The Certified Plant Professional is an accreditation offered by the NC Nursery and Landscape Association (NCNLA). This certification serves to recognize and promote skills and proficiency within the green industry, and distinguish qualified professionals within the landscape and nursery trade. This certification is relevant in many different segments of the green industry including garden centers, wholesale/retail nursery professionals, arborists, landscape installation/maintenance professionals, landscape design/architecture, public horticulture, and more.

By completing this certification, a professional can set themselves apart from others in the trade by receiving accreditation demonstrating high levels of knowledge in maintenance and operations both in the landscape and nursery settings. A high level of knowledge in plant, insect, and disease identification is demonstrated by completing this certification. Certified Plant Professionals can market themselves in a variety of ways. A list maintained on the NCNLA website includes licensed professionals with the certification, and marketing materials are available once an individual is certified to promote knowledge and certification to others.

There are two exams components needed to complete the certification:

• Written exam consisting of 100 multiple-choice and true/false questions which seeks to demonstrate proficiency in a wide variety of operational skills and knowledge within both the nursery and landscape trades. To pass, individuals must receive a 70% score or higher.
• Plant identification exam where participants identify 125 plants, diseases, or insects selected from the CPP Plant List of 267 items. The exam includes 125 photo-based questions. Each answer corresponds to the assigned number on the CPP Plant List. This tests knowledge of commonly used landscape material across North Carolina. To pass, individuals must receive a 70% score or higher.

CPP applicants must receive approval prior to sitting for the CPP Exam.

1. To be approved applicants meet any one of the following criteria options listed below: 

• Be currently enrolled at a postsecondary education institution in related fields
• Have earned an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in related fields
• Have two (2) years of experience in the green industry or industry-related supplier of products or services: any individual, partnership, limited liability company, association, or corporation engaged or employed in the sale, production, handling, storage, use design, planting, or maintenance of horticultural or environmental plants or accessories, including educators and other nursery and landscape professionals

2. Submit (2) completed Professional Reference Forms. These must be from individuals working in the field who could attest to the candidate’s professional experience and qualifications. These forms must be completed and uploaded at the time of the exam.

3. Register for a CPP exam session and pass both written exam and plant identification exams with a 70% or higher score. To see all options for exam registration, click here.

• You must have a NCNLA website profile but do not have to be a NCNLA member. Your NCNLA website profile type can be any of the following:  member, non-member, student or government/educator.

Study resources include the CPP Study Manual, and referencing the plant, disease, insect and weed ID list to aid in your study. You can also attend an offered review course before taking the exam. For example, there is a local offering that will be available at the NC Arboretum on October 14th-15th with the exam completed at the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension office on October 16th. To register, and learn more details about these sessions, you can visit this link here.

Certified Plant Professionals have renewal periods on a two-year rotation. Renewal applications must be completed by January 31 two years after the certification has been issued or last recertified. For example, if the CPP designation was earned in June 2024, a renewal application would be due by 31 January 2026.

A total of 8 hours of continuing education credits (CEU) must be completed every recertification period. See the chart on the NCNLA website for details about credit opportunities and what qualifies.

Take advantage of this accreditation and set yourself apart by growing in skills and knowledge in the green industry. For more information about the Certified Plant Professional certification, and the NCNLA, you can visit their website. To learn about other certifications to further grow your skills within the industry, visit the Buncombe County Green Industry Resource page.