CLCA San Francisco Bay Area Chapter

Mission Statement
CLCA serves and protects the interests of its members, promotes professionalism, and advances public awareness of the landscape industry.

Get Certified. It Pays!

Be Outstanding In Your Field.

Certified Landscape Technician Program

What Is Certification?
Benefits and Recognition of Certification
What The Program Is Not
Test Procedures
Who Is Eligible For Testing?
Preparing For The Test
Installation, Maintenance And Irrigation Programs
Advanced Programs
Participating Organizations
Next Testing Dates
CLT Study Guide
Application

What Is Certification?
Certification is a national hands-on testing program administered by several state associations and Canadian provinces that seeks to recognize proficiency in the landscape workforce, upgrade the status of the landscape professional and provide the public with a means of identifying qualified landscape professionals.

The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) has joined forces with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) to offer three Core Tests in Installation, Maintenance and Irrigation, in addition to Advanced Specialties in Carpentry, Concrete and Irrigation Management.

Successful completion of the Installation test demonstrates that an individual has the skills to take a landscape blueprint and implement the design in the field. Passing the Maintenance test shows that a person has the skills to maintain a landscape project in a professional manner. Passing the Irrigation test demonstrates that a person has the skills to install and maintain an irrigation system, and understands the fundamentals of water management.

Developed and organized by CLCA's Certification Committee, the exam was first administered in 1983. In 1994, ALCA purchased rights to the exam and began offering it to state associations for their members.

Benefits And Recognition Of Certification

• Promotes professionalism for individuals.
• Provides national recognition.
• Validates landscape skills.
• Your company is registered as an employer of Certified Landscape Technicians.
• Creates opportunities for career advancement in the industry.
• Persons who pass each test will become Certified Landscape Technicians.
• Persons passing a Certification Test will receive a numbered certificate and identification card.
• Employers are welcome to advertise that they have certified employees on their staffs.

What The Program Is Not
Certification is not a substitute for a landscape contractor's license. Passing the Certification Test does not count toward a state license. The goals, subject matter and procedures of the Certification Test are different from licensing exams. Certification is not a substitute for any of the state-issued pesticide licenses. The goals, subject matter and procedures of the Certification Test are different from the licensing exams conducted by the Department of Food and Agriculture.


Test Procedures
Testing begins with a written test for each core. Applicants then begin a series of timed problems supervised by one or more judges. Most problems require applicants to install or maintain sample landscape projects. At the end of each timed session, the applicants rotate to another work station. This process continues until the end of the testing. Applicants must pass every problem in order to become Certified Landscape Technicians. Those who do not pass may retake the failed portions during the next test date.

Who Is Eligible For Testing?
Anyone is eligible to take the exam, but it is recommended that applicants have a combination of one of the following:

• 4,000 hours of work in the landscape industry
• 2,000 hours of work in the landscape industry plus the successful completion of a two-year or four-year curriculum in the landscape field
• 1,000 hours of work in the landscape industry plus the successful completion of a two-year or four-year curriculum in the landscape field plus the completion of an approved internship program

Preparing For The Test
A test booklet is mailed to all applicants. It outlines the test problems and also serves as a study guide. To allow sufficient time for study, persons should apply for examination well in advance of the test date. Seminars are held approximately two months prior to each test. Participants at these seminars have the opportunity to ask questions about each exam.

Installation, Maintenance And Irrigation Test
To become a Certified Landscape Technician, and applicant must pass the Common Elements plus a Core Test. Applicants must demonstrate their abilities in the following areas:

Common Elements

• Work Orders and Reports
• Safety
• Plan Reading
• Plant Sensitivity
• Plant Identification
• Grading and Sodding
• Program Controller
• Irrigation Identification
• Lateral Repair and Head Adjustment
• Trucks and Trailers

Installation Core

• Plant Layout
• Grading and Drainage
• Instrument
• Paver Installation
• Rototiller
• Tractor Operation
• Tree Planting & Staking/Guying
• Chainsaw

Maintenance Core

• Written General Comprehension
• Pesticides
• Fertilizer
• Tree Planting & Staking/Guying
• Chainsaw
• Pruning
• 21" Mower
• 36" Mower
• Aerator
• Edger and Trimmer
• Riding Mower

• Written General Comprehension
• Irrigation Plan Reading
• Lateral Installation
• Mainline Installation
• Valve Repair
• Valve Wiring
• Pipe Installation Equipment

Advanced Programs

Advanced Specialty Endorsements are advanced exams which are offered to Certified Landscape Technicians upon successful completion of the Common and any Core Element. ALCA currently offers the following Advanced Specialties:

• Carpentry

Participating Organizations

• California Landscape Contractors Association
• Canadian Nursery Trades Association
• Illinois Landscape Contractors Association
• Landscape Contractors Association of MD-DC-VA
• New York Turf and Landscape Association
• North Carolina Landscape Contractors Association
• Oregon Landscape Contractors Association
• South Carolina Nursery Association
• Texas Association of Landscape Contractors
• Utah Nursery and Landscape Association
• Washington Association of Landscape Professionals
• Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association

Next CLT Test Date

• April 28-29, 2007  San Diego, California

Certified Landscape Technician Study Guide

Study materials based on the Certified Landscape Technician Tests for Installation, Maintenance, and Irrigation. All three test cores and Common Elements are contained in one study guide. The guide is divided by test stations, listing a test problem, introduction, objectives, tools and materials, study procedure, and helpful hints. Also included is a glossary and math and common calculation information.

Contact CLCA State Headquarters at hq@clca.org for more information or to order your study guide.

Applications

Visit www.clca.org.