Several months ago I found out that National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) in the US was abandoning practical testing. Very surprised, I e-mailed them but didn’t get an answer. So I hit social media instead.
Logistics
Rumour has it that the NALP found the testing logistics extremely challenging. And I can see why. Imagine the difficulty of finding two weekends a year that work for many people, finding certified judges willing to volunteer, finding appropriate testing sites and setting them up; and, finally, getting candidates brave enough to pay for and endure testing in front of judges.
Now, I guess, in the United States it will all come down to written tests which is a shame.
Why practical testing?
What’s so special about practical testing?
A) Practical testing in front of a judge humbles the know-it-all dudes I frequently see at work. When I went through the ornamental module myself I felt a bit small in the candidates tent; and definitely nervous.
B) Landscape Industry Certified workers have the minimum required skills so their employers can be confident in their skills. For example, certified individuals can start a blower, power shears and a chainsaw safely and they can use a three-point pruning cut.
C) Certified workers are most likely hard-core landscapers who love the industry and intend to stay. If they can take the pressure on testing day, they can most likely add value to your company.
What about Canada?
Practical testing stays in place in Canada. The only changes planned are making the landscape industry certified testing more aligned with the Red Seal Journeyman Horticulturist program. That’s not a bad thing.
So, when the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) sent me an e-mail this week looking for volunteer judges I jumped in. While I’m an introvert, I firmly believe in the value of practical testing; and I also know that the candidate tent will be full of donuts.
I picked three stations I would be comfortable judging: pruning, power blower and planting and staking. Two days later I was assigned the planting and staking station. I know this station intimately because I had to do it three times before finally passing it.
On June 15, 2019, I will be at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, in Langley, BC, to judge ambitious new candidates. I’m really looking forward to being on the other side, judging.
And I hope that by volunteering, the CNLA keeps the practical testing in place. Yes, I felt small and humbled as a candidate but once I received my certificate everything felt right. If I enjoy the judging experience, I will do it again in October.
