Become a Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association

Certified Professional

The Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota as well as other institutions of higher learning, offers the Certified Professional designation. MNLA-CPs have studied a broad range of horticultural topics and have then passed a rigorous examination of general industry knowledge, as well as an examination within their specialty field (grower, garden center, or landscape).

Program Objective

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.

Why Become a MNLA Certified Professional?

The Certification status benefits individuals by:

• Instilling pride and confidence.
• Bringing greater value to the nursery and landscape industry professions.
• Demonstrating commitment to the nursery and landscape industries.
• Enhancing employability and opportunity within the industry.

How can being certified benefit and advance my career? 

• Certification identifies you as a professional.
• Certification gives you credentials and proves your qualifications.
• Certification provides you instant credibility with your peers, customers and employers.
• Certification demonstrates commitment to your profession.
• Certification distinguishes you from the competition.
• Certification qualifies you to do expert work and give advice.

Certified professionals are encouraged to promote their certification to the public

• Add the MNLA Certified Professional logo to business cards.
• Add MNLA CP to signature block on letterhead and emails.
• Add the MNLA CP logo to marketing information and on signs used during landscape installations.
• Add the MNLA CP logo to company website and include a link to the MNLA certification program at www.MNLA.biz.
• If your business is an MNLA member, make sure your consumer directory listing indicates your professional certification(s).
• Carry your MNLA Certificate of Achievement and/or display a certification plaque.
• Proudly wear your MNLA CP lapel pin.

• If you are not already a MNLA member, become one. MNLA offers money-saving member benefits, education programs at a discount, and invaluable business networking opportunities for its members. Click here to join.

Businesses should Encourage Employees to become certified

• Businesses that employ Certified Professionals enhance their professional image.
• Employing Certified Professionals shows the public that you hire employees who have demonstrated they are knowledgeable and experienced professionals. It shows that your employees have taken that extra step to set themselves apart as leaders and industry professionals.
• The certified status can increase customer recognition and respect, provide a consumer marketing tool
• It can offer an additional tool for employee motivation, evaluation and advancement.

What Do I Need to Know For the Exam?

Questions on the exam are based on:

1. Information from in the MNLA/UM Certification Manual.
2. Information and knowledge gained by the applicant’s collegiate or industry experience.

Each Certification candidate should, at a minimum, read the entire study manual and then concentrate in depth studies on the basic knowledge chapters and the chapters for the desired specialization.

MNLA CERTIFICATION MANUAL: A REFERENCE TOOL FOR NURSERY & LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS

Third Edition published December 2006 and updated October 2010. © Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association and University of Minnesota

The manual is a cooperative effort between MNLA and the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

The MNLA/UM Certification Manual consists of 50 Chapters and presents 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 Glossary provides definitions of over 700 horticultural terms.

The Units of Measure and Conversion Factors chapter contains hundreds of abbreviations, equivalent measures, conversion factors, plant spacing data and landscape installation data. 

Topics in the Certification Manual include:

• Minnesota laws and regulations
• Biology
• Plant materials
• Nomenclature and classification
• Plant production and culture
• Pest management
• Business operations
• Landscape design
• A section on plant identification is also included which features 381 plant images of 182 plants.

Chapters from the study manual are found at the bottom of this page.

Other Study Materials 

Plant Identification Webinar:

Tim Vogel, Bailey Nurseries created this Plant Identification Webinar as a study tool to prepare for the Plant Identification portion of the exam.

Bare Root Plant Identification PowerPoint by Tim Vogel, Bailey Nurseries, Inc.- CLICK HERE

American Standard for Nursery Stock:

It is recommended that green industry professionals are familiar with the information found in The American Standard for Nursery Stock which was revised in 2014. Click the link below to download and print.

• The American Standard for Nursery Stock

Scoop "Magic from the Manual" Articles: 

The MNLA Certification Committee has written a series of articles entitled Certification Training - Magic from the Manual.  The information is taken directly from the some of the chapters of the Certification Manual. These articles are being provided as a tool to help you study for the Certification Exam. Click on the titles below to view the article: 

Vegetable Gardening
Pruning
Display
Plant ID
Landscape Grass
Plant Cold Hardiness
Soil Texture vs. Structure
Foliage Plants 
Soils for Nursery & Landscape Management
Multiple Roles of the Plant Hormone Ethylene
Insect Management
Occupational Health & Safety
Perennials
Proper Watering Controls

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The MNLA Certification Committee put together learning objectives for each chapter of the Certification Manual as a reference guide for preparing for the exam. It is recommended you review the Learning Objectives before studying the materials.To access the learning objectives, CLICK HERE.

Practice Exam

To familiarize yourself with the format and content of the MNLA Certification Exam, use the following link to access a practice exam: CLICK HERE to take a practice exam.

Both the Landscape Specialty Exam and the Garden Center Specialty Exam include questions that relate to a landscape plan. CLICK HERE to see a sample landscape plan and sample questions that relate to it.

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. It is the certified professional's responsibility to keep track of continuing education activity. 

All individuals must compile at least 18 credits every three years and pay a $15.00 recertification fee to maintain their certification status.

If a Certified Professional fails to maintain their certification status by submitting the required 18 continuing education points in a three-year period, they will move to lapsed status and have one year to reinstate without retesting. After that time, they must retest to regain their Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Certification and meet all current exam eligibility criteria which may be different than when they were first certified. 

mnla ReCertification is now online

The online format will allow Certified Professionals to enter and track continuing education credits as they accrue them by logging into their own professional development journal on the MNLA website.

To access your profile, you must sign in on the MNLA website using your MNLA username and password. If you do not know your login information, please contact Louise Nemmers at louise@mnla.biz or call 651-633-4987. 

To Access Your Online Profile:

1. Log in to MNLA.biz with your username and password.
2. Select Manage Profile (top right of screen). Scroll down to the Contents & Features section, then click on Professional Development on the lower right corner of that section. This will take you to your personal journal.

Scroll down until you see Journal Entries Tab.

Journal Entries Tab:

Here, you will add and track education credits that will go toward your MNLA recertification.

Your Entries 

• MNLA Certified Professionals are required to earn 18 recertification credits in a 3-year period to remain current.
• You will see an entry that MNLA has added to your profile: Your original Certification date is ______. Your current recertification period is set to expire in ______. Use this date when adding recertification credits.
  

To Add a Recertification Credit:

Click Add Entry. A pop-up form will appear.

• Certification Program—Choose MNLA Certified Professional Recertification. 
• Credit Type—Choose from the drop down options.
• Entry Date—Add the date of the event.
• Description—Enter the title of the program you attended. Pleas provide as much detail as possible.
• Credits—Enter the number of credits you are submitting for the program you attended.
• Credits Expire—Enter your recertification expiration date (found in the initial journal entry made by MNLA.)
• Score—Leave blank.
• Activity Code—Leave blank.
• Click Submit.
• MNLA will manually review your CEU entries, which can take up to one week.

Please note: Blue recertification cards are no longer accepted.

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):

*Seminars, classes, and workshops can be in-person or online.

Education

• Attend a one-hour seminar - 1 point
• Teach a one-hour seminar - 3 points
• Attend a half day (2-4 hour) seminar - 2 points
• Teach a half day (2-4 hour) seminar - 6 points
• Attend a full day (4-6 hour) seminar - 3 points
• Teach a full day (4-6 hour) seminar - 9 points
• Attend a college level quarter or semester course -1 point per credit hour
• Teach a college level quarter or semester course - 3 points per credit hour

Service to MNLA

• Write 5 questions with answers for the Certified Professional Exam (max 2 points/year) - 2 points
• Write an article that is published in The Scoop or other trade publications - 3 points
• Serve on an MNLA committee (or other similar service) - 2 points/committee, per year (max 4 points per year)
• Serve as an MNLA Mentor for the Mentorship Program – 2 points per year
• Attend an MNLA networking group meeting - 1 point per meeting
• Attend MNLA open forum/town hall meeting to express concerns - 1 point
• Attend Day on the Hill activities - 3 points

Service to the Community/Industry

• Coach or mentor an individual who becomes a Certified Professional - 3 points
• Serve as a Legislative Liaison with Local Legislators - 2 points per year
• Horticultural service to the community - 2 points
• Examples: Working with youth, supporting community gardens, giving a garden club talk, hosting a podcast, etc.
• Excellence in job performance as recognized by immediate supervisor/employer - 2 points per year (max 6 points in -3 years)

Recertification Opportunities

• MNLA offers a number of excellent educational opportunities throughout the year, including online learning and webinars. For a list of upcoming education opportunities, visit the MNLA Event Calendar.
• The education sessions offered at Northern Green at the Minneapolis Convention Center every year in January are also an excellent opportunity to achieve recertification points. For information, visit Northern Green.
• The education and activities you submit do not have to be MNLA-sponsored activities.
• Don't forget your volunteer service - such as planting a community garden, volunteering or mentoring.

Reciprocity

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

• Illinois Green Industry Association
• Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association
• Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association
• Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association
• Nebraska Nursery & Landscape Association
• North Dakota Nursery & Greenhouse Association
• New York Nursery & Landscape Association
• Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association
• Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association
• South Dakota Nursery & Landscape Association
• Wisconsin Nursery Association Inc.