Technical Certification Programs

[Mike Brown]

Does your state have one or more technical certification programs for conservation delivery professionals? If so, briefly describe the programs and who operates them. Thank you.

[Justin Caudill]

In Wyoming for Conservation Districts we do have a certification program for district staff related to water quality monitoring, and a certification training program for CD Supervisors and staff on state requirements per statues.

[Cindy Lair]

Unfortunately, Colorado does not. The best we have is the “Certified Crop Advisor” certification through SWCS.

[Lee Munz]

The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation (TSSWCB) follows the NRCS Conservation Planning Policy for technical certification for planning. We also have employees that are required to obtain Texas Nutrient Management Specialist Certification thru Texas A&M Agrilife Extension and NRCS.

[Melissa Wenzel]

In Minnesota, we have a technical training program that is a credentialing program, directly working with NRCS within their Job Approval Authority requirements:

http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/training/technical_training/Techinical_Training.html

[Rob Hamilton]

Ohio has a Technician Development Program and an Administrative Development Program. Each of these programs has a series of trainings offered. Participants that complete all trainings receive a certificate from ODA. We have encouraged as much as we can for District Board Members to tie salary increases to completion.

For technicians we do have 2 levels: 1 a basic new technician level and an advanced level on specific topics.

[David Williams]

NC designates technical specialists for several things related to animal waste management (e.g., Waste Utilization Planning, Irrigation – Wettable Acres, Nutrient Management) For more information go to: http://www.ncagr.gov/SWC/professional_development/TechnicalSpecialistTraining.html

NC also has a provision to allow the State Soil & Water Conservation Commission to approve Job Approval Authority for Community Conservation practices and certain activities related to ag water resource development. For more information go to: http://www.ncagr.gov/SWC/professional_development/JAA.html

We are looking at opportunities to expand the categories of planning and JAA certification that can be approved by the State. We have formed a training and certification committee involving representation from each partnership organization to develop recommendations for this effort.

[Britt Weiser]

In Nebraska, we don’t have any additional technical certification programs beyond what is available nationally i.e. certified conservation planner, and Job Approval Authority for various conservation practices.

[Carl Thiel-Goin]

In Virginia we offer several certifications. We have a Ag Nutrient Management program, Urban Nutrient Management program, and EJAA program, and a Conservation Planner Certification program for Districts. Visit our website for more information http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/

[Ray Ledgerwood]

Washington State Conservation Commission (WSCC) establishes the Center for Technical Development (CTD) created for the purpose of ensuring that Washington State Conservation Districts have the proper technical expertise and support to consistently plan and implement conservation programs. CTD will be implemented in collaboration with the Washington State Conservation Commission (WSCC), Conservation Districts across Washington State, Washington Association of Conservation Districts (WACD), Washington Association of District Employees (WADE), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and other key conservation partners.

The vision of the CTD, as acknowledged by WSCC, is that quality technical assistance, programs, and guidance provided by Districts will foster greater natural resource protection and stewardship by land managers and the communities within which they operate. Districts should be provided proper support and recognized for their professional staff members who possess the technical proficiency, knowledge, and expertise necessary to properly assist land users via statewide training and certification programs. Continuing research and development support will improve technical assistance program delivery, while support for planning consistency and high level performance will aid in professional development of staff. Evaluation of the effectiveness of work and services will be demonstrated through improvement of natural resources.

Additional information available via email rledgerwood@scc.wa.gov.

[Judy Littrell]

The New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, through the Department of Agriculture and Markets, oversees the AEM (Ag Environmental Management) Planner Certification. Planners become certified through an extensive process that involves achieving and maintaining Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) credentials and the completion of the CNMP Certification Training. Upon completion of the training, the individual must submit three plans for review and acceptance to obtain full certification to develop CNMPs. Once a planner is certified, a Quality Assurance / Quality Control program reviews a planner’s work on a continual basis to ensure quality planning. Certification is a designation given by the State Conservationist of the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in New York in consultation with the Commissioner of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets and the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee. Planners with this designation are certified to develop CNMPs that:
• Meet USDA NRCS standards
• Are in concert with the business objectives of the farm enterprise
• Address the environmental concerns of the farm and the watershed
• Meet the requirements of the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Environmental Conservation Law General Permit and the NY State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Clean Water Act Permit.

As a strong conservation partner, the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee also facilitates CCA Certification program, and non ag specific programs such as Emergency Stream Intervention certification training, along with CPESC training for District staff and municipalities.

[Miccah Barton]

Arkansas Natural Resources Commission has a Nutrient Management Applicator Certification Program as stated in Title 21. The program is for those within the designated Nutrient Surplus Area who are applying fertilizer to 2.5 acres or more. There are two categories within the certification, Private and Commercial Applicator Certification.

Private Applicator Certification is for a person applying nutrients to land owned in whole or part by him/her or to land that is under his/her control through a property of interest other than ownership (ex. rental agreement, farmhand, or applying for a neighbor).

Commercial Applicator Certification is for a person applying nutrients and derives a substantial portion of income (50% or above) from the application of nutrients to land not under his/her ownership of control.

Both the Private and Commercial Certification last for five years.
Private Applicator Certification Fee: $30.00. Renewal Fee: $30.00
Commercial Applicator Certification Fee: $60.00 with a one time $25.00 testing fee. Renewal Fee: $60.00.
*Commercial Applicators have to have 4 hours of continuing education within the five years of certification.*

Arkansas Natural Resources Commission also has the Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program as stated in Title 20.

Planners prepare nutrient management plans to indicate how nutrients should be applied to fields and other land for crop production while protecting ground water and surface water from excessive nutrient enrichment.
The Nutrient Management Plan Writer Certification is available online and for those who are not government employees, federal and state, the fee is $100.00 for certification and there is a $25.00 testing fee. The renewal fee is $100.00 for non government employees, and all plan writers must have four hours of continuing education within the five years of certification.

[Jackie Thomas]

In Arizona, NRCS can utilize TSPs (Technical Service Providers) for conservation planning and engineering assistance. In order to become a TSP there is a certification process the individual would need to complete. See web link below for more info.

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/technical/tsp/

[Coreen Fallat]

Wisconsin has a conservation engineering practitioner certification which allows public employees of natural resource agencies to design, review and approve conservation engineering practices and structures without being registered as engineers in Wisconsin. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection administers the certification program, which complements the engineering services its staff provides to local land conservation​ departments.

Our website has more information and lists contact information for our Conservation Engineering Staff.

[Coreen Fallat]

Here is the website – thought it would be listed in that last post.

https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/ConservationEngineeringCertification.aspx

[Colleen Meredith]

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources Soil and Water Conservation Program has a certification process for soil and water district employees for both administrative and technical capabilities. Staff go through a progression – District Specialist I-IV. At the IV level, employees may have one or more of the following: have various job approval authority from NRCS, and/or are certified: as an apprentice or full conservation planner, for Nutrient Management and can sign off on NRCS plans, for NRCS’s Document Management System, and we are in the process of developing a Streambank Assessment certification. Staff doing more administration must pass tests for our accounting system, our cost-share contracting system, general district operations, and state policies for conservation practices.

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