Become a Certified Horticulture Professional as Part of Your Professional Brand

Associate Professional Horticulturist. This certification is similar to that of the CPH, however it is for individuals who do not have the minimum amount of practice in the horticulture profession. This includes new graduates with a B.S. in horticulture or closely related field; and those graduates are encouraged to consider APH certification. After the individual meets the minimum amount of experience, they would then be eligible to apply for CPH certification. The complete application process to become an APH can be found on the ASHS web site.

Certified Horticulturist. Certified horticulturists are individuals actively employed or in support of the horticulture industries and other specialty crop areas including green industry, landscaping, floriculture, greenhouses, nurseries, garden centers, fruits, vegetables, public gardens and turf. These practitioners may be employed in the production, maintenance, sales, marketing, research, education, servicing and/or support of the horticulture and green industries including greenhouse and nursery operations, garden centers and landscape companies. This is a national credential that validates the knowledge and skill set of horticulturists in the industry. Like the other program certifications, the CH designation provides assurance to employers, governmental officials and agencies, and members of the industry, that the certified individual has the required knowledge, skills, and experiences to competently perform duties in the horticulture industry and adheres to ethical practices. There are numerous companies and organizations that seek to employ CHs. These include greenhouses, nurseries, plant propagators — both seed and small plant producers, landscaping companies, consulting firms, Cooperative Extension, floral shops, public and botanical gardens, golf courses and sports turf facilities, horticultural suppliers, and many more.

To become a CH, the candidate must have horticulture experience. This would include at least three years of paid, full-time horticulture experience without a horticulture degree; or a two-year horticulture degree with two years paid horticulture experience; or a four-year horticulture degree with one year of paid practical experience. In addition, the candidate must pay for and pass the certification exam with a score of 71 percent or higher. All certified individuals must acquire and document continuing education units in order to retain their certification. There are several opportunities throughout the year and locations around the United States in which the CH examinations are administered (see sidebar). Check the American Society for Horticultural Sciences website.

Purpose

One might ask “Why should I consider becoming certified? What are the benefits — what’s in it for me?” There are several benefits to becoming certified. First, certification programs were developed and established as a means to provide a process for industry professionals to verify their level of industry based expertise, based on uniform national industry standards and procedures.

Second, certifications have the opportunity to promote best practices while advancing the horticulture industry. In a time when it seems other industries and non-horticulture professionals are defining various aspects of our industry, becoming certified is an excellent opportunity to show the public the great skills, qualifications, and credentials so many of our industry members possess. And with the increased individuals with certification, there is potential to bring more of our industry professionals into these discussions.

Third, certification elevates the perceived level of professionalism within the field. When the public, government, and/or business need to consult with someone in our field, the pool of certified professionals provides a place for them to look for documented expertise. Hiring certified professionals provides opportunities for them to make well- informed decisions based on the competence represented by the certification designation. They can be more confident and trusting of the work by our industry. As briefly mentioned above, certifications in other professions and industries have long been a standard. The more certified members we have, the more noticeable and important it will be to have certification. The numbers are growing and you can make a difference in elevating the professionalism within our industry by participating.

Fourth, becoming certified is a great opportunity for individuals to increase and validate their professional standing as a practicing horticulturist and to distinguish themselves from others in the profession, through substantiating evidence of an individual’s qualifications.

Fifth, through the certification process and maintaining that certification, there are incentives for the horticulturist to continue their professional development, which can lead to becoming a leader in the industry. The required continuing education requirements enhance the currency of the individual’s knowledge and expertise. Certification will not only enhance one’s personal professional image, but it will also enhance our discipline and industry as a whole. Now is the time to add to your professional brand image.

Additional Information

For further information about any of these programs, call Cindy Slone, manager of marketing and member services at the American Society for Horticultural Science, at 703.836.4606 ext. 116.

Visit the American Society for Horticultural Science website for more information and downloadable application materials.

Chad Miller, CPH, is an assistant professor of ornamental horticulture at Kansas State University and a member of the ASHS National Certification Board. He can be reached at ctmiller@ksu.edu.