judge:

1. Maintain continuous AIS membership.
2. Vote the official AIS Ballot each year before the deadline. Failure to do so for two consecutive years will result in automatic disqualification.
3. Attend and successfully complete refresher courses during each three-year period. Five hours (two of which must be in-garden training) is required for garden/exhibition judges and three hours credit (one of which must be in-garden training) is required of master judges.
4. Complete the annual activity report. Failure to do so for two consecutive years will result in automatic disqualification.
5. Complete any additional regional requirements.

Emeritus judges maintain their status by maintaining continuous membership in the American Iris Society.