Gardeners - Licensing / Certification

Some states require licenses for people who apply pesticides. Requirements vary by state. In general, those who apply pesticides must be at least 18 years old and pass a written exam. Some states also require that pesticide applicators take a training course of 16 hours or more.

The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) offers certification to grounds managers who meet one of the following requirements:

bachelor of science degree and four years experience in the field of grounds maintenance, with a minimum of two years supervisory experience;
or associates degree and six years experience in the grounds maintenance field, with a minimum of three years of supervisory experience;
or eight years experience in the grounds maintenance field with a minimum of four years supervisory experience.

Applicants for certification must successfully complete a two-part examination and pay both an application and exam fee. Certification is renewable every five years.

For more information, contact:

Professional Grounds Management Society
9 Newport Drive, Suite 200, Forest Hill, MD 21050
Toll Free: 800.609.7467, Phone: 443.966.3852, Fax: 443.640.1031
E-mail: info@pgms.org

Certification for landscape technicians is available through the Associated Landscape Contractors of America.

For more information, contact:

National Association of Landscape Professionals
12500 Fair Lakes Circle, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22033
Toll Free: 800.395.2522, Phone: 703-736-9666, Fax: 703.322.2066
E-mail: info@landscapeprofessionals.org