News from the VTC
Recently Launched:
Virginia’s Certified Turfgrass Professional (VCTP) Program By Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D., Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech, and Tom Tracy, Ph.D., Executive Director, Virginia Turfgrass Council
All
managers who supervise work crews and support staff in the turfgrass industry know that the key to their ultimate success as supervisors AND the longterm success of their business comes from dedicated employees committed to a superior job performance. Opportunities for professional development and career advancement for turf maintenance crewmembers and support staff can be limited by finances, time and the lack of specific education or training required for further advancement. With this in mind, the Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Virginia Turfgrass Council and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation joined together to develop and offer an affordable, comprehensive training and testing certification program in turfgrass management that is suitable for turfgrass managers of any educational level and/or job status, but it was developed to specifically meet the professional development needs of crewmembers and support staff.
Goals of the Virginia Certified Turfgrass Professional (VCTP) program
Achieving the status of a VCTP will enhance the visibility and professionalism of successful candidates and demonstrate that they have a thorough grasp of the many aspects of environmentally friendly turfgrass management. It is anticipated that the VCTP program will eventually result in a demand for certified professionals by supervisors and general public alike and that these individuals will ultimately be compensated in terms of salary, benefits and further advancement opportunities in their positions for their demonstrated professionalism.
Program administration and requirements
The VCTP program is administered through the Virginia Turfgrass Council and is supported in its efforts by the time, expertise and branding of the Virginia Tech turfgrass team, Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Certification testing is open to anyone, but this particular program targets an industry audience that at present might not have ready access to a professional certification program or the ability/experience requirement to test for certification in the principles in turfgrass management. The VCTP program is not intended to compete with or replace current certification programs administered by entities with specific turfgrass degree and work experience requirements for certification testing, such as those offered by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) or the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET). Instead, the VCTP program offers a meaningful, sciencebased certification program that primarily addresses the desire for continued professional development for crewmembers, support staff, etc. VT and DCR personnel have developed a comprehensive training manual that serves as the primary training resource for certification. This manual contains training specific to ten areas: (1) keys in turfgrass identification; (2) turfgrass adaptation, use, growth and development; (3) soil science principles for turfgrass managers; (4) strategies in fertilizer selection and programming as they apply to urban nutrient management programs; (5) principles in irrigation management; (6) principles in mowing and cultural
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management programs; (7) principles in turfgrass establishment; (8) the identification and management of turfgrass-specific diseases, insects and weeds; (9) basic turfgrass calculations and principles in sprayer and spreader calibration; and (10) implementing best management practices and integrated pest-management strategies for the protection of water quality. Certification requires demonstrated success (i.e., 70% or greater scores) in five areas, four that are specific to VCTP testing: (1) turfgrass and pest identification (including weeds, insects and disease symptoms and signs); (2) turfgrass mathematics and spreader/ sprayer calibration and calculations; (3) general turfgrass science core material; and (4) BMPs in water-quality protection. The fifth component for certification is obtaining and maintaining the status of a Virginia Certified Fertilizer Applicator as administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This certification component can be obtained either online at Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Fertilizer Applicator Certification Testing program (visit www.ext.vt.edu/) or through hands-on training and testing events offered by the Virginia Turfgrass Council throughout the year. Once you successfully pass a subject area with a minimum score of 70%, you have up to one calendar year from the test date to successfully pass all remaining testing components of the certification exam without having to retest in all subject areas.
How is certification achieved and maintained?
The annual VTC-sponsored Virginia Turfgrass Short Course (conducted by the VT turf team and DCR personnel