CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS

Texas Certified Landscape Professional Texas Certified Nursery Professional Texas Master Certified Nursery Professional

Texas Certified Landscape Professional

Eligibility Requirements Manual Testing Information Online Exam Registration

Certification of Nursery/Landscape Professionals is a program of the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association and is not related to any state regulated or authorized program. Certification benefits the Public, by providing a means to find reliable knowledgeable nursery/landscape professionals, the employer, by establishing the firm as professional, and THE PLACE to go for reliable information, and the employee by establishing professional credibility, enhancing value as an employee, and enhancing self esteem.

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What is the TCLP Program?

The Texas Certified Landscape Professional (TCLP) program certifies individuals in the nursery and landscape industry that possess a high degree of knowledge and skill in horticulture and landscape development.

Eligibility Requirements

An application must meet both of these requirements

• Be18 years of age on or before the day of the exam
• Have been a full time employee (with a firm actively engaged in the industry) for at least 6 months within the 12 months immediately preceding the date of application

And one of these requirements

• Bachelor's degree in landscape design, installation, or management
• Bachelor's degree in an unrelated field plus 4000 hours of industry work experience
• Associate degree in landscape design, installation or management plus 4000 hours of industry work experience
• Completed 300 hours of classroom instruction in high school horticulture and 6000 hours of industry work experience
• Completed 8000 cumulative hours of industry work experience.

Exam Preparation

TNLA's TCLP Manual serves as the textbook for the TCLP exams. The manual was developed by Texas AgriLife Extension under the direction of TNLA's Certification Committee. In addition to being the study manual for the certification exams, the manual is also designed to be a thorough reference and problem-solving tool for the landscape contracting industry.

Order the TCLP Manual What's inside the Manual? Click here to view the Table of Contents. Also includes the Best of Texas Landscape Guide, Second Edition Order Online Download a pdf order form

Testing Information

TCLP exams are available online for anyone with a high speed internet connection. Exams can be taken at home, work, schools, libraries, etc. On-site written examinations are no longer available as of March 2008)

Benefits of Online Exams

• 24-hour availability
• Ability to take the exam by section rather than in one sitting
• Large photos for plant identification (one closeup and one of the plant in the landscape)
• 90-day window to complete both sections
• Ease of registration and payment

Exam Fees

Exam fee for the TCLP exam (includes both the TCLP section and Plant ID section) is $125 for members and $250 for non-members. Re-test fees are $75 for TNLA members and $125 for non-members

To view a complete list of TNLA certification fees, click here.

TCLP Online Exam Process

1. Register for the TCLP Exams by filling out the online TCLP application and paying for the exam(s).
2. An email confirmation will be sent to you giving you access to the TNLA certification exam site.
3. You will have 90 days from the date of registration to complete the required sections.
4. Each exam must be passed with a minimum of 75% in order to earn the TCLP certification.
5. If any exam is not passed, you will have one year from the date of the initial registration to retest. A maximum of two retests are available within that year. Both exams must be taken before you can apply for any retests.

The TCLP certification process consists of two exams.

• TCLP Exam
• Plant ID Exam

What you need for the online exam

Web address, user login and password. If you already have a login to the TNLA "Members' Only" site you can log in and proceed with your TCLP Certification application. Your user login and password can be found at the top of the TNLA E-newsletter that is sent to you monthly via email. If you do not know your user login, contact the TNLA office. If you do not already have a login, you can create one when you register for the exam.

Register for the TCLP Exam

Click here to proceed to the TCLP online application.

Renewal/Recertification

The TCLP certification is valid for a 2-year period. During that time, TCLPs are required to earn 20 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in order to renew. If you hold more than one certification, these CEUs will apply to all certifications you hold. Renewal is $50 for TNLA members and $100 for non-members for the 2-year certification period.

Has your certification expired?

If your TCLP certification is not current and you would like to re-activate it, click here to download a re-instatement form.

Click here for additional information regarding Continuing Education Units.