FNGLA Certified Horticultural Professional (FCHP)

What is FCHP?

The FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professional (FCHP) program is the industry’s only standard for measuring horticulture knowledge on everything from plant and pest identification to landscape management..

FCHP promotes professionalism among horticulture professionals, including nursery, greenhouse, landscape and retail garden center employees.

The FCHP program has been in existence since 1984 with more than 1,100 certified professionals statewide. FCHP serves as the base — or core — of all FNGLA’s industry certifications. An applicant for FNGLA’s landscape certifications should first complete the FCHP exam. Since the FHCP exams are included in FNGLA’s landscape certification exams, those who hold an FCHP designation are exempted from retaking those exam sections when sitting for one of FNGLA’s landscape certification exams.  For more information on FNGLA’s landscape certifications, click here.

The FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professional Manual was updated in 2007! The 8th Edition of the FCHP Manual contains the newest information on best management practices, Florida-friendly principles, fertilizer rules and irrigation efficiency. In fact, the 8th Edition FCHP Manual has been endorsed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and all five water management districts.

If you already have an FCHP manual that has a copyright of 2005 – 7th Edition, you can update that manual and be current. The four chapters necessary are available here. Simply download the pdf’s, print them out, and replace those chapters in your manual.

Chapter1(PDF)
Chapter3(PDF)
Chapter7(PDF)
References(PDF)

You will then be current with the 8th Edition.

If your manual was printed prior to 2005, you must purchase a new manual.

The FCHP program is designed for persons working in the horticulture industry or those studying to enter the field.
Those interested in taking the FCHP exam who are unsure if they qualify should contact Merry Mott at FNGLA. EMail: mmott@fngla.org.

Training is offered through educational courses at various locations throughout Florida, including community colleges, technical education centers, UF Extension Offices and FNGLA member businesses, to aid registrants in preparing for the examination. On-line courses are also available.

Individual home study is permitted by studying FNGLA’s FCHP Manual before sitting for the exam. However, taking a training course is highly recommended, especially for those new to the industry.
See a list of FNGLA’s certification training providers.

Click Here  for Schedule of training and other horticulture education opportunities.

FNGLA’s FCHP Manual was developed through a combined effort of practicing industry professionals, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and allied industry personnel. It is an excellent resource and informational tool for troubleshooting and answering questions involving proper plant use, plant problems, landscape maintenance and proper pesticide use.

Order the FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professional (FCHP) Manual.

PDF - Manual Order Form

Order Manual Online

FCHP exams are now available on line for anyone with access to a high-speed internet connection.

For those preferring to take a traditional pencil and paper exam, FCHP exams are offered at the FNGLA state office and through the institutes offering the FCHP training course.

Taking the FCHP exam on line provides many benefits to the certification applicant that is not available to those taking pencil and paper exams.

They include:

• Large, clear photos of plants – one at a time – for identification purposes, including a close-up of the plant and a photo of the plant in the landscape
• Ability to take one exam section at a time, rather than all four sections in one sitting
• Ability to take the exam on your time-frame, at your convenience
• 60-day window of time to complete all four exam sections
• Immediate results of your exam
• Ease of online registration, payment and examination, with no difference in price
  

Exam Sections
Candidates must pass a comprehensive four-part written exam to demonstrate knowledge about plant identification, disease and insect control, plant biology and landscape management.

FNGLA’s FCHP exam is a 3 hour written test measuring proficiency in horticultural practices.

Each section must be passed with a minimum 70% in order to earn the FCHP certification.

• Plant ID
• Horticultural Practices
• Safety
• General Horticulture (Open Book)
  

Bring to Exam
2 pencils, eraser, FCHP Manual, photo identification

Exam Fees
2008-09 exam fee for the 4-part written exam is $85 for FNGLA members and $150 for non-members. The exam fee is good for one exam attempt only. Any exam section that is not completed successfully may be retaken, once the applicant applies for a retest and pays a retest fee.
Manuals and training sessions require an additional fee.

For complete information on FNGLA’s certification exam fees, see
Exam Structures & Fees

Register On-line at
http://www.fngla.org/onlinetest/fngla/fnglaregistration.aspx

Or By mail through the FNGLA office.
Download the FCHP Exam Application Form
PDF

FNGLA’s FCHP certification is valid for a three-year period. During that time, FCHPs are required to earn 15 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in order to renew.
If you hold more than one certification, these CEUs will apply to all certifications you hold. In the absence of the required number of CEUs, the certified professional will be required to retake the exam.
Renewal is $50 for FNGLA members and $75 for non-members for the three-year certification period.

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