What is a Nebraska Certified Nursery and Landscapes Professional? Who Can Benefit and How to Become Certified
The Nebraska Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional program was started in 1982 and is comprised of sixty-six industry leaders from across the state. These individuals strive to elevate themselves within the horticulture industry through certification and knowledge to better assist their clients and set themselves apart from their competitors.
“I love to continue my education in any way that I can. I feel that becoming a NCNLP and a NNLA member will open doors to networking and learning from others in the industry.”
The consumers will benefit from having more NCNLPs in the industry, as they will have a knowledgeable professional to contact for their projects. Landscape businesses will have educated employees to install their jobs and work with their clients. Garden centers will benefit by having employees who understand the needs of the industry and can offer professional advice to the consumer. You will benefit by increasing your knowledge and having a group of likeminded peers to collaborate with and learn from.
The certification process features a comprehensive three-part test, which covers plant identification, landscape design, and the NCNLP manual. The plant ID test is composed of fifty plant samples. The plant samples will vary from live specimens in the landscape, plant photos, and cuttings from the landscape. The landscape design portion of the test is composed of written questions, design work, and landscape calculations (take offs). This test will focus on knowledge gained from the manual, right plant right place, and basic design skills. Finally, the manual section of the test is composed of written and multiple-choice questions that are taken from the NCNLP manual over a broad range of topics which would be familiar to an expert in the horticulture industry. Members who are unable to pass any of the three parts of the test will be eligible to retake the test sections at future dates. The successfully passed sections will be recognized toward full certification for two years after the original testing date.
“Many of the people I hold utmost respect for in this industry are NCNLPs. This was both a great learning experience and refresher course for me. It’s also fun to see so many people with the same passion for horticulture, and how each person applies this passion and experience in their respective career fields.”
The testing is traditionally held twice a year; once in the summer and another offering in the winter. To get more information or to purchase your study manual visit the NNLA website at nnla. org/certification.
In order to maintain certification, NCNLP certified members will need to pay an annual renewal fee with proof of five hours of yearly continuing education. These hours can be maintained by attending Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association events, other state association events, webinars, and other industry training events.