Certification: Anatomy of an Exam

The concept of industry certification, specifically the CLT, began in 1983 with the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA). When CLCA decided to broaden their program, nearby states including Oregon and Washington bought into the hands-on exam, seeing value in its ability to increase credibility in the trade and ensure that individuals labeling themselves as professionals could perform a wide range of tasks with a high level of accuracy and safety.

Since the 1980s, more state associations have jumped on the certification bandwagon, offering the programs to both members and nonmembers. Effectively a green industry driver’s license, even contractors whose state associations do not offer CLT or CLP testing can receive certification in another state and have those credentials apply throughout the United States and Canada. For instance, a Florida contractor could earns his CLT certification in Georgia and return to his home state, which does not currently offer national certifications.

Most contractors would agree that having certification achievements recognized nationwide is a plus, as these are not exams someone would want to have to take multiple times. For the CLT exam, which focuses on contractors’ abilities to physically coordinate and complete landscape jobs, candidates must pass core curriculum in first aid and safety, plan reading, and 10 other sections ranging from plant sensitivity and use, certain irrigation functions, and truck and trailer operation. From there, candidates must pass an additional six to 10 modules specific to their area of expertise, be it installation, maintenance or irrigation.

A portion of the CLT exam is written, comprised of multiple-choice questions, while the majority of the exam is hands-on fieldwork that candidates must complete in front of judges who follow strict grading criteria. Some states offer the exam in two parts, with the written portion on one day and the hands-on portion to follow, while other states administer the entire exam during one very full day.

The CLP exam, though less intimidating in terms of being judged on the spot, is equally thorough. In this six-hour exam, candidates must answer 400 multiple-choice questions across five different categories: Business planning, accounting, and management; risk, law and contracts; sales, marketing, communications, and public relations; health, safety and human resources; and production/operations and horticulture.

Focusing mainly on business prowess and ethics, CLP candidates must earn grades of 70 percent in each category to pass the exam. The same is true on the written portions of the CLT exam, while hands-on CLT sections are allowed a specific number of deductions which candidate cannot exceed.

Sound easy enough? Think again, says Chris James. “I’ve graded guys who I consider top notch and in 21 out of 22 categories they might score a 92 percent, but then get a 58 percent in some area that’s just not their forte or something that they didn’t think they had to study for,” says James, a CLT, certified snow professional and president of Chris James Landscaping, Midland Park, N.J. “On average, New Jersey puts about 50 people through the exam each year and only about 25 of them are first-timers. Since I’ve taken the CLT, I’ve worked as a proctor and a judge’s technical assistant judging candidates in Wisconsin, New York and Nova Scotia and I can only think of three people who passed the first time through.”

James says his experience in preparing for certification exams has included both independent and group studying. For tips on effectively preparing for a certification exam, visit the January Online Extras section of Lawn & Landscape Online.