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Information About Landscape Industry Certified Technician - (Formerly CLT)

What is Certification?

PLANET and its International Certification Council (ICC) have announced that, beginning January 2010, all PLANET-certified individuals will be called Landscape Industry Certified.

This means that a Certified Landscape Technician (CLT) will now become a Landscape Industry Certified Technician and a Certified Landscape Professional (CLP) will become a Landscape Industry Certified Manager.

The name change to Landscape Industry Certified will consolidate all the designations of green industry certification under one umbrella.  Everyone who is PLANET certified will be identified with this universal title.

Certification is an international hands-on testing program administered by the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association 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 Oregon Landscape Contractors Association has joined forces with the PLANET to offer five Module Tests in Installation, Maintenance, and Irrigation.

To become a Landscape Industry Certified Technician, A candidate must pass one of the five module tests.

Passing the Installation test demonstrates that an individual has the skills to review a landscape blueprint and implement the design in the field.

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.

Passing the Maintenance test shows that a person has the skills to maintain a landscape project in a professional manner.

Developed and organized by the California Landscape Contractors Association's Certification Committee, the exam was first administered in 1983. In 1994, ALCA purchased rights to the exam and began to offer it to state associations for their members. Since 1993, over 400 Oregon Landscape Professionals have been certified through the OLCA test.

What Are The Benefits of Certification?

• Promotes professionalism of the landscape industry.
• Provides local, state and national recognition.
• Enhances landscape companies.
• Validates landscape skills.
• Creates opportunities for career advancement in the industry.
• Increases an individual's knowledge of the landscape industry.

What is the Recognition for Certification?

• Your company is registered as an employer of Landscape Industry Certified Technicians.
• Individuals who pass each test will become landscape Industry Certified Technicians. (The distinction between installation, maintenance and irrigation will be made on all official documents.)
• Individuals passing a Certification Test will receive a certificate and identification card from PLANET.
• Employers are encouraged to advertise that they have Certified employees on their staff.
• Possibility of better wages and enhanced profits as public becomes aware of what it means to do business with a certified professional.

Testing Procedure

The certification test for technicians is a full-day event at OLCA's permanent test site at Clackamas Community College in Clackamas, Oregon.  There are 5 designations to choose from:

• Softscape Installation
• Hardscape Installation
• Turf Maintenance
• Ornamental Maintenance
• Irrigation

The applicant selects a specialty designation and takes a series of written and hands-on test problems.  Each problem has a time limit set for its completion.  During the hands-on testing, the candidate is judged on work methods for adherence to best practices and safety ideals.

Applicants msut pass every problem in a designation to become certified.  It is recommended, but not required that candidates have at least one year work experience before taking the test.  Candidates may retest the problems needed at any state's test.  Additional designations can be taken at future test dates.

Observers attend each test to assure the program is administered consistently across North America.

Preparting for the Test

To allow sufficient time for study, candidates should apply for the examination well in advance of the test date.

Study Guides

The Certification Committee strongly recommends reviewing the appropriate study guides to prepare for the test.

Study Guides for the sections in which you register are not included with your registration fee.  There are Study Guides for each section - Installation, Irrigation and Maintenance.

Employees take note: The Study Guides are a great tool for every day use in your business!  You can now purchase them to use as an employee guide.

Spanish Interpreters

Interpreters will be at the test site to assist those individuals whose primary language is Spanish.

Softscape Installation	Hardscape Installation
1.01 Common Core* - Written 5.02 Softscape Plan Reading - Written 5.03 Softscape Horticulture Principles - Written 5.04 Irrigation Components - Written 5.21 Plant ID* 5.22 Basic Program Controller* 5.23 Lateral Repair & Head Adjustment* 5.24 Tree Planting & Staking* 5.51 Sod Installation 5.52 Plant Layout 5.53 Rototiller	1.01 Common Core* - Written 6.05 Hardscape Plan Reading - Written 6.06 Hardscape Principles & Calculations - Written 6.25 Chainsaw* 6.61 Grading & Drainage 6.62 Instrument 6.63 Paver Installation 6.64 Skid-steer Operations

Turf Maintenance	Ornamental Maintenance
1.01 Common Core* - Written 8.07 Irrigation Components & Principles* - Written 8.08 Turfgrass Maintenance Principles - Written 8.09 Turfgrass Maintenance Calculations - Written 8.22 Basic Program Controller* 8.23 Lateral Repair & Head Adjustment* 8.26 Power Blower* 8.81 21" Mower 8.82 Intermediate Walk-behind Mower 8.83 Riding Mower 8.84 Edger and Trimmer 8.85 Aerator 8.86 Turf Fertilizer	1.01 Common Core* - Written 9.07 Irrigation Components & Principles* 9.12 Ornamental Maintenance Horticulture Principles - Written 9.14 Ornamental Maintenance Calculations - Written 9.03 Irrigation Components 9.21 Plant ID* 9.22 Basic Program Controller* 9.23 Lateral Repair & Head Adjustment* 9.24 Tree Planting & Staking* 9.25 Chainsaw* 9.26 Power Blower* 9.91 Pruning

Irrigation

1.01 Common Core* - Written 7.15 Advanced Irrigation Components & Principles - Written 7.16 Irrigation Plan Reading - Written 7.17 Basic Horticultural Principles - Written 7.23 Lateral Repair & Head Adjustment* 7.71 Advanced Program Controller 7.72 Lateral Installation 7.73 Mainline Installation 7.74 Valve Repair 7.75 Valve Wiring 7.76 Pipe Installation Equipment

 *Indicates the section is included in more than one module.  Applicants only need to pass this section once in order to be credited in all of the modules.

Scholarships

OLCA has a limited amount of scholarship funding for employees of member companies. The Scholarship Committee will be offering scholarships for CLT testing. Listed below are the details:

• Amount of scholarship - $125.
• This must be the first time you have taken the CLT test.
• Available on a first come, first served basis.
• Limit of two (2) per company.
• Must be a full time employee and have 1 year of employment.

If you need additional information, please contact the OLCA office at 503.253.9091 or 800.505.8105.