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CCN Pro Program – California was the first state to have a certification program
for retail garden center employees. The program was founded in 1969 and has spread to over 30 other states and countries
outside of the U.S. The one qualification is that 18 months work experience must be verifiable by employer signature
whether one employer or multiple employers. The qualification paperwork includes a completed application, signed work
verification and a signed contract of ethics. Exams are scheduled twice a year in both North and South regions of California
CCN Exam – consists of three different sections and takes four hours
to complete.
- The Question Portion is based on
the Retail Garden Center Manual. 100 true/false
or multiple-choice questions compose this section.
- Plant Identification is based on the CCN Pro plant list. Thirty-five plants are brought to the exam. Each of these
plants has be identified with its full botanical
name: genus, species and variety (if applicable) and its common name.
Five plants out of the 35 require additional questions to be answered. They are both
fill in and multiple choice: flower color (if any), mature height, evergreen or deciduous, and a choice of the required
plant exposure s) (i.e.: sun, semi-shade, shade). Complete answers for these five plants is worth 9 to 10 points each.
Accompanying
the identification portion are two plant-matching exams worth 20 points each for a total of 40 points. There are 26 plants
listed and only 20 descriptions of plants. You must match the description to the plant using all the descriptions leaving
six blank plant names. The landscape design portion is divided into two parts. One requires you to answer 115
true/false, multiple-choice questions on landscaping in general. The other part asks you to design a landscape on a
preprinted plot plan to scale.
Studying: - For
the general questions, read and study the manual.
- Plant identification is a little tougher. Review the plant list that is provided upon registration. You
will know many of the plants but for those you don’t know, seeing is the best teacher. If you do not have some
of the plants where you work, venture out to other garden centers and see if they carry the plant material. Learning
the names of the plants is important and spelling does count; only one point per plant is deducted for spelling. In addition
to the one point overall for spelling, each of these parts of the plant name are one point each: genus, species, variety
(if applicable), and complete common. Example: Strelitzia reginae, commonly known, as Bird of Paradise would
be worth 4 points. Ligustrum japonicum ‘Texanum,’ Wax Leaf Privet is worth 5 points because you must know the
variety. Plant I.D. flash cards are also available to use as a study tool.
- Landscape Design -- go to the pre-test clinic to get an overview of all sections but you
will be introduced to a practice plan as well. The Retail Garden Center Workbook has more information on the Landscape
Design section as well.
Pre-Test Clinics: Are
offered to all those registered to take the exam and offers instructional discussions on the study materials. This clinic
offers an overall look at what your knowledge should be when taking the exam, and hands on help with the landscape
design portion of the exam, nothing is better than attending the Pre-Test Clinic. These clinics are conducted six
weeks prior and highly recommended for those taking the exam for the first time. Clinic price includes the Retail Garden Center Workbook based
on the Manual.
Advanced Exams:
Once certified, CCN Pros become eligible to obtain advanced status by passing any of the advanced exams available: Insect,
Disease and Weed Exam and the Turf Exam.
Coming Soon ... Advanced exams
on Roses, Citrus, and new Irrigation exam.
Fees:
Initial Exam:
$65/Retest--$50 Non-Member: $200/Non-Member
Retest: $125 Pre-Test Clinic: $20 no workbook;
$30 with workbook Advanced Exams: $65/Retest--$50
-- Non-Member $200/Non Member Retest: $125
Click here to view current guidelines
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