Many of the questions we receive in the Extension office are related to horticulture, from plant selection and identification to troubleshooting issues and general management inquiries. As someone with an animal science background, horticulture is definitively not my strong suit. In 2021 I set a goal to complete the Georgia Plant Professional Certification through the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture in an attempt to improve my horticulture knowledge. Today, I wanted to share a bit about the certifications that are available.
The Center for Urban Agriculture offers two certification programs for individuals and one training program for landscape businesses to use for training employees. All programs are voluntary and designed to show the individual has mastered a thorough knowledge and understanding of job skills required to be successful in the landscaping industry.
The Georgia Certified Landscape Professional (GCLP) consists of four written components and eight hands-on components. The written exam includes general plant knowledge, evaluation of a landscape plan, pest, disease, and environmental problem identification, and plant identification. The hands-on exam includes evaluation of a landscaping plan, tree planting and staking, grading and drainage plan evaluation, pruning, sod installation, irrigation, pesticide safety and application, and equipment operation and safety.
The Georgia Certified Plant Professional (GCPP) exam consists of a written test and a plant identification test. The written test covers general horticulture topics like plant selection, management, pest management, and retail plant management. The plant identification test requires the observation of 100 plant specimens, of which 70 must be accurately identified.
Finally, the Super Crew program is designed to provide employee training for landscape professionals. The program allows landscape business owners to train and certify a number of their employers using the videos and resources provided. Topics covered include pruning, water conservation, turfgrass establishment, planting procedures, job, equipment, and pesticide safety. If you own a landscape business or are simply interested in improving your plant knowledge, the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture Certification programs are an excellent resource to do so. There are fees associated with each certification, which vary based on the type of certification you choose to pursue. I will be taking my GCPP exam on January 20th at the Georgia Green Industry Conference and Tradeshow—wish me luck! More information can be found at https://ugaurbanag.com/certification/
