Industry certifications are crucial in the agriculture, landscape, and turf sectors, showcasing a professional’s technical expertise and adherence to industry standards. These certifications not only validate knowledge but also open doors to career advancement and networking opportunities.

Jon Dickerson, AT Instructor, emphasizes the value of certifications: “Certifications are great for a few reasons. First, they set you down the path of continuing education, helping you stay current in your field. They also provide opportunities to network with colleagues and professionals, open doors for new employment, and support professional growth towards better compensation or promotion.”

soil samples
Students learn how to properly take soil samples

Agricultural Technology (AT) students at Virginia Tech have a comprehensive and applied curriculum which prepares students for the following industry recognized certifications.

  • Certified Fertilizer Applicators Training through the Virginia Cooperative Extension
  • Certified Nutrient Management Plan Writer Certification (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation)
  • Certified Turfgrass Professionals (CTP) through Virginia Cooperative Extension (new Spring 2025)
  • Equipment Managers Certification Program (Golf Course Superintendent Association of America, GCSAA)
  • Pesticide Applicators Certification through Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

While industry group certifications can be challenging due to their comprehensive nature, students are encouraged to pursue them and list partial completions on their resumes until fully certified. One example being the Specialized Turfgrass Equipment course being taught in Agricultural Technology prepares students to complete part of GCSAA’s Equipment Managers Certification.  The Turfgrass capstone class includes the Fertilizer Applicators Certification as part of the curriculum and beginning in the spring of 2025, this course will feature the Certified Turfgrass Professionals (CTP) program as well. Both are being offered by Virginia Cooperative Extension.   

AT students who complete the crops emphasis courses, particularly the Nutrient Management Planning course, and have 1.5 years of relevant agricultural experience, are eligible to sit for the Virginia Certified Nutrient Management Planner certification exam. This certification, offered by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, is essential for farms to qualify for certain cost-share practices and meet regulatory requirements.

Courses that prepare students for this certifications include Plant Science for Ag and the Green Industry, Soils and Nutrient Management, Grain Crop Management, and Nutrient Management Planning. Other supportive courses include Chemical Applications, Pest Management, Forages and Forage Animal Systems, and Precision Ag and Data Management.

Instructor Wesley Gwaltney notes, “The exam is offered for all qualified applicants twice per year, typically once in winter and once in summer; with one date in eastern VA and the other in western VA. Since partnering with Dave Kindig, Nutrient Management Training and Certification Coordinator now retired, and currently Stephanie Dawley, DCR has offered the exam to qualified AT students on VT’s campus during the fall exam period.”

“I am very excited to offer AT students the opportunity to take the Nutrient Management Planning course. While the course is not an official capstone, it integrates practical agronomic knowledge learned throughout our courses into one big-picture class. Companies and governmental agencies will invest months preparing employees for this exam, so the ability to be certified right out of college with an associate of agriculture degree is a great opportunity. There is also a great opportunity for agronomists and crop consultants to add plan writing to their services or for farm operators to add off-farm income to their operation.”

Chloe
Chloe Mathias passed became a Certified Nutrient Management Plan Writer as an AT student

Chloe Mathias, Class of 2024, shares her experience: “While at Tech I found an interest in crop and soil sciences which motivated me to take the nutrient management exam. I knew that nutrient management and conservation practices were only going to become more prevalent, especially because my family’s farm is located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. I wanted to take the exam to have another tool in my belt coming out of school, and I knew it would benefit my family’s operation and open a lot of doors for myself and our business in the future. Currently, I am in the process of writing the nutrient management plan for my family’s farm. I have gotten interest from several different farmers who want me to write plans for them just in the short span since receiving my license. Writing plans is a service that you can get paid to do, and it’s something that I am looking at doing in the future after I get my first plan written.”