MNLA Certified Professional Program

The next Certification Exam is on Friday, March 5 at DCTC in Rosemount.  

Register by February 19 for a discounted rate.

Click here to download an exam application for the March Exam.

Click here to order the Certification Study Manual.

Click here to view a complete listing of current MNLA Certified Professionals.

Objectives and Benefits

Since 1978, the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association has sponsored a Certified Professional (CP) program for individuals in the nursery and landscape industry.  This program has evolved into the MNLA Certified Professional.

The objective of the MNLA Certified Professional program is to uphold, improve, and promote standards of professionalism and excellence within the industry.  By focusing on individuals rather than companies, the program encourages self-improvement among industry professionals. 

The certification status benefits individuals by instilling pride and confidence, bringing greater value to the nursery and landscape industry, demonstrating commitment to the nursery and landscape industry, and enhancing employability within the industry.  MNLA member businesses that employ certified nursery and landscape professionals enhance their professional image, increase customer recognition and respect, provide a consumer marketing tool, and offer an additional tool for employee motivation, evaluation, and advancement.

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Requirements
Before taking the MNLA/U of M certification exam, individuals are required to accumulate either two years of study in an accredited post-secondary nursery and landscape programs that includes a structured internship, or a minimum of 2000 hours in nursery or landscape-related employment.  Signatures of an educational advisor or work supervisor are required on the exam registration form to verify completion of the prerequisite. 

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Exam
The MNLA/U of M certification exam is typically offered two times each year: in January and again in late February or early March.

The MNLA Certification Program requires each examinee to pass a Basic Horticultural Knowledge section of the examination. This section constitutes 50% of the examination. The  program also allows the examinee to select from one of three Specializations: Garden Center, Grower, or Landscape, which constitutes the second 50% of the examination. Examinees will designate their Specialization at the time of completion of the application to take the examination. All existing Certified Professionals will be grandfathered into a specialization of their choice.

Click here for more information about the exam format, sample mini test, bare root identification!

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Study Materials - MNLA Certified Professional Manual 
Prepare yourself for the certification exam with this detailed manual. Topics include: Minnesota laws and regulations, biology, plant materials, nomenclature and classification, plant production and culture, pest management, business operations, and landscape design. The manual is a cooperative effort between MNLA and the University of Minnesota Extension Service. The MNLA Certification Manual was revised in December 2006 and is available for purchase. Click here to download an Order Form.

The Certification Committee is writing a series of articles entitled Certification Training -  Magic from the Manual, for our monthly newsletter:  The Scoop.  The information is taken directly from the Certification Manual.  These  articles are being provided as a tool to help you study for the Certification Exam.  Clink on the link to view the current articles.

Certification Training Magic from the Manual:  Watering Greenhouse Crops

 Certification Training Magic from the Manual:  Safety First - Do You Have a Plan?

Certification Training Magic from the Manual:  Vegetable Gardening

 Certification Training Magic from the Manual:  Display

Certification Training Magic from the Manual:  Landscape Grasses

Certification Training Magic from the Manual:  Pruning

Certification Training Magic from the Manual:  Plant ID & Selection

Plant ID Pointers

The Manual consists of 51 Chapters, some with several parts to some chapters for a total of 89 parts. These 51 chapters are provided on a CD and present technical, applicable and instructional information on most Green Industry disciplines ranging from Design to Production to Hardscaping to Garden Centers to Marketing and to Safety. The Manual contains 901 pages in the 51 Chapters plus 350+ pages of additional enclosed publications, plus 113 pages of the American Standard for Nursery Stock which is to be downloaded from the provided Web Site. A total of 109 authors contributed to this Manual. In addition, 34 Publishers, Institutions, Association, Agencies and Companies provided information, references, figures and tables. The Manual contains 109 Figures, 134 Tables, 2441 References and 851 Web Sites. Many of the Tables are large tables of Pesticides Recommendations, First Aid Practices, and information on Trees, Shrubs, Annuals, Perennials, and Foliage Plants. It also includes 64 color plates of major nursery and landscape insects and their life cycles. It contains a 12-page Plant Disease Color Diagnostic Guide. It contains the ANLA Industry Guide to Marketing Container Plants; it contains the Quick Guide to the EPA Worker Protection Standard. It also includes a Gopher State One Call Publication. The Glossary in this Manual provides definitions of over 700 Horticultural terms. The Units of Measure and Conversion Factors Chapter contains hundreds of Abbreviations, Equivalent Measures, Conversion Factors, Pant Spacing Data and Landscape Installation Data.

The Manual also includes a Plant Identification CD which features 381 plant images of 182 plants.

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Changes & Updates to the MNLA Certification Manual

MNLA Certification Nomenclature Clarification
Scientific nomenclature for plant names uses the letters X and x to denote a plant hybrid. Some references, journals and catalogues use a capital X to denote an intergeneric hybrid and a lower case x to denote an interspecific hybrid. Since various references and authors use the X and x without specific identification as the type of hybrid, this latter policy shall be applied throughout this Manual. Therefore, test questions will not be asked that require the identification of the type of hybrid based on a capital X or a lower case x.

Updates to the Certification Manual have been posted below. Please print copies to insert into your manual as needed.

• Chapter 4 - MNLA/UM Certification Program Overview
  • Answer Sheet - Basic Knowledge
  • Answer Sheet - Garden Center
  • Answer Sheet - Grower
  • Answer Sheet - Landscape
• Chapter 43.1 - Floriculture Production and Management: Part I (Background & Introduction)
• Chapter 43.2 - Floriculture Production and Management: Part II (Bedding Plants IV)

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Recertification
To encourage on-going professional improvement through education and service to the industry, MNLA has instituted a recertification requirement to keep certification status current.  All individuals must compile at least 18 points every three years to maintain their certification status.  Contact the MNLA for information regarding your recertification deadline at .

To recertify, document the date and event of each activity attended on a recertification card.  If you have lost or misplaced your recertification card, you may download one below.  Record the points, and provide the name of a person who can verify your participation.  This individual may be the instructor, an MNLA representative at the activity, or another MNLA certified individual who can validate your attendance.  Return the card to the MNLA office, along with the $15 recertification fee.

Download a copy of the MNLA Recertification Card: Click here

Below are examples of educational events and professional services that qualify towards recertification (Note: All events and activities applicable to the nursery and landscape industry that improve professionalism count for recertification points.):

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Outdoor Living Expert Listing
Consumers using the “Find an Expert” function on the GardenMinnesota.com website can select companies that employ certified nursery and landscape professionals by looking for the Outdoor Living Expert Seal after the company name. 

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Reciprocity
If you have obtained certification and then relocated to a different state, you can apply for certification without taking an additional exam.  Listed below are the states that offer certification reciprocity, and their contact information:

Contact
For information on the MNLA Certified Professional program, please contact: