News from UT

Digital Success – An Update on the UT Certified Lawn Care Professional Program

By Anna Duncan¹, Dr. Becky Bowling², and Dr. Jim Brosnan³

¹Digital Education and Training Program Coordinator; ²Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, ³Professor Dept. of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

In 2023, the UT Turfgrass Science program and UT Extension launched the Certified Lawn Care Professional (CLCP) program for anyone looking to bolster or begin their career in the turfgrass industry. The program, taught by University of Tennessee faculty and staff, provides education and skills needed to effectively establish and maintain turfgrasses using a format that is completely online and self-paced.

In its first year, 107 participants enrolled in the CLCP course and awarded it an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Participants cite increased customer satisfaction and increased credibility of service as top benefits of earning this certification. When asked to provide feedback on the course, one participant said, “I thought this was a great introduction of the basics of turf for a beginner coming in new to this field or even for field veterans. Excellent work!” Others provided similar comments including: “Good [information], presented in a digestible form.” and “Great course! Easy to understand. Y’all did an awesome job with videos and materials.”

This course is well-suited for anyone who currently manages turfgrass or wants to start a career in the industry. Introductory information is provided on several topics:

• Turfgrass Identification

• Turfgrass Selection

• Soil Fertility

• Water Management

• Planting and Establishment

• Turfgrass Weeds

• Turfgrass Diseases

• Turfgrass Insect Pests

• Integrated Pest Management

• Maintenance and Operation of Turfgrass Equipment

Upon finishing the course, participants are awarded a certificate of completion from the University of Tennessee Extension Certified Lawn Care Professional Program. This certificate is valid for two years and can be renewed thereafter by completing additional education that builds upon the topics covered in the initial course and provides further accreditation for participants.

The fee for this course is $250. Participants may enroll in the course at any time.

For more information and to register, visit tiny.utk.edu/CLCP, or contact your local Extension Agent.