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Agriculture, Environment & Public Service · course plan
⚠ Pending professional review
This course plan, its lessons and its assessments has not yet been verified by a licensed professional in the field or by a certification or approval body. It is a study draft and may contain errors. Do not use it as instructions for work on a job site or on live equipment. Always follow your instructor, your supervising professional, and current official references and regulations.
VoTechWorks program approval and accreditation are still in progress. Credentials are issued only by the certifying bodies named in each program, after their own exams.
Agriculture / Horticulture / Landscaping
11 courses · 1,350 clock hours · 9 mo full-time. Grading is competency-based: each course requires the written exam, a competent skills demonstration with zero safety faults, a signed log, and a passed safety audit; percentage weights only rank performance above the competency floor.
11courses
82lessons
1,350hours
39assessments
Development progressPlanCourses, lessons and assessments written for this tradeLessons82 of 82 lesson pages writtenPractice653 practice questionsResources120 reference entries (study list)Review0 lesson pages reviewed by a licensed professional
Study now: 82 lesson pages are open (lesson titles below are links).
AGR-HORT49-01 Universal core
Universal Core: Safety, Math, Communication & Career in Agriculture, Horticulture & Landscaping
148 hr · $1,185 COMPLIMENTARY
This foundational course equips learners with the safety knowledge, trade mathematics, technical literacy, digital skills, and professional habits required across every subsequent course in the program. Students earn OSHA 10-Hour General Industry or Construction certification and CPR/First Aid certification, establishing the safety baseline required by both the State Pesticide Applicator license and NALP Landscape Industry Certified credential. All content is contextualized to agriculture, horticulture, and landscaping worksites so that skills transfer directly to field and production environments.
Outcomes- Complete OSHA 10-Hour training and demonstrate knowledge of hazard recognition, lockout/tagout, PPE selection, and emergency response procedures specific to landscaping and agricultural worksites.
- Perform trade math calculations — including area, volume, slope, unit conversion, dilution ratios, and material estimation — accurately enough to support pesticide mixing, irrigation design, and soil amendment work.
- Read and interpret safety data sheets (SDS), pesticide labels, equipment manuals, and technical specifications at a level sufficient for safe daily practice.
- Use standard digital tools — including spreadsheets, job-management apps, and mapping/measuring software — to record data, create estimates, and communicate with supervisors and clients.
- Demonstrate career-readiness behaviors: professional communication, resume and portfolio preparation, and understanding of employment law basics relevant to the green-industry workforce.
- Identify the credential pathways, exam domains, and practical skill areas required for the State Pesticide Applicator license and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified credential.
Course text
This foundational course equips learners with the safety knowledge, trade mathematics, technical literacy, digital skills, and professional habits required across every subsequent course in the program. Students earn OSHA 10-Hour General Industry or Construction certification and CPR/First Aid certification, establishing the safety baseline required by both the State Pesticide Applicator license and NALP Landscape Industry Certified credential. All content is contextualized to agriculture, horticulture, and landscaping worksites so that skills transfer directly to field and production environments.
How the course runs. 7 blocks: Worksite Hazard Recognition and OSHA 10-Hour Core; PPE, Lockout/Tagout, and Emergency Response; Trade Math I: Measurement, Area, and Volume; Trade Math II: Ratios, Dilutions, Rates, and Estimation; Technical Reading: Labels, SDS, Manuals, and Specifications; Digital Tools for the Green Industry; Career Readiness and Credential Pathways.
What competent looks like. Complete OSHA 10-Hour training and demonstrate knowledge of hazard recognition, lockout/tagout, PPE selection, and emergency response procedures specific to landscaping and agricultural worksites. Perform trade math calculations — including area, volume, slope, unit conversion, dilution ratios, and material estimation — accurately enough to support pesticide mixing, irrigation design, and soil amendment work. Read and interpret safety data sheets (SDS), pesticide labels, equipment manuals, and technical specifications at a level sufficient for safe daily practice. Use standard digital tools — including spreadsheets, job-management apps, and mapping/measuring software — to record data, create estimates, and communicate with supervisors and clients. Demonstrate career-readiness behaviors: professional communication, resume and portfolio preparation, and understanding of employment law basics relevant to the green-industry workforce. Identify the credential pathways, exam domains, and practical skill areas required for the State Pesticide Applicator license and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified credential.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worksite Hazard Recognition and OSHA 10-Hour Core | 26 | theory | Students will identify common agricultural and landscaping hazards — including struck-by, caught-in, heat illness, chemical exposure, and electrical hazards — and explain the OSHA rights, reporting duties, and citation process that apply to green-industry employers. |
| OSHA 10-Hour outreach course materials (OSHA-authorized trainer), OSHA 300 log sample, site hazard inspection checklist, hard hats, safety glasses, hi-vis vests for walk activity | Successful completion of all OSHA 10-Hour outreach modules with a passing score on the provider's final assessment (typically 70% or higher); instructor verification of completed hazard inspection checklist with correct identification of at least 8 of 10 planted hazards. |
| 2 | PPE, Lockout/Tagout, and Emergency Response | 20 | demo | Students will select appropriate PPE for at least five landscaping and agricultural tasks, correctly demonstrate a lockout/tagout procedure on shop equipment, and perform CPR and basic first aid to current American Red Cross or American Heart Association standards. |
| Assorted PPE collection (nitrile gloves, leather gloves, chemical-resistant gauntlets, safety glasses, face shield, half-face respirator with cartridges, earplugs, earmuffs, hard hat, steel-toed boots demo pair), lockout/tagout kit with hasp and tags, bench grinder, riding mower (de-fueled for LOTO practice), CPR manikins, AED trainer, first aid kit, eye-wash station | 100% correct completion of a six-step LOTO checklist (no partial credit — energy control is a life-safety item); CPR/First Aid card earned from authorized provider; PPE selection lab scored at 5 of 6 scenarios correct. |
| 3 | Trade Math I: Measurement, Area, and Volume | 22 | practice | Students will accurately calculate linear measurements, areas of regular and irregular shapes, and volumes of beds, tanks, and soil amendments using both US customary and metric units, achieving results within an acceptable margin for trade applications. |
| 100-ft measuring tapes, measuring wheel, field notebooks, graph paper, calculators, pencils, unit-conversion reference card (US customary and metric), NALP study guide (math section), whiteboard | Worksheet set scored at 80% or higher with all unit labels correct; measurement scavenger-hunt data within ±5% of instructor-measured values for at least four of six measurements. |
| 4 | Trade Math II: Ratios, Dilutions, Rates, and Estimation | 20 | practice | Students will calculate pesticide dilution ratios, fertilizer application rates per area, material cost estimates, and slope percentages using formulas standard to agriculture and landscaping practice. |
| Sample pesticide label excerpts (EPA format), sample soil test report (cooperative-extension format), fertilizer analysis reference chart, graduated cylinders, water, calculators, job-cost worksheet template, materials price list handout, NALP study guide (math section), State Pesticide Applicator core manual (math chapter) | Dilution and fertilizer rate calculations scored at 80% or higher with correct units; job-cost estimate within 10% of instructor's model answer and all line items present. |
| 5 | Technical Reading: Labels, SDS, Manuals, and Specifications | 20 | theory | Students will locate required information — signal words, personal protective equipment requirements, first-aid instructions, re-entry intervals, and disposal directions — from a pesticide label and SDS, and extract key operational data from an equipment operator's manual. |
| Printed full-length pesticide labels (at least two different products), printed SDS examples (GHS-compliant, 16-section), equipment operator's manuals (mower, backpack sprayer), structured reading worksheets, highlighters, State Pesticide Applicator core manual | Label and SDS worksheets each scored at 80% or higher; equipment manual exercise: all three data points (oil type, torque spec, troubleshooting steps) correctly identified. |
| 6 | Digital Tools for the Green Industry | 20 | lab | Students will use a spreadsheet application to build a materials estimate, use a web-based mapping tool to measure a site area, and demonstrate professional written communication by drafting a work order and a client-facing email. |
| Computers or tablets with spreadsheet software (e.g., Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets), internet access, web-based mapping tool, work order template sample, email writing checklist, job scenario handout | Spreadsheet: all formulas functional and total within 2% of instructor model; mapping measurement within 10% of physical measurement; work order and email each scored at least 3 of 4 on a four-point rubric covering accuracy, completeness, professionalism, and grammar. |
| 7 | Career Readiness and Credential Pathways | 20 | theory | Students will describe the legal and professional requirements for the State Pesticide Applicator license and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified credential, draft a trade-specific resume, and demonstrate professional communication skills in a simulated employer interview. |
| NALP Landscape Industry Certified candidate handbook (official current edition), state pesticide applicator licensing agency informational materials, credential comparison worksheet, resume template, peer-review checklist, mock-interview question card set | Credential comparison chart: all required fields completed with accurate information verified against official sources (no invented fees or exam formats); resume: all required sections present with no factual errors, scored at least 3 of 4 on rubric; mock interview: at least 3 of 4 questions answered with relevant, professional responses as judged by instructor using a four-point rubric. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and Regulatory Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% or higher; any question related to a life-safety procedure (LOTO, PPE for pesticides, emergency response) must be answered correctly or the student must remediate that section before advancing. | A 50-question written exam covering OSHA hazard categories, PPE selection, lockout/tagout steps, SDS interpretation, signal words, and first-aid response scenarios drawn from Lessons 1, 2, and 5. Questions mirror the format used in state pesticide applicator core exams and OSHA outreach assessments to build familiarity with credential testing. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Trade Math and Technical Reading Exam | Written exam | 25% | 80% or higher; all unit labels must be present on numeric answers — a correct number with a missing or wrong unit is marked incorrect. | A 40-question exam combining calculation problems (area, volume, dilution ratios, fertilizer rates, slope, unit conversion) and short-answer technical reading questions requiring students to locate specific information from a provided pesticide label and SDS excerpt. This exam directly maps to the mathematics and label-reading competencies tested in both the State Pesticide Applicator core exam and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified written test. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Digital Tools and Professional Communication Project | Project | 25% | A score of 3 or higher on all four rubric categories (accuracy, completeness, professionalism, technical correctness); any category scored 1 requires revision and resubmission before the student advances. | Students submit a complete job package: a spreadsheet estimate with working formulas for a hypothetical landscape installation, a digital site map with labeled area measurements, a formal work order, and a professional client email — all for the same fictional job scenario. The package is scored on a four-point rubric in each of four categories and models the documentation expected in the Capstone Project. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Career Readiness Oral Review | Oral / panel | 25% | Student must correctly describe both credential pathways (eligibility, exam domains, renewal basics) without inventing requirements, and receive a score of 3 or higher on the interview rubric; a score of 2 or lower on either element requires a one-week remediation and second attempt. | A 15-minute oral session in which the instructor asks the student to explain the State Pesticide Applicator licensing process and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified credential pathway from memory, then poses two unexpected situational questions (e.g., 'A customer asks you to apply a product you are not licensed for — what do you do?') to assess applied understanding of legal and professional obligations. The session concludes with a brief review of the student's submitted resume. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
AGR-HORT49-02 Trade course
Soils: Properties, Health, and Management for Horticulture and Landscaping
105 hr · $1,325 COMPLIMENTARY
Students develop a working knowledge of soil science as it applies to crop production, turf management, and landscape installation, including physical and chemical properties, biological activity, and amendment practices. Emphasis is placed on field sampling, laboratory interpretation, and site-specific fertility planning that support both the State Pesticide Applicator context of safe product application and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified competencies in plant and soil management. By the end of the course, students can evaluate a soil, read a lab report, and build a written amendment and fertility plan for a real site.
Outcomes- Describe the physical properties of soil—texture, structure, bulk density, pore space, and drainage class—and explain how each affects plant growth and landscape performance.
- Collect a representative soil sample using proper technique, submit it for analysis, and accurately interpret a standard soil test report including pH, organic matter, and macronutrient levels.
- Calculate lime and fertilizer application rates from soil test recommendations using unit conversions and area math, and calibrate a spreader to deliver the target rate within an acceptable tolerance.
- Identify signs of nutrient deficiency and toxicity in common landscape and horticultural plants and match them to corrective soil or foliar amendments.
- Describe the role of soil biology—bacteria, fungi, earthworms, and the soil food web—and explain how compaction, tillage, and chemical inputs affect microbial communities.
- Develop a written soil amendment and seasonal fertility management plan for an assigned site that meets agronomic, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
Course text
Students develop a working knowledge of soil science as it applies to crop production, turf management, and landscape installation, including physical and chemical properties, biological activity, and amendment practices. Emphasis is placed on field sampling, laboratory interpretation, and site-specific fertility planning that support both the State Pesticide Applicator context of safe product application and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified competencies in plant and soil management. By the end of the course, students can evaluate a soil, read a lab report, and build a written amendment and fertility plan for a real site.
How the course runs. 9 blocks: Soil Formation, Classification, and the Soil Profile; Soil Texture, Structure, and Physical Properties; Soil Water: Movement, Retention, and Drainage; Soil Chemistry: pH, CEC, and Nutrient Availability; Macronutrients, Micronutrients, and Deficiency Diagnosis; Soil Sampling and Laboratory Analysis; Interpreting Soil Tests and Calculating Amendment Rates; Soil Biology, Organic Matter, and Amendments; Soil Health, Conservation, and the Fertility Management Plan.
What competent looks like. Describe the physical properties of soil—texture, structure, bulk density, pore space, and drainage class—and explain how each affects plant growth and landscape performance. Collect a representative soil sample using proper technique, submit it for analysis, and accurately interpret a standard soil test report including pH, organic matter, and macronutrient levels. Calculate lime and fertilizer application rates from soil test recommendations using unit conversions and area math, and calibrate a spreader to deliver the target rate within an acceptable tolerance. Identify signs of nutrient deficiency and toxicity in common landscape and horticultural plants and match them to corrective soil or foliar amendments. Describe the role of soil biology—bacteria, fungi, earthworms, and the soil food web—and explain how compaction, tillage, and chemical inputs affect microbial communities. Develop a written soil amendment and seasonal fertility management plan for an assigned site that meets agronomic, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soil Formation, Classification, and the Soil Profile | 10 | theory | Students will correctly identify and describe the major soil horizons in a profile diagram and explain how parent material, climate, organisms, topography, and time produce different soil orders common to their region. |
| USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey access, USDA Soil Taxonomy simplified key handout, soil horizon profile poster, soil sample cards, colored pencils, local county soil survey publication | Students correctly label at least 5 of 6 horizons on an exit diagram and answer 4 of 5 short-answer questions about local soil formation factors; pass mark is 80%. |
| 2 | Soil Texture, Structure, and Physical Properties | 14 | lab | Students will determine the textural class of three unknown soil samples using the USDA textural triangle and the jar-settling method, and will measure bulk density and infiltration rate in the field. |
| USDA textural triangle chart, soil samples (sandy loam, clay loam, silt), 1-liter settling jars, dispersing agent, meter sticks, soil core sampler, balance scale, drying oven, double-ring infiltrometers, stopwatch, field notebooks | Correct textural class on at least 2 of 3 samples (within one class of instructor answer); bulk density calculation within 0.05 g/cm³ of instructor calculation; infiltration rate table complete and interpretation paragraph submitted — all three elements required to pass. |
| 3 | Soil Water: Movement, Retention, and Drainage | 10 | theory | Students will explain the concepts of field capacity, permanent wilting point, and plant-available water, and will describe how soil texture and organic matter content influence each. |
| Graph paper or spreadsheet, clear acrylic soil columns, food-dye water, ruler, timer, case-study handout, Soil Science Society of America reference cards, whiteboard | Graph is accurately plotted and annotated; two valid conclusions drawn; case-study response includes at least two technically correct corrective measures — assessed on a rubric, pass mark 75%. |
| 4 | Soil Chemistry: pH, CEC, and Nutrient Availability | 12 | theory | Students will explain how soil pH affects nutrient availability and cation exchange capacity, and will identify the pH ranges optimal for common landscape plants and agronomic crops. |
| pH meters (calibrated), colorimetric pH test kits, buffer solutions, soil samples at varying pH, Troug nutrient availability diagram, state cooperative extension plant pH reference, lab notebooks | pH meter readings within 0.2 units of instructor reference values for 4 of 5 samples; nutrient chart scenario answers at least 80% correct on an in-class quiz. |
| 5 | Macronutrients, Micronutrients, and Deficiency Diagnosis | 12 | demo | Students will match visual deficiency symptoms of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and magnesium to the correct nutrient and explain the physiological reason each symptom appears where it does on the plant. |
| Deficiency photo library (extension service publication or university digital resource), potted specimens with visible symptoms, diagnostic checklist handout, nutrient function and mobility reference card, colored pencils for diagramming | Diagnosis form for each of 5 specimens: minimum 4 of 5 correct nutrient identifications with a valid physiological explanation; role-play documented on checklist and submitted — pass mark 80%. |
| 6 | Soil Sampling and Laboratory Analysis | 12 | field | Students will collect a composite soil sample from an assigned outdoor site using correct depth, grid, and labeling protocol, and will complete a submission form appropriate for their intended land use. |
| Soil probes or push-tube samplers, clean plastic buckets, soil sample bags and mailers, campus site map, state cooperative extension soil sampling guide, submission forms, PPE (gloves, boots), field notebooks | Correctly filled submission form with all required fields; proper composite technique observed by instructor on a field checklist (pass/fail, all critical steps must be completed correctly); annotated report returned within one class period of receiving results. |
| 7 | Interpreting Soil Tests and Calculating Amendment Rates | 15 | practice | Students will read a standard soil test report, determine lime and fertilizer needs, and calculate the quantity of product required for a defined area, converting units correctly and calibrating a rotary spreader. |
| Sample soil test reports (three scenarios), state extension interpretation tables, fertilizer bags with grade labels, calculator, graph paper, rotary broadcast spreader, collection tarp, scale, measuring tape, safety glasses | Math practice set: at least 8 of 10 calculations correct; spreader calibration: final setting delivers target rate within ±10% verified by instructor weighing — both elements required to pass. Maps to NALP LIC plant and soil management and integrated pest management competency areas. |
| 8 | Soil Biology, Organic Matter, and Amendments | 12 | lab | Students will describe the roles of bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and earthworms in nutrient cycling and will evaluate the quality of a compost sample using physical and chemical indicators. |
| Soil food web diagram (USDA NRCS Soil Biology Primer or equivalent), compost and amendment samples, pH meter, moisture meter, odor and visual assessment rubric, extension guidelines for organic amendment rates, lab notebooks | Nitrogen pathway diagram complete and accurate (at least 4 of 5 steps correct); compost assessment form complete with justification; amendment plan contains product, rate, timing, and method — rubric score 75% or higher to pass. |
| 9 | Soil Health, Conservation, and the Fertility Management Plan | 8 | practice | Students will synthesize all course content to produce a written site-specific soil fertility and amendment management plan for a real or simulated landscape or horticultural site, including environmental stewardship considerations. |
| Student soil test reports, site notes, fertility plan template, state nutrient management guidelines, calculator, extension publication on cover crops and mulching, peer review checklist | Final fertility plan submitted with all required sections; amendment rates correctly calculated and consistent with soil test recommendations; environmental stewardship section addresses at least one runoff or leaching risk — rubric score 80% or higher to pass. Directly maps to NALP LIC integrated landscape management competency. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soils Knowledge Examination | Written exam | 25% | 75% or higher (minimum 38 of 50 points) | A 50-question written exam covering soil formation, physical and chemical properties, nutrient cycling, soil biology, and interpretation of soil test data, drawn from all nine lessons. Questions include multiple choice, matching (nutrient deficiency symptoms to nutrients), and short-answer calculations of amendment rates; this exam maps to the NALP Landscape Industry Certified plant and soil management content domain and reinforces the agronomic knowledge base underlying safe pesticide use for the State Pesticide Applicator credential. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Soil Sampling and Amendment Calculation Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Pass on all critical steps of the field checklist AND math calculations within ±10% of correct answer | The student independently collects a composite soil sample from a designated outdoor plot using correct depth, sub-sample count, mixing, labeling, and submission-form completion, observed by the instructor against a critical-step checklist; the student then receives a printed soil test report for the site and, within 20 minutes, calculates the lime and fertilizer quantities required for a stated area. This demonstration directly addresses the NALP LIC competency in soil sampling and fertility management and reinforces the precision-measurement skills introduced in the Universal Core course. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Laboratory and Field Log | Log | 15% | Complete entries for all 9 lessons with rubric score of 75% or higher; any missing critical safety observation entry must be corrected before a passing grade is awarded | Students maintain a continuous lab and field notebook throughout the course, recording procedures, raw data, calculations, observations, and written interpretations for every lab, field, and practice lesson; instructors review entries at three checkpoints (after Lessons 3, 6, and 9) and evaluate accuracy of data, completeness of interpretation, and correctness of calculations using a standard rubric. The log functions as a portfolio artifact demonstrating ongoing applied competence and is aligned with NALP LIC documentation practices. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Safety Practices Check: Soil Amendment and Spreader Operations | Safety audit | 15% | 100% on all critical safety behaviors; any critical failure requires immediate remediation and re-check before the student may continue field work | During the spreader calibration activity in Lesson 7, the instructor uses a binary (observed/not observed) safety checklist to verify that the student selects and wears appropriate PPE for granular fertilizer handling, reads the product label before loading, keeps bystanders clear of the spreader path, and correctly disposes of or stores excess product; this check reinforces OSHA general industry safety principles from the Universal Core course and directly supports the environmental stewardship requirements embedded in the State Pesticide Applicator licensing framework. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
AGR-HORT49-03 Trade course
Crop Production: Principles and Field Practices
104 hr · $1,310 COMPLIMENTARY
Students learn the science and hands-on management of field and specialty crops grown in commercial horticulture and agricultural settings, covering plant physiology, planting systems, fertility, pest scouting, and harvest. Lessons integrate soil knowledge from Course 2 and prepare students for the crop and plant identification components of the NALP Landscape Industry Certified exam and the agronomic knowledge base required for the State Pesticide Applicator license. By course end, students can plan, establish, monitor, and document a production cycle for a selected crop.
Outcomes- Identify the growth stages of at least five commercially grown crops and explain how each stage drives management decisions.
- Calculate seeding rates, row spacing, and plant population targets for a given field plot using standard agronomic formulas.
- Scout a crop planting for insect pests, diseases, and weeds, record findings on a standardized scouting form, and recommend an integrated pest management response.
- Select and apply appropriate fertilizer type and rate based on a soil test report and crop nutrient requirements without exceeding label or regulatory limits.
- Operate common crop production equipment — including hand seeders, irrigation headers, and spreaders — safely and correctly, following lockout/tagout and PPE protocols.
- Produce a written crop production plan and post-harvest log that meets industry documentation standards used in NALP and pesticide license record-keeping.
Course text
Students learn the science and hands-on management of field and specialty crops grown in commercial horticulture and agricultural settings, covering plant physiology, planting systems, fertility, pest scouting, and harvest. Lessons integrate soil knowledge from Course 2 and prepare students for the crop and plant identification components of the NALP Landscape Industry Certified exam and the agronomic knowledge base required for the State Pesticide Applicator license. By course end, students can plan, establish, monitor, and document a production cycle for a selected crop.
How the course runs. 9 blocks: Plant Physiology and Crop Growth Stages; Seed Selection, Seeding Rates, and Plant Population Math; Planting Methods, Equipment, and Field Setup; Crop Nutrition and Fertilizer Application; Irrigation Scheduling and Water Management for Crops; Integrated Pest Management and Crop Scouting; Weed Identification and Cultural Weed Control; Harvest, Post-Harvest Handling, and Crop Quality Standards; Crop Production Planning and Documentation.
What competent looks like. Identify the growth stages of at least five commercially grown crops and explain how each stage drives management decisions. Calculate seeding rates, row spacing, and plant population targets for a given field plot using standard agronomic formulas. Scout a crop planting for insect pests, diseases, and weeds, record findings on a standardized scouting form, and recommend an integrated pest management response. Select and apply appropriate fertilizer type and rate based on a soil test report and crop nutrient requirements without exceeding label or regulatory limits. Operate common crop production equipment — including hand seeders, irrigation headers, and spreaders — safely and correctly, following lockout/tagout and PPE protocols. Produce a written crop production plan and post-harvest log that meets industry documentation standards used in NALP and pesticide license record-keeping.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plant Physiology and Crop Growth Stages | 10 | theory | Students will identify the principal growth stages of at least five commercially grown crops and explain the physiological processes — germination, vegetative growth, reproductive development, and senescence — that define each stage. |
| Whiteboard, crop growth-stage wall charts, USDA NRCS crop guides, annotated diagram handouts, student crop notebooks, projector | Exit-ticket quiz scored against an answer key; students must correctly identify the growth stage and associated management action for at least 4 of 5 crops to pass (80%). |
| 2 | Seed Selection, Seeding Rates, and Plant Population Math | 10 | theory | Students will calculate seeding rate, seed per acre, and target plant population for at least three crops using germination percentage, seed count, and row-spacing formulas. |
| Calculators, ruler, seed-company catalogs or handouts with seed count per pound data, scenario cards, graph paper for spacing diagrams, trade math reference sheet from Course 1 | Worksheet scored by instructor; students must complete all three scenario calculations with correct setup and answer within 10% of the key value to pass. |
| 3 | Planting Methods, Equipment, and Field Setup | 12 | demo | Students will demonstrate safe setup and operation of a hand-push plate seeder and a broadcast spreader, and describe the correct sequence for laying out row spacing and transplant spacing in a production plot. |
| Hand-push plate seeder, broadcast spreader, inert fill material (sand) for calibration, stakes, string, 100-ft measuring tape, PPE (gloves, safety glasses, steel-toed boots), lockout/tagout tags, equipment hazard sheets | Instructor checklist: each student must correctly install the plate, load the hopper, calibrate coverage on the tarp, and lay out one row within 2 inches of target spacing; any PPE omission is an automatic restart. |
| 4 | Crop Nutrition and Fertilizer Application | 12 | lab | Students will read a soil test report, identify nutrient deficiencies, and calculate fertilizer type and rate needed to meet crop requirements without exceeding recommended application levels. |
| Sample soil test reports, nutrient requirement reference tables (Cooperative Extension publications), granular fertilizer samples (labeled containers), digital scale, measuring cups, safety gloves, dust mask, fertilizer prescription worksheets | Fertilizer prescription worksheet scored by instructor: correct identification of at least two deficiencies, correct rate calculation within 10% of key, and correct product selected; all PPE worn during weighing — 80% overall to pass. |
| 5 | Irrigation Scheduling and Water Management for Crops | 10 | theory | Students will explain evapotranspiration-based irrigation scheduling and calculate a basic weekly water requirement for a named crop given ET rate and rainfall data. |
| Cooperative Extension irrigation scheduling guides, ET data tables, crop coefficient tables, calculators, irrigation run-time worksheet, projector for ET concept diagrams | Irrigation worksheet: students must correctly compute net irrigation need and run-time for two crop scenarios; passing score is both answers within 15% of key value. |
| 6 | Integrated Pest Management and Crop Scouting | 14 | field | Students will conduct a structured IPM scout of an assigned crop plot, correctly identify at least three pest or disease signs using a diagnostic key, complete a standardized scouting form, and recommend a control threshold-based response. |
| Standardized scouting forms (program-developed), hand lenses (10×), insect specimen vials, disease photo reference cards, dichotomous identification key, tablet or phone for photos, PPE (closed-toe shoes, long sleeves, gloves), Cooperative Extension IPM guides | Completed scouting form reviewed by instructor: correct identification of at least 3 of 4 planted pest signs, accurate density calculation, and a defensible IPM recommendation aligned to threshold data — 80% of rubric points to pass. |
| 7 | Weed Identification and Cultural Weed Control | 10 | lab | Students will identify ten common crop-field weeds by common and scientific name and select appropriate cultural control methods — cultivation timing, mulching, cover crops — for each. |
| Pressed herbarium specimens or potted weed specimens (10 species), weed ID reference (regional Cooperative Extension weed guide), hand lenses, weed phenology charts, cover crop fact sheets, student ID sheets | Weed ID sheet: students must correctly identify at least 8 of 10 weeds by common name and 6 of 10 by scientific name; cultivation timing and cover crop T-chart reviewed for logical reasoning — 80% overall to pass. |
| 8 | Harvest, Post-Harvest Handling, and Crop Quality Standards | 10 | practice | Students will apply correct harvest maturity indicators for two assigned crops, harvest a sample from the practice plot using proper technique, and complete a post-harvest quality log meeting commercial grading criteria. |
| Refractometer, color reference charts (USDA produce grading guides), harvest knives, pruning shears, picking buckets, digital scale, post-harvest log forms, PPE (cut-resistant gloves, closed-toe boots), produce grading standards reference | Post-harvest log reviewed by instructor: all required fields completed, yield and grade percentages calculated correctly, and Brix reading recorded within ±0.5 of instructor standard — 80% of rubric to pass. |
| 9 | Crop Production Planning and Documentation | 16 | practice | Students will produce a complete, written crop production plan for a self-selected crop that includes site assessment, variety selection, planting schedule, fertility plan, IPM monitoring schedule, irrigation schedule, and projected harvest log, formatted to industry documentation standards. |
| Crop production plan template (program-developed), peer review rubric, all previous course reference materials, calculators, laptop or paper for drafting, projector for model example | Instructor scores final written plan on the rubric: all eight sections present, at least three calculations correct within 10%, IPM schedule tied to scouting thresholds, presentation delivered within time — 80% of rubric points to pass. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crop Science Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% correct (75 of 100 points) | A 50-item written exam covering plant growth stages, seeding-rate math, nutrient deficiency identification, ET-based irrigation scheduling, pest economic thresholds, weed ID, and harvest maturity indicators, aligned to the agronomic knowledge domains tested in the NALP Landscape Industry Certified exam and the core science content of the State Pesticide Applicator license. Items include multiple choice, short calculation, and label-the-diagram formats. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Field Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Pass all critical tasks; 80% of rubric points overall | In a live, timed field evaluation, each student sets up and calibrates a hand seeder, lays out a four-row plot to specified spacing, conducts a W-pattern IPM scout on an assigned bed, completes a scouting form, and harvests and grades a sample — assessed by the instructor on a task-by-task rubric. Any critical safety failure (missing PPE, unsafe equipment operation) results in an immediate stop and requires a full re-demonstration before a passing grade can be awarded. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Crop Production Lab Log | Log | 15% | 80% of rubric points; no missing required entries | Students submit their cumulative crop notebook containing completed activities from all nine lessons: annotated growth-stage diagrams, seeding-rate worksheets, fertilizer prescription, irrigation calculations, scouting forms with pest counts, weed ID sheets, post-harvest quality log, and the final crop production plan. The log is evaluated for completeness, calculation accuracy, and the quality of written observations, and serves as the documentation artifact that mirrors real-world grower record-keeping and State Pesticide Applicator record requirements. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Equipment and Chemical Safety Check | Safety audit | 15% | 100% on all mandatory safety steps; no re-attempt on final check-off | A structured, one-on-one safety check-off in which the instructor observes each student correctly don full PPE for a simulated fertilizer application (gloves, eye protection, dust mask), perform a pre-operation inspection of the broadcast spreader, recite the lockout/tagout sequence for a powered tiller, and locate the SDS for a sample input product. Every listed safety step is mandatory; any missed step requires corrective instruction and a complete re-check before the student may continue in the program. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
AGR-HORT49-04 Trade course
Irrigation Systems: Design, Installation, and Maintenance
104 hr · $1,310 COMPLIMENTARY
Students learn to design, install, troubleshoot, and maintain residential and commercial irrigation systems, including drip, spray, and rotor technologies, with emphasis on water conservation and regulatory compliance. Lessons integrate hydraulic principles, system layout math, controller programming, and hands-on pipe assembly. Mapped lessons support NALP Landscape Industry Certified exam competencies in irrigation.
Outcomes- Calculate static and dynamic water pressure, flow rate, and pipe friction loss to size components for a simple irrigation system.
- Design a zone layout using scaled drawings that matches precipitation rates, plant water needs, and site hydrology.
- Install, splice, and pressure-test PVC and polyethylene mainline and lateral pipe using manufacturer-specified methods.
- Program a multi-zone irrigation controller and a rain/soil-moisture sensor to meet an ET-based irrigation schedule.
- Diagnose and repair common irrigation failures including broken heads, valve leaks, and controller faults using systematic troubleshooting.
- Apply all relevant personal protective equipment and safe excavation practices while complying with Dig Safe/811 call requirements before any ground disturbance.
Course text
Students learn to design, install, troubleshoot, and maintain residential and commercial irrigation systems, including drip, spray, and rotor technologies, with emphasis on water conservation and regulatory compliance. Lessons integrate hydraulic principles, system layout math, controller programming, and hands-on pipe assembly. Mapped lessons support NALP Landscape Industry Certified exam competencies in irrigation.
How the course runs. 9 blocks: Water Basics and Irrigation Fundamentals; Safety on the Irrigation Job Site; Hydraulics and System Math; Reading Plans, Specifications, and Codes; System Design and Layout; Pipe, Fittings, and Component Installation; Valves, Controllers, and Sensors; Troubleshooting and System Auditing; Water Conservation, Regulations, and Professional Practice.
What competent looks like. Calculate static and dynamic water pressure, flow rate, and pipe friction loss to size components for a simple irrigation system. Design a zone layout using scaled drawings that matches precipitation rates, plant water needs, and site hydrology. Install, splice, and pressure-test PVC and polyethylene mainline and lateral pipe using manufacturer-specified methods. Program a multi-zone irrigation controller and a rain/soil-moisture sensor to meet an ET-based irrigation schedule. Diagnose and repair common irrigation failures including broken heads, valve leaks, and controller faults using systematic troubleshooting. Apply all relevant personal protective equipment and safe excavation practices while complying with Dig Safe/811 call requirements before any ground disturbance.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Water Basics and Irrigation Fundamentals | 10 | theory | Students explain the water cycle, evapotranspiration, and the relationship between water pressure, flow rate, and pipe diameter as they apply to landscape irrigation. |
| Whiteboard, projector, NALP LIC study guide (irrigation module), manufacturer spec sheets (Hunter, Rain Bird, or equivalent), scientific calculators, student notebooks | 10-question written quiz on ET, pressure/flow relationships, and system type selection; pass mark 70%. |
| 2 | Safety on the Irrigation Job Site | 8 | theory | Students identify and apply OSHA excavation safety rules, Dig Safe/811 underground utility notification requirements, PPE selection, and tool-specific hazards before performing any ground disturbance. |
| OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P reference card, 811 awareness handout, sample utility maps, PPE inventory (glasses, gloves, boots, vest, hearing protection), PPE inspection checklist | Instructor signs off PPE checklist for each student (100% correct donning required); verbal quiz on three excavation hazards and corrective actions — all three must be answered correctly before student may participate in field lessons. |
| 3 | Hydraulics and System Math | 12 | theory | Students apply friction-loss tables, the continuity equation, and precipitation-rate formulas to size pipe, select heads, and balance zones for a given site. |
| Scientific calculators, friction-loss tables (PVC and PE pipe), manufacturer head-performance charts (Rain Bird or Hunter), printed site plans, rulers, graph paper | Graded math problem set (10 items covering friction loss, precipitation rate, and zone balancing); pass mark 75%; errors on safety-critical sizing steps (undersized main, pressure below head minimum) reviewed individually before advancing. |
| 4 | Reading Plans, Specifications, and Codes | 8 | theory | Students interpret a scaled irrigation plan, a written specification, and applicable local backflow-prevention requirements to identify components and sequence of work. |
| Sample scaled irrigation plan (instructor-prepared or from a public project), sample specification section, irrigation symbol legend, backflow preventer reference handout, colored pencils | Symbol identification scored out of 20 (pass 16/20); specification scavenger hunt graded for accuracy (pass 8/10); instructor reviews backflow annotation before student proceeds to design lesson. |
| 5 | System Design and Layout | 14 | lab | Students produce a complete, dimensioned, zone-by-zone irrigation design on graph paper for an assigned residential site, including a component schedule and precipitation-rate calculations. |
| Graph paper (1/8-inch grid), scaled site plans, ruler, compass, colored pencils, manufacturer catalog pages, design checklist, scientific calculator | Completed design package reviewed against a rubric: hydrozones correctly identified, precipitation rates balanced within 15% across heads in each zone, all components scheduled, pipe sized correctly — pass requires 80% rubric score with no unsized main or unprotected water supply. |
| 6 | Pipe, Fittings, and Component Installation | 18 | practice | Students cut, prime, solvent-cement, and pressure-test PVC pipe and fittings, and install polyethylene drip tubing using barbed fittings and compression connections to manufacturer specifications. |
| Schedule 40 PVC pipe (various diameters), PVC fittings, PVC primer and cement, ratchet pipe cutters, hacksaw, deburring tool, polyethylene drip tubing, barbed fittings, end caps, pressure-compensating emitters, hand pump pressure test kit with gauge, safety glasses, nitrile gloves, manufacturer installation instructions | Each student's assembly holds test pressure with zero drop over the required hold time (instructor-specified); lab log entry includes material list, pressure readings, and any repair made — both must be satisfactory to pass. |
| 7 | Valves, Controllers, and Sensors | 14 | demo | Students wire a solenoid valve to a multi-zone irrigation controller, program a water-budget schedule, and verify correct operation using a rain sensor and a soil-moisture sensor. |
| Multi-zone irrigation controllers (2-wire or traditional multi-conductor, instructor-selected brand), 24 VAC solenoid valves, 18-gauge valve wire, wire strippers, multimeter, rain sensor, soil-moisture sensor, controller manuals, shop training board with simulated valve loads, lab log sheets | Wiring checked for correct terminal connections and no short circuits (instructor signs off); programmed schedule verified: all zones activate, run to correct time, and sensors override correctly — pass requires 100% functional check with no wiring errors. |
| 8 | Troubleshooting and System Auditing | 12 | field | Students diagnose and repair five seeded faults in a functioning training-yard irrigation system and calculate distribution uniformity from catch-can audit data. |
| Training-yard irrigation system with planted zones, pressure gauge with Schrader valve adapter, catch cans (minimum 16), measuring cups, ruler, stopwatch, multimeter, replacement nozzles and heads, pipe repair couplings, shovels, PPE (gloves, safety glasses, boots), fault-finding worksheet, audit report template | All five faults correctly identified and repaired (instructor confirms each repair holds); DU calculated correctly within ±5 percentage points of instructor's measurement; audit report earns at least 75% on the accuracy rubric. |
| 9 | Water Conservation, Regulations, and Professional Practice | 8 | theory | Students explain ET-based scheduling, water-budget restrictions, and the professional standards that govern irrigation contractor work, including licensing and cross-connection requirements. |
| Sample water bills, ET reference charts (state extension or NOAA climate data), state water authority website access, computers or tablets, NALP LIC exam blueprint (irrigation section), self-assessment worksheet | Written water-savings summary graded for correct arithmetic and logical recommendations (pass 70%); regulatory research summary reviewed for accuracy by instructor before submission; self-assessment gap analysis completed and signed by instructor. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irrigation Systems Written Exam | Written exam | 25% | 70% correct (28 of 40 questions) | A 40-question multiple-choice and short-answer exam covering hydraulic principles, friction-loss calculations, precipitation-rate math, system design rules, controller programming, troubleshooting logic, backflow-prevention requirements, and water-conservation concepts. Questions are aligned to NALP Landscape Industry Certified irrigation competency areas to support credential readiness. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Irrigation Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Instructor signs off all critical steps; overall rubric score of 80% or higher; any safety or code violation requires immediate stop and remediation before re-attempt | Each student independently designs a two-zone system for an assigned site, installs and pressure-tests a PVC lateral with two spray heads, wires and programs a controller, and performs a catch-can audit — all evaluated against a standardized rubric with weighted criteria for accuracy, workmanship, and safety compliance. This demonstration directly mirrors NALP LIC hands-on skill areas for irrigation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Irrigation Lab Log | Log | 15% | 80% of entries scored satisfactory; all pressure-test records and sensor-setting entries must be present and accurate | Students maintain a running lab log throughout the course documenting each hands-on activity: materials used, measurements taken, pressure-test readings, controller settings, fault-finding notes, and audit calculations. The log is collected at the end of the course and scored for completeness, accuracy of recorded data, and correct units. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Job-Site Safety Check | Safety audit | 15% | 100% compliance on all critical items; any critical failure (missing PPE, unlocated utilities, unsupported trench wall) requires immediate correction and a full re-check before the student may continue field work | Before the first field lesson and again before the fault-finding field activity, the instructor administers a structured safety observation checklist covering PPE donning, 811 call confirmation, excavation hazard identification, solvent-cement ventilation, and electrical safety for low-voltage wiring. The checklist is binary — each item is either compliant or non-compliant — and 100% compliance on all critical items is required to pass. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
AGR-HORT49-05 Trade course
Greenhouse Production and Environment Management
104 hr · $1,310 COMPLIMENTARY
Students learn to operate and maintain a commercial or educational greenhouse, covering structure systems, environmental controls, propagation, growing media, crop scheduling, and integrated pest management. Lessons connect hands-on bench work with the science behind plant response to light, temperature, humidity, CO2, water, and nutrition. Coursework maps directly to NALP Landscape Industry Certified horticulture knowledge areas and reinforces pesticide-label literacy required for the State Pesticide Applicator license.
Outcomes- Identify and operate greenhouse structural systems—covering materials, ventilation, heating, cooling, and supplemental lighting—and adjust set points to maintain target growing conditions.
- Prepare growing media formulations appropriate for container production and propagation, interpreting soil-less media labels and pH/EC test results to make corrective amendments.
- Propagate plants from seed, cuttings, and division using sanitary technique, appropriate rooting media, and mist or humidity management, achieving documented germination or rooting rates.
- Develop and follow a crop production schedule that coordinates seeding or liner dates, transplanting, spacing, pinching, and finish dates to meet a specified market or program deadline.
- Apply integrated pest management principles in the greenhouse setting: scout systematically, identify common greenhouse pests and diseases to genus level, select and apply control measures in compliance with pesticide label requirements and PPE standards.
- Maintain accurate production records—including environmental logs, fertility records, and spray records—and communicate findings in a written crop-status report.
Course text
Students learn to operate and maintain a commercial or educational greenhouse, covering structure systems, environmental controls, propagation, growing media, crop scheduling, and integrated pest management. Lessons connect hands-on bench work with the science behind plant response to light, temperature, humidity, CO2, water, and nutrition. Coursework maps directly to NALP Landscape Industry Certified horticulture knowledge areas and reinforces pesticide-label literacy required for the State Pesticide Applicator license.
How the course runs. 9 blocks: Greenhouse Structures, Covering Materials, and Safety Orientation; Environmental Controls: Temperature, Humidity, Ventilation, and CO2; Supplemental Lighting: HPS, LED, and Photoperiod Control; Growing Media: Components, Formulation, and Testing; Plant Propagation: Seed, Cuttings, and Division; Fertility and Irrigation Management; Integrated Pest Management in the Greenhouse; Crop Scheduling and Production Planning; Record Keeping, Compliance, and Greenhouse Business Essentials.
What competent looks like. Identify and operate greenhouse structural systems—covering materials, ventilation, heating, cooling, and supplemental lighting—and adjust set points to maintain target growing conditions. Prepare growing media formulations appropriate for container production and propagation, interpreting soil-less media labels and pH/EC test results to make corrective amendments. Propagate plants from seed, cuttings, and division using sanitary technique, appropriate rooting media, and mist or humidity management, achieving documented germination or rooting rates. Develop and follow a crop production schedule that coordinates seeding or liner dates, transplanting, spacing, pinching, and finish dates to meet a specified market or program deadline. Apply integrated pest management principles in the greenhouse setting: scout systematically, identify common greenhouse pests and diseases to genus level, select and apply control measures in compliance with pesticide label requirements and PPE standards. Maintain accurate production records—including environmental logs, fertility records, and spray records—and communicate findings in a written crop-status report.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenhouse Structures, Covering Materials, and Safety Orientation | 10 | theory | Students identify the major structural types (gutter-connected, freestanding, hoop house) and covering materials (glass, double-wall polycarbonate, polyethylene film) and state the safety rules—fall protection, glass handling, chemical storage—governing greenhouse work. |
| Greenhouse cross-section diagrams, covering-material samples, lux meter, safety inspection checklist, OSHA Greenhouse Worker Safety fact sheet, tape measure | Students score 80% or higher on a 20-question written quiz identifying structural components, covering materials, and matching each safety rule to its hazard; instructor verifies each student can locate and operate the emergency ventilation shut-off. |
| 2 | Environmental Controls: Temperature, Humidity, Ventilation, and CO2 | 12 | demo | Students explain how temperature differentials (DIF), relative humidity, air circulation, and CO2 concentration influence plant growth rate and quality, and demonstrate how to read and adjust a greenhouse controller to reach an instructor-specified set point. |
| Greenhouse environmental controller, thermometers (dry-bulb and wet-bulb or digital RH sensor), VPD reference chart, data recording sheets, paired DIF demonstration flats, ruler | Students correctly adjust controller set points and record environmental data within ±2 °F and ±5% RH of target for all three monitoring periods; pass mark is accurate readings on all three intervals plus a correct written VPD calculation for one scenario. |
| 3 | Supplemental Lighting: HPS, LED, and Photoperiod Control | 8 | theory | Students distinguish between photosynthetic (DLI-based grow lighting) and photoperiodic (day-length control) lighting strategies and calculate daily light integral (DLI) for a given crop and location. |
| PPFD/DLI calculation worksheet, HPS and LED spec sheets, photoperiod classification reference (e.g., Greenhouse Crop Production textbook), calculator, black cloth sample | Students complete DLI calculations with no mathematical errors and classify all five crops correctly; pass mark is 80% on a combined 10-question quiz covering DLI math and photoperiod classification. |
| 4 | Growing Media: Components, Formulation, and Testing | 12 | lab | Students blend a peat-based soilless mix and a bark-based mix to instructor specifications, then measure and interpret pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of both mixes and a leachate sample using the pour-through extraction method. |
| Peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, bark fines, dolomitic limestone, scale (0.1 g resolution), measuring buckets, pH meter with buffer solution, EC meter, distilled water, formulation log sheets, pots (6-inch), published media pH/EC target ranges chart | Each student's blended mix pH falls within ±0.3 of target range and EC within ±0.5 dS/m of target; amendment decisions on all three scenario cards are correct and mechanistically justified; pass requires all three criteria met. |
| 5 | Plant Propagation: Seed, Cuttings, and Division | 14 | practice | Students propagate plants by three methods—direct seeding, stem-tip cuttings, and crown division—following sanitary protocol, and achieve a germination or rooting result documented in a propagation log. |
| 72-cell plug trays, 50-cell propagation trays, propagation mix, seeds (two species), stock plants for cuttings, rooting hormone powder or gel (IBA-based), sanitized cutting blades, isopropyl alcohol (70%), herbaceous perennial divisions, 4-inch pots, clear poly film, misting nozzle, propagation log sheets, plant labels, permanent markers | Student achieves minimum 70% germination for seeded trays by Day 14, minimum 70% rooting on cuttings by Day 21, and all four divisions show new shoot emergence by Day 14; propagation log is complete with dates, species, method, and percentage outcomes. |
| 6 | Fertility and Irrigation Management | 14 | lab | Students calculate fertilizer injection rates using a concentrate stock-tank method, calibrate a proportioner (injector), and apply a fertility program that matches crop nutritional requirements at documented target ppm N. |
| Water-soluble fertilizer (20-20-20 or similar), mixing containers, gram scale, proportioner/injector, EC meter, pH meter, graduated cylinder, fertigation log sheet, crop EC target range chart, safety glasses, chemical-resistant gloves | Calculated stock solution delivers ppm N within ±10% of target as confirmed by EC measurement; leachate EC is within published acceptable range for the crop stage; fertigation log is complete; pass requires both numerical checks met and log completed. |
| 7 | Integrated Pest Management in the Greenhouse | 16 | field | Students conduct a systematic IPM scout of an active greenhouse, identify pest and disease specimens to genus level using a hand lens and dichotomous key, and produce a written spray recommendation that complies with pesticide label requirements and specifies correct PPE. |
| Scouting forms, 10× hand lens, dichotomous pest/disease identification key (e.g., Identifying Greenhouse Pests and Diseases, Agrios or equivalent), preserved or live pest specimens, pesticide labels (two products), calculator, PPE: gloves (chemical-resistant), safety glasses, respirator (appropriate cartridge for product), scouting map of greenhouse | Students correctly identify at least 5 of 6 pest/disease specimens; scouting form is complete for all 20 plants; spray recommendation includes all required label elements with no safety omissions; pass requires 80% identification accuracy and a complete, label-compliant recommendation. |
| 8 | Crop Scheduling and Production Planning | 10 | theory | Students backward-schedule a bedding plant or potted flowering crop from a specified finish (sale) date, identifying all crop stages with calendar dates, space requirements, and cultural tasks. |
| Calendar templates, crop time references (ball seed catalog or equivalent published crop culture guide), graph paper, ruler, calculator, sample production records, degree-day explanation handout | Backward schedule is mathematically correct with all stage dates within ±3 days; space calculation is accurate; corrective recommendation is biologically sound; pass mark is 80% on a rubric evaluating schedule accuracy, space math, and recommendation quality. |
| 9 | Record Keeping, Compliance, and Greenhouse Business Essentials | 8 | theory | Students compile a complete production file for one crop cycle—including environmental logs, irrigation and fertility records, spray records, and a crop-status report—and explain the legal record-keeping requirements associated with pesticide applications relevant to the State Pesticide Applicator license. |
| All previously completed field data sheets, crop production file folders, sample pesticide application record form, price list for inputs, calculator, State Pesticide Applicator record-keeping requirement summary (state extension publication) | Production file is complete (all six required documents present and internally consistent); pesticide application record has no missing required fields; cost-per-unit calculation is arithmetically correct; pass requires all three elements fully correct. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse Systems and Crop Production Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% correct (minimum 38 of 50 items) | A 50-item written exam covering greenhouse structure and covering materials, environmental control principles, lighting and photoperiod, soilless media formulation and testing, fertilizer calculations, pest and disease identification, and crop scheduling concepts. Items include multiple-choice, matching, and short-answer calculation problems drawn from all nine lessons. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Propagation and IPM Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Pass on all four criteria of the standardized rubric; any 'fail' criterion requires one repeat attempt within one week | Students demonstrate four skills in sequence before the instructor: (1) take and stick three stem-tip cuttings using sanitary technique and correct rooting hormone application, (2) perform a greenhouse scout of a 10-plant section and complete the scouting form, (3) identify two unknown pest specimens with a hand lens, and (4) read a pesticide label aloud and state the required PPE and REI. Each criterion is scored pass/fail on the rubric. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Greenhouse Production Lab Log | Log | 15% | 80% of possible points on the lab log rubric; entries for all nine lessons must be present | Students maintain a bound lab log throughout the course documenting each hands-on lesson: objectives, procedures followed, data recorded (measurements, calculations, observations), results, and a brief interpretation or corrective action statement. The instructor reviews the log at midpoint and at the end of the course, scoring completeness, data accuracy, interpretation quality, and legibility. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Pesticide Handling and PPE Safety Check | Safety audit | 15% | 100% on all required safety steps; any missed critical safety step results in immediate stop and a mandatory repeat before the student handles pesticides again | The instructor observes each student select, don, and doff PPE appropriate for a simulated pesticide mixing scenario (gloves, eye protection, and additional items per a provided label), read the label to confirm crop, rate, and REI, prepare a dilute solution at the correct rate in a sprayer, and dispose of rinsate appropriately. A critical-step checklist with no-fail items (correct PPE on before contact, correct rate, safe disposal) is used; all critical steps must be completed correctly. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
AGR-HORT49-06 Trade course
Turfgrass Science and Management
104 hr · $1,310 COMPLIMENTARY
Students learn the identification, establishment, maintenance, and renovation of cool-season and warm-season turfgrasses used in lawns, athletic fields, and commercial landscapes. The course integrates soil science, irrigation principles, pest and disease management, and equipment operation to produce healthy, sustainable turf. Lessons map directly to NALP Landscape Industry Certified exam content areas and reinforce pesticide applicator license prerequisites.
Outcomes- Identify the major cool-season and warm-season turfgrass species by leaf texture, growth habit, and adaptation zone and match each to appropriate use and maintenance level.
- Develop and justify a seasonal turf maintenance calendar that includes mowing, fertilization, aeration, overseeding, and irrigation scheduling based on soil test results and local climate.
- Operate and perform pre-use safety inspections on walk-behind mowers, riding mowers, aerators, and spreaders following manufacturer and OSHA guidelines.
- Diagnose common turf problems—including nutrient deficiencies, thatch, compaction, weeds, and fungal diseases—and prescribe integrated pest management (IPM) solutions.
- Calculate fertilizer application rates, lime requirements, and seeding rates from a soil test report using trade math, and calibrate a rotary spreader to deliver those rates accurately.
- Prepare and present a written turf renovation plan, including a site assessment, soil test interpretation, product selection, and phased work schedule.
Course text
Students learn the identification, establishment, maintenance, and renovation of cool-season and warm-season turfgrasses used in lawns, athletic fields, and commercial landscapes. The course integrates soil science, irrigation principles, pest and disease management, and equipment operation to produce healthy, sustainable turf. Lessons map directly to NALP Landscape Industry Certified exam content areas and reinforce pesticide applicator license prerequisites.
How the course runs. 9 blocks: Turfgrass Identification and Adaptation Zones; Turf Establishment: Seeding, Sodding, and Sprigging; Soil Testing, Fertilization Programs, and Nutrient Math; Mowing Principles and Equipment Safety; Irrigation Scheduling and Water Management for Turf; Thatch, Compaction, Aeration, and Overseeding; Turf Pest, Disease, and Weed Identification and IPM; Athletic Field and Commercial Turf Maintenance Practices; Turf Renovation Planning and Credential Exam Review.
What competent looks like. Identify the major cool-season and warm-season turfgrass species by leaf texture, growth habit, and adaptation zone and match each to appropriate use and maintenance level. Develop and justify a seasonal turf maintenance calendar that includes mowing, fertilization, aeration, overseeding, and irrigation scheduling based on soil test results and local climate. Operate and perform pre-use safety inspections on walk-behind mowers, riding mowers, aerators, and spreaders following manufacturer and OSHA guidelines. Diagnose common turf problems—including nutrient deficiencies, thatch, compaction, weeds, and fungal diseases—and prescribe integrated pest management (IPM) solutions. Calculate fertilizer application rates, lime requirements, and seeding rates from a soil test report using trade math, and calibrate a rotary spreader to deliver those rates accurately. Prepare and present a written turf renovation plan, including a site assessment, soil test interpretation, product selection, and phased work schedule.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turfgrass Identification and Adaptation Zones | 10 | lab | Students correctly identify at least eight common turf species from live specimens and clippings using morphological keys and match each species to its climate adaptation zone and primary use. |
| Live turfgrass plugs and clippings, hand lenses, stereoscope (if available), USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Duble's Turfgrasses: Their Management and Use in the Southern Zone and Christians et al. Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management, field notebooks, smartphones for photo documentation. | Students correctly identify 8 of 10 unknown turfgrass specimens on a labeled-specimen practical quiz; pass mark is 80%. |
| 2 | Turf Establishment: Seeding, Sodding, and Sprigging | 12 | field | Students prepare a seedbed and establish a designated turf plot using at least two establishment methods—seeding and sodding—following industry specifications for site prep, grade, and material placement. |
| Rototiller or spade, landscape rake, drop spreader, digital scale, turfgrass seed (species selected for local climate), sod pallets, sod knife, starter fertilizer, stakes, string line, catch pan, calculator, cost-estimate worksheet, PPE (safety glasses, gloves, steel-toed boots). | Instructor scores the completed plots against a rubric covering grade uniformity, seam quality, spreader calibration accuracy (within ±10% of target rate), and documentation completeness; pass mark is 75% of rubric points. |
| 3 | Soil Testing, Fertilization Programs, and Nutrient Math | 12 | theory | Students interpret a standard soil test report, calculate lime and fertilizer application rates for a given turf area, and design a four-application annual fertilization program consistent with state nutrient management guidelines. |
| Printed soil test reports (sample set from state extension service), fertilizer label examples, calculators, Christians et al. Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management (fertilization chapters), state extension nutrient management publications, graph paper for growth curve sketching. | A written math worksheet requiring correct calculation of fertilizer quantities for five scenarios, plus a labeled annual fertilization calendar; pass mark is 80% of total points, with no calculation error exceeding 15% of target rate. |
| 4 | Mowing Principles and Equipment Safety | 12 | demo | Students perform a documented pre-operation safety inspection on a walk-behind mower and a riding mower, operate both on a live turf area at the correct cutting height and pattern, and demonstrate blade-height adjustment and blade-engagement procedures without instructor prompting. |
| Walk-behind rotary mower, riding mower, manufacturer operator manuals, pre-operation inspection checklists, blade-height gauge, blade wrench, blade balancer, LOTO locks and tags, eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, steel-toed boots, first aid kit at worksite. | Instructor observes each student completing a pre-op inspection and a mowing run independently; a skills checklist is scored pass/fail for each safety-critical step (PPE on before start, LOTO before blade work, correct height set); all safety steps must be completed correctly—no safety-critical failures allowed for pass. |
| 5 | Irrigation Scheduling and Water Management for Turf | 10 | theory | Students calculate weekly irrigation run times for a turf zone using evapotranspiration data and sprinkler precipitation rate, and adjust a controller schedule to reflect a seasonal change or a rain-sensor override. |
| Irrigation controller (clock-style or smart-type), catch cups (minimum 12), measuring tape, graduated cylinders, ET reference data from state extension or NOAA, calculator, irrigation specification sheet, field notebook. | A calculation worksheet with five ET-based run-time problems and a controller-programming practical check; written work scored at 80% correct; programming check is pass/fail with all programmed values within ±5% of target. |
| 6 | Thatch, Compaction, Aeration, and Overseeding | 12 | lab | Students measure thatch depth and soil penetration resistance on a designated turf plot, determine whether mechanical aeration and overseeding are warranted, and operate a core aerator to renovate the plot following industry standards. |
| Soil probe, ruler, penetrometer, walk-behind core aerator, drop or rotary spreader, turfgrass seed, compost topdressing, shovel, data recording sheets, PPE (eye protection, gloves, boots), manufacturer aerator safety checklist. | Lab report including thatch measurements, penetrometer map, decision justification, and aeration/overseeding documentation with photographs; scored on a rubric—pass mark is 75% of points; aerator must be operated with all safety guards in place or the student is stopped and must re-demonstrate. |
| 7 | Turf Pest, Disease, and Weed Identification and IPM | 14 | lab | Students diagnose five turf problem scenarios—encompassing at least one insect pest, one fungal disease, one broadleaf weed, one grassy weed, and one abiotic disorder—and prescribe a written IPM strategy for each that prioritizes cultural and mechanical controls before chemical options. |
| Preserved or pressed weed specimens, insect pest specimens or high-resolution photographs, diseased turf plugs or photographs (dollar spot, brown patch, pythium, etc.), extension diagnostic keys (state extension publications and NALP study materials), IPM decision matrix worksheet, field notebook. | Diagnostic worksheet and written IPM matrix for all five scenarios; pass mark is correctly identifying cause and prescribing a defensible IPM strategy for at least 4 of 5 scenarios (80%); any recommendation that skips threshold evaluation is marked incomplete regardless of score. |
| 8 | Athletic Field and Commercial Turf Maintenance Practices | 12 | field | Students execute a multi-step maintenance visit on a sports turf or commercial lawn site—including mowing, edging, blowing, spot-treating, and a written condition report—to the production standard expected of an entry-level turf technician. |
| Commercial walk-behind or stand-on mower, line trimmer, backpack blower, hand tools, pre-task safety brief form, site condition report template, PPE (eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, boots), first aid kit. | Instructor production checklist scored during the maintenance visit (technique, pattern, safety) plus written site condition report; combined rubric pass mark is 75%; any unsafe act observed results in an immediate stop and mandatory safety review before the student may continue. |
| 9 | Turf Renovation Planning and Credential Exam Review | 10 | theory | Students produce a written turf renovation plan for a provided case-study site and complete a 50-question practice exam covering all NALP Landscape Industry Certified turf content areas and key pesticide applicator license topic areas relevant to turf. |
| Case study packet, renovation plan template, peer-review rubric, practice exam question set (instructor-developed from NALP Landscape Industry Certified study guide and state pesticide applicator study materials), calculator, state extension turfgrass publications, Christians et al. Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management. | Renovation plan scored on rubric—pass mark 75%; practice exam scored immediately—students who score below 70% receive a targeted review list and must complete a second 25-question targeted quiz before the course concludes, passing at 70%. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turfgrass Science Written Exam | Written exam | 25% | 70% or higher on a 60-question multiple-choice and short-answer exam | A closed-book written exam covering turfgrass identification, plant physiology, soil fertility and nutrient math, irrigation scheduling calculations, pest and disease diagnosis, and IPM principles. Questions are mapped to NALP Landscape Industry Certified turfgrass content areas and reinforce the foundational science tested on the state pesticide applicator general standards exam. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Equipment Operation and Maintenance Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | All safety-critical checklist items passed with no omissions; overall rubric score 75% or higher | Each student independently performs a pre-operation inspection, operates a walk-behind mower and a core aerator on a live turf area, and demonstrates a blade change using lockout/tagout procedure while naming each step aloud. The instructor scores using a standardized skills checklist; any safety-critical failure (missing PPE, bypassing LOTO, removing guards) results in an automatic incomplete and requires remediation before re-evaluation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Field and Lab Notebook Log | Log | 15% | 75% of total rubric points across all nine lesson entries | Students maintain a chronological field and lab notebook throughout the course recording observations, measurements, calculations, and dated photographs from every hands-on lesson. The notebook is evaluated for accuracy of data, completeness of entries, quality of sketches or photo documentation, and evidence of reflective notes connecting observations to course theory. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Turf Renovation Plan Safety and Compliance Review | Safety audit | 15% | All mandatory safety and regulatory items marked compliant; no critical deficiency allowed | The instructor reviews the renovation plan submitted in Lesson 9 for compliance with a safety and regulatory checklist that includes: correct PPE specified for all chemical applications, pesticide products listed with valid registration use for the turf site type, nutrient application rates within state guidelines, and equipment LOTO references for maintenance steps. A plan with any critical deficiency—such as recommending an unregistered pesticide use or omitting required PPE—is returned for immediate correction and must pass re-review before the student receives a course completion. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
AGR-HORT49-07 Trade course
Landscape Design & Installation
104 hr · $1,310 COMPLIMENTARY
Students learn to read and produce residential landscape plans, select and source appropriate plants and hardscape materials, and install planting beds, walkways, edging, and basic landscape features to professional standards. Emphasis is placed on client communication, site analysis, and sequencing installation tasks safely and efficiently. Lessons map to NALP Landscape Industry Certified exam competencies in horticulture, landscape installation, and plant identification.
Outcomes- Produce a dimensionally accurate hand-drawn or digital residential landscape plan that includes a plant list, legend, and scale.
- Identify a minimum of 40 regionally common landscape plants by botanical and common name, growth habit, and site requirements.
- Safely operate and maintain hand and power tools used in landscape installation, applying lockout/tagout and PPE protocols.
- Install a planting bed including bed preparation, edging, plant placement, mulching, and initial irrigation to plan specifications.
- Lay a simple unit-paver or flagstone walkway on a compacted aggregate base within accepted tolerances for level and joint width.
- Prepare a written installation estimate including material takeoff, labor hours, and a phased installation sequence for a residential site.
Course text
Students learn to read and produce residential landscape plans, select and source appropriate plants and hardscape materials, and install planting beds, walkways, edging, and basic landscape features to professional standards. Emphasis is placed on client communication, site analysis, and sequencing installation tasks safely and efficiently. Lessons map to NALP Landscape Industry Certified exam competencies in horticulture, landscape installation, and plant identification.
How the course runs. 9 blocks: Site Analysis and Landscape Design Principles; Plant Identification and Selection; Reading and Drawing Landscape Plans; Material Estimation and Job Costing; Tool Safety and Equipment Operation; Planting Bed Installation; Hardscape: Unit Paver and Edging Installation; Landscape Maintenance Fundamentals and Plant Health; Client Communication, Professional Presentation, and Project Documentation.
What competent looks like. Produce a dimensionally accurate hand-drawn or digital residential landscape plan that includes a plant list, legend, and scale. Identify a minimum of 40 regionally common landscape plants by botanical and common name, growth habit, and site requirements. Safely operate and maintain hand and power tools used in landscape installation, applying lockout/tagout and PPE protocols. Install a planting bed including bed preparation, edging, plant placement, mulching, and initial irrigation to plan specifications. Lay a simple unit-paver or flagstone walkway on a compacted aggregate base within accepted tolerances for level and joint width. Prepare a written installation estimate including material takeoff, labor hours, and a phased installation sequence for a residential site.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Site Analysis and Landscape Design Principles | 10 | theory | Students analyze a residential site for sun exposure, drainage, soil type, utilities, and existing vegetation and apply basic design principles—unity, balance, focalization, and simplicity—to a concept sketch. |
| Site analysis checklist, measuring tape, compass, graph paper, pencils, landscape design textbook (e.g., Principles of Landscape Design, Ingels), site photographs, MISS DIG / 811 call-before-you-dig reference | Completed site analysis checklist with all required categories addressed and a bubble diagram that accurately reflects at least four identified site constraints; instructor reviews for completeness — all categories present earns pass. |
| 2 | Plant Identification and Selection | 14 | lab | Students identify 40 regionally common landscape plants by botanical and common name and match each to appropriate hardiness zone, light, moisture, and soil requirements for a given site scenario. |
| Regional plant specimens or herbarium cards (40 minimum), USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map, regional extension plant selection guides, plant ID log notebooks, hand lenses | Plant ID log is complete for all 40 specimens; on the timed plant walk quiz students correctly name and describe at least 34 of 40 plants (85%) — 85% correct earns pass. Maps to NALP Horticulture exam area. |
| 3 | Reading and Drawing Landscape Plans | 12 | theory | Students read a professionally drawn landscape plan including symbols, scale, legend, and plant schedule, and produce their own scaled plan for a small residential front yard. |
| Sample professional landscape plans, architect's scale rule, graph paper (1/8-inch grid), vellum, drafting pencils (H and 2H), circle template, plant symbol template, ruler; optional: free-tier landscape CAD or SketchUp web app | Student-drawn plan includes all required elements (scale, north arrow, legend, plant schedule, property lines) at correct scale with no dimension error greater than 5%; instructor checks three spot dimensions against the reference — all present and within tolerance earns pass. |
| 4 | Material Estimation and Job Costing | 10 | theory | Students calculate material quantities (plants, mulch, edging, aggregate, pavers) and prepare a written cost estimate with labor hours for a defined residential landscape installation. |
| Completed residential landscape plan from Lesson 3, materials price list (instructor-prepared), labor productivity reference table, calculator, spreadsheet template (Excel or Google Sheets), pencil paper | Material quantities are within 10% of instructor key values and the written estimate includes all line items (plants, mulch, edging, labor, and a labeled subtotal); all items present and quantities within tolerance earns pass. |
| 5 | Tool Safety and Equipment Operation | 10 | demo | Students safely start, operate, and shut down landscape installation power tools—walk-behind sod cutter, plate compactor, rotary tiller, and power edger—applying OSHA hazard controls, PPE, and lockout/tagout procedures before each service task. |
| Walk-behind sod cutter, plate compactor, rotary tiller, power edger; PPE kit per student (safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, steel-toed boots); manufacturer operator manuals; OSHA tool-safety reference cards; lockout/tagout tags | Student completes pre-operation checklist correctly, performs lockout/tagout without prompting before any simulated service, and operates each machine without instructor intervention for a safety correction — any unsafe act results in immediate recheck and must be corrected before pass is awarded. |
| 6 | Planting Bed Installation | 16 | field | Students install a planting bed—including layout, edging, soil amendment, plant placement, and mulching—to plan specifications and industry-standard quality benchmarks. |
| Landscape plan, marking paint, sod cutter, steel edging and stakes, mallet, hand tamper, rotary tiller, compost, transplant spade, digging fork, hand trowel, level, tape measure, container and B&B plant specimens, hardwood mulch, wheelbarrow, hose | Edging is within 2 inches of plan line with no visible gaps; plant root flares are at or within 1 inch above grade; mulch depth is within the specified range and pulled back from stems; spacing matches plan within 10%; instructor walks bed with a checklist — all criteria met earns pass. Maps to NALP Installation exam area. |
| 7 | Hardscape: Unit Paver and Edging Installation | 14 | field | Students construct a unit-paver walkway section on a compacted aggregate base, maintaining consistent slope for drainage, acceptable joint width, and a secure restraining edge. |
| Pavers (concrete unit pavers), crushed aggregate base material, coarse bedding sand, polymeric joint sand, plate compactor, excavation spade, rake, screed board, rubber mallet, level, slope gauge, tape measure, paver restraint edging and stakes, safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, knee pads | Base is compacted in two lifts; cross-slope measures at least 1% with no reverse pitch; pavers are in correct pattern with no joint wider than specified; surface is within 3/16 inch of flat across a 10-foot straightedge; edging is fully staked — all criteria met earns pass. Maps to NALP Installation exam area. |
| 8 | Landscape Maintenance Fundamentals and Plant Health | 10 | demo | Students demonstrate correct pruning cuts, mulch refreshing, fertilizer application, and post-install irrigation checks for a newly installed residential landscape, explaining the horticultural rationale for each practice. |
| Hand pruners, loppers, pruning saw, demonstration tree or large shrub, granular slow-release fertilizer, fertilizer label, hand broadcast spreader, scale or measuring cups, maintenance log forms, irrigation system with drip or spray heads, hose, safety glasses, gloves | Pruning cuts are made at correct location with no stub longer than 1/4 inch and no bark tear; fertilizer rate calculation matches label rate within 5%; all irrigation emitters are functional and on-target after adjustment — all criteria correct earns pass. |
| 9 | Client Communication, Professional Presentation, and Project Documentation | 8 | theory | Students prepare a complete residential project package—final plan, plant schedule, estimate, and installation sequence—and present it verbally as if to a client, demonstrating professional communication skills. |
| All course documents (site analysis, plans, plant ID log, estimate), project binders, printer or plotter for final plan, rubric for professional presentation (instructor-prepared), trade references for plant care | Project binder contains all required documents with professional formatting; verbal presentation covers all five required topics; student responds correctly to at least two of three Q&A questions — all criteria met earns pass. Maps to NALP exam's professional skills area. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape Design Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 70% correct (35 of 50 questions) | A 50-question written exam covering design principles, plant identification (botanical and common names), site analysis concepts, material estimation calculations, and maintenance fundamentals drawn from all lesson content. Questions include multiple choice, matching plant names to descriptions, and short calculation problems. Maps to NALP Landscape Industry Certified horticulture and installation knowledge areas. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Installation Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | All critical criteria rated Meets Standard on the rubric; no more than two non-critical items rated Needs Improvement | Each student installs a 6-by-6-foot planting bed section and a 4-foot paver segment on the course practice site, assessed by the instructor using a structured rubric covering layout accuracy, edging installation, plant placement and depth, mulch application, base compaction, paver pattern, and slope. The student must also perform a pre-task tool inspection and lockout/tagout procedure without prompting. Maps to NALP Installation skills exam areas. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Project Documentation Lab Log | Log | 15% | Complete entries for all nine lessons; scaled plan and estimate meet accuracy tolerances defined in Lessons 3 and 4; instructor signs off | Students submit their course project binder containing the site analysis checklist, bubble diagram, plant ID log, scaled residential landscape plan, material and labor estimate, installation sequence, maintenance log from Lesson 7, and final client presentation notes. Each entry is checked for accuracy, completeness, and professional presentation as defined in lesson rubrics. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Tool and Site Safety Check | Safety audit | 15% | 100% on all critical safety behaviors; any critical failure requires immediate remediation and recheck before course credit is awarded | The instructor uses a binary (observed / not observed) checklist to verify that each student independently selects correct PPE for four assigned tasks, performs lockout/tagout before a simulated blade change on the plate compactor, identifies the 811 call requirement before any simulated excavation, and disposes of an empty pesticide-adjacent container (from Lesson 8 reference) following label directions. All items must be observed to pass. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
AGR-HORT49-08 Trade course
Pesticide Safety: Selection, Handling, and Legal Application
104 hr · $1,310 COMPLIMENTARY
Students develop the knowledge and hands-on skills required to select, handle, mix, apply, and dispose of pesticides safely and legally in agricultural, horticultural, and landscape settings. Emphasis is placed on reading and interpreting pesticide labels, understanding federal and state regulatory frameworks, and using personal protective equipment and engineering controls to protect workers, clients, and the environment. Lesson content is directly aligned with the competency areas tested on the State Pesticide Applicator licensing examination.
Outcomes- Interpret a pesticide label and Safety Data Sheet to determine legal use sites, target pests, application rates, restricted-entry intervals, and required PPE.
- Select the appropriate pesticide formulation and application equipment for a given pest problem, site, and environmental condition while minimizing risk to non-target organisms.
- Demonstrate safe procedures for measuring, mixing, loading, applying, and disposing of pesticides and their containers in compliance with federal and state regulations.
- Identify signs and symptoms of pesticide exposure and implement correct first-aid and emergency response procedures.
- Explain the principles of Integrated Pest Management and incorporate them into a written pest management recommendation that reduces reliance on chemical control.
- Complete all required pre-application records, application logs, and post-application notifications as required by law.
Course text
Students develop the knowledge and hands-on skills required to select, handle, mix, apply, and dispose of pesticides safely and legally in agricultural, horticultural, and landscape settings. Emphasis is placed on reading and interpreting pesticide labels, understanding federal and state regulatory frameworks, and using personal protective equipment and engineering controls to protect workers, clients, and the environment. Lesson content is directly aligned with the competency areas tested on the State Pesticide Applicator licensing examination.
How the course runs. 9 blocks: Pesticide Law, Regulation, and the Licensing Framework; Pesticide Labels and Safety Data Sheets; Pesticide Formulations, Toxicity, and Environmental Fate; Personal Protective Equipment and Engineering Controls; Pesticide Exposure, First Aid, and Emergency Response; Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Selection; Calibration, Mixing, and Application Equipment; Safe Storage, Transportation, Container Handling, and Disposal; Record Keeping, Posting, Notification, and Applicator Ethics.
What competent looks like. Interpret a pesticide label and Safety Data Sheet to determine legal use sites, target pests, application rates, restricted-entry intervals, and required PPE. Select the appropriate pesticide formulation and application equipment for a given pest problem, site, and environmental condition while minimizing risk to non-target organisms. Demonstrate safe procedures for measuring, mixing, loading, applying, and disposing of pesticides and their containers in compliance with federal and state regulations. Identify signs and symptoms of pesticide exposure and implement correct first-aid and emergency response procedures. Explain the principles of Integrated Pest Management and incorporate them into a written pest management recommendation that reduces reliance on chemical control. Complete all required pre-application records, application logs, and post-application notifications as required by law.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pesticide Law, Regulation, and the Licensing Framework | 10 | theory | Students will explain the federal and state regulatory structure governing pesticide use, identify the categories of pesticide users, and state the legal consequences of misuse. |
| EPA FIFRA plain-language summary, state department of agriculture pesticide program website printouts, state applicator category descriptions, whiteboard, case-study handouts. | 10-question written quiz on regulatory definitions, applicator categories, restricted-use pesticide rules, and penalties; passing score 75%. |
| 2 | Pesticide Labels and Safety Data Sheets | 12 | theory | Students will locate and correctly interpret every required section of a pesticide label and a Safety Data Sheet to determine legal use, required PPE, first-aid measures, and environmental precautions. |
| Printed full pesticide labels (minimum three different product types), printed SDSs, EPA label guide, highlighters, student notebooks. | Label interpretation worksheet requiring students to answer 20 questions drawn from an unfamiliar label they have not previously seen; passing score 80%. |
| 3 | Pesticide Formulations, Toxicity, and Environmental Fate | 10 | theory | Students will classify common pesticide formulations by physical form and carrier, explain the signal-word toxicity scale, and describe how pesticides move through and break down in the environment. |
| Sealed labeled pesticide containers (for display only), LD50 data table handout, watershed diagram worksheet, EPA pesticide environmental fate factsheets. | Written quiz (15 questions) on formulation types, signal words, LD50 interpretation, and environmental fate terms; passing score 75%. |
| 4 | Personal Protective Equipment and Engineering Controls | 10 | demo | Students will select, don, doff, inspect, and maintain the PPE required by a pesticide label and explain how engineering controls on application equipment reduce exposure. |
| Chemical-resistant gloves (multiple materials and sizes), chemical-resistant apron, Tyvek coveralls, safety glasses, face shield, half-face respirator with cartridges, chemical-resistance chart, PPE donning/doffing checklist, closed-system loading adapter (or diagram). | Instructor-scored PPE donning/doffing performance checklist; student must correctly execute all critical steps (glove sequence, respirator seal check, doffing without self-contamination) with zero critical errors on a single attempt. |
| 5 | Pesticide Exposure, First Aid, and Emergency Response | 10 | theory | Students will identify routes of pesticide entry into the body, recognize early and advanced signs of pesticide poisoning, and demonstrate the correct first-aid response for each exposure route. |
| Poison Control reference card, sample pesticide labels and SDSs, scenario handouts, eyewash station, stopwatch, site emergency map template. | Written scenario quiz (10 questions) requiring correct identification of exposure route and first-aid action for each; passing score 80%. Eyewash flush drill observed by instructor with pass/fail on correct duration. |
| 6 | Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Selection | 12 | theory | Students will apply IPM principles to a landscape or turf scenario by identifying the pest, establishing an action threshold, evaluating all control tactics, and selecting the least-risk pesticide as a last resort. |
| IPM decision tree handout, pest scenario packets with photos and population data, three comparison pesticide labels, IRAC/FRAC/HRAC mode-of-action chart, resistance case-study article. | Written IPM recommendation for an assigned scenario, graded on a rubric requiring correct pest ID, justified threshold, at least two non-chemical tactics, and defensible pesticide selection; passing score 75% on rubric. |
| 7 | Calibration, Mixing, and Application Equipment | 16 | lab | Students will calibrate a backpack sprayer and a boom sprayer to deliver a specified application rate, calculate the quantity of pesticide concentrate needed for a measured area, and mix that quantity correctly while wearing required PPE. |
| Backpack sprayers (one per two students), boom sprayer or diagram, graduated cylinders, calibration catch jars, stopwatch, measuring tape, colored water for mixing practice, nozzle set, nozzle output chart, PPE full set, pesticide label for math exercise. | Calibration calculation sheet checked for accuracy (within 5% of target rate = pass); instructor-observed mixing procedure scored on PPE compliance, water-first sequence, and correct measurement — all three criteria must be met to pass. |
| 8 | Safe Storage, Transportation, Container Handling, and Disposal | 10 | field | Students will set up a compliant pesticide storage area, demonstrate safe loading and transport practices, and perform pesticide container triple-rinse and puncture procedures in accordance with label and regulatory requirements. |
| Pesticide storage room (or simulated area), storage audit checklist, PPE full set, absorbent spill kit (clay-based or other compatible material), colored water, empty pesticide containers, container puncture tool, spill report form, disposal guidance sheet. | Storage audit checklist must correctly identify all pre-planted deficiencies (minimum 5 of 6 = pass); triple-rinse procedure observed by instructor and scored pass/fail on correct number of rinses, rinse addition to tank, and container puncture. |
| 9 | Record Keeping, Posting, Notification, and Applicator Ethics | 14 | practice | Students will complete legally required pre-application and post-application pesticide records, draft a proper posting/notification plan for a commercial landscape job, and explain the applicator's ethical and legal obligations to workers, clients, and neighbors. |
| State pesticide application record form, scenario cards, posting sign templates, restricted-entry interval reference table, notification checklist, ethics scenario handouts. | Completed pesticide application log reviewed by instructor; all required fields must be accurately filled and the application rate calculation must be correct (passing: zero missing required fields, rate calculation within acceptable rounding). Ethics scenario responses graded on identification of all three violations and correct professional responses; passing score 75%. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pesticide Applicator Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% correct (state licensing exams typically require a score in this range; students must meet the actual cut score set by their state board) | A 60-question multiple-choice examination covering the full range of state pesticide applicator core competency areas: federal and state law, label interpretation, toxicology, environmental fate, pest management principles, application equipment, safety, and record keeping. Questions are drawn from the same content domains tested on the state licensing examination, providing direct preparation for the credential. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Practical Application Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | All critical safety steps passed with zero critical errors; overall rubric score of 75% or higher | Each student independently completes a scenario-based task sequence: selects correct PPE from an assortment based on a given pesticide label, dons PPE correctly, calibrates a backpack sprayer to a specified rate, calculates and measures the required concentrate, mixes the simulated product (colored water), performs a mock application following label directions, and cleans the sprayer and properly manages the empty container. A trained evaluator scores each step using a standardized rubric aligned to NALP Landscape Industry Certified competency areas. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Pesticide Safety Lab Log | Log | 15% | All required entries present and accurate; minimum score of 75% on rubric evaluating completeness, accuracy of calculations, and quality of written observations | Students maintain a running lab log throughout the course documenting calibration calculations, mixing records, storage audit findings, spill response steps, and container disposal procedures for each hands-on lesson. Entries must include date, product (or surrogate) used, PPE worn, calculations shown with units, and a brief reflection on any procedural error corrected. The complete log is submitted at the end of the course and evaluated for accuracy of math, regulatory compliance of documented procedures, and thoroughness of observations. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Safety and Compliance Check | Safety audit | 15% | Pass on all four critical items (no critical errors); any single critical failure requires immediate remediation and re-check before the student may continue handling pesticides | An unannounced or minimally announced observation conducted by the instructor during one of the later practical lessons; the instructor uses a standardized four-item critical checklist — (1) correct PPE donned before any pesticide contact, (2) water added to tank before concentrate, (3) product used only on label-specified site at no more than the label rate, and (4) completed application record begun before leaving the site. This check mirrors the compliance inspection a state pesticide inspector would conduct in the field and serves as a direct readiness indicator for the State Pesticide Applicator license. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
AGR-HORT49-09 Capstone
Capstone Project: Integrated Landscape & Horticulture Build
162 hr · $1,620 COMPLIMENTARY
Students plan, install, and document a complete landscape or horticulture project that integrates soil science, irrigation, turf, plant science, pesticide safety, and design skills learned throughout the program. Each student produces a professional project package—site analysis, design drawings, materials list, installation records, and a maintenance plan—and defends their work before an instructor panel. The capstone serves as the program's summative performance assessment and produces a portfolio artifact usable in job applications and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified examination process.
Outcomes- Conduct a site analysis including soil texture evaluation, drainage observation, sun/shade mapping, and measurement using standard horticultural methods, and compile findings in a written report.
- Produce a scaled landscape plan with plant list, irrigation layout, and grading notes that meets client or site criteria and reflects sound horticultural and design principles.
- Execute installation tasks—bed preparation, plant placement and installation, hardscape or edging elements, and basic irrigation hook-up—following OSHA safety standards and manufacturer specifications.
- Apply integrated pest management decision-making and, where applicable, demonstrate correct pesticide label reading and PPE selection consistent with State Pesticide Applicator licensing requirements.
- Compile a complete project portfolio including site analysis, design drawings, material specifications, installation log, cost estimate, and a seasonal maintenance calendar.
- Deliver a structured oral defense of project decisions, justify plant and material choices using trade references, and respond to panel questions demonstrating program-level competency.
Course text
Students plan, install, and document a complete landscape or horticulture project that integrates soil science, irrigation, turf, plant science, pesticide safety, and design skills learned throughout the program. Each student produces a professional project package—site analysis, design drawings, materials list, installation records, and a maintenance plan—and defends their work before an instructor panel. The capstone serves as the program's summative performance assessment and produces a portfolio artifact usable in job applications and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified examination process.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: Site Analysis and Project Planning; Design Development and Documentation Package; Site Installation and Field Execution; Portfolio Finalization and Oral Defense Preparation.
What competent looks like. Conduct a site analysis including soil texture evaluation, drainage observation, sun/shade mapping, and measurement using standard horticultural methods, and compile findings in a written report. Produce a scaled landscape plan with plant list, irrigation layout, and grading notes that meets client or site criteria and reflects sound horticultural and design principles. Execute installation tasks—bed preparation, plant placement and installation, hardscape or edging elements, and basic irrigation hook-up—following OSHA safety standards and manufacturer specifications. Apply integrated pest management decision-making and, where applicable, demonstrate correct pesticide label reading and PPE selection consistent with State Pesticide Applicator licensing requirements. Compile a complete project portfolio including site analysis, design drawings, material specifications, installation log, cost estimate, and a seasonal maintenance calendar. Deliver a structured oral defense of project decisions, justify plant and material choices using trade references, and respond to panel questions demonstrating program-level competency.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Site Analysis and Project Planning | 36 | field | Students complete a professional-level site analysis—including soil sampling, drainage assessment, sun mapping, and client interview—and translate findings into a written scope of work and preliminary concept plan. |
| Measuring tape (100 ft), measuring wheel, graph paper, ruler, compass, soil sample bags, soil test kit or lab submission forms, site-analysis worksheet, laptop with landscape design or drawing software, regional extension plant-selection guides, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map, client-interview form | Instructor reviews the completed site-analysis form and scope-of-work document against a 20-point rubric covering accuracy of measurements (within 5% of actual), completeness of soil data, identification of at least three site constraints, and a plant palette of at least eight species appropriate to zone and conditions; students must score 14/20 (70%) to proceed. |
| 2 | Design Development and Documentation Package | 40 | lab | Students produce a complete, professional documentation package—scaled planting and irrigation plan, plant schedule, materials quantity take-off, cost estimate, and seasonal maintenance calendar—that could be submitted to a client or used as a NALP portfolio artifact. |
| Laptop with drawing or design software, scaled base plan from Lesson 1, plant schedule template, irrigation layout worksheet, manufacturer irrigation spec sheets, mulch/material quantity calculation worksheet, spreadsheet software, regional supplier price lists or extension cost-of-production guides, NALP Landscape Industry Certified study reference | Documentation package is evaluated against a rubric covering drafting accuracy (plan is legible and correctly scaled), botanical name accuracy (no more than one error per ten plants), irrigation zone logic (each zone limited to one precipitation-rate category), and math accuracy on the take-off and cost estimate (all calculations within 10% of instructor key); minimum passing score is 70% across all rubric categories before moving to installation. |
| 3 | Site Installation and Field Execution | 60 | practice | Students install the approved project according to their documentation package—completing bed preparation, plant installation, mulching, edging, and irrigation connection—while maintaining an installation log, applying correct PPE and OSHA work-site safety practices throughout. |
| Hand tools (shovels, trowels, edging spade, hand pruners), power edger, wheelbarrow, mulch, soil amendments per test results, approved plant material, edging material, irrigation components per design, personal protective equipment (gloves, safety glasses, steel-toed boots, hearing protection), installation log forms, camera or smartphone, OSHA 10 hazard-identification checklist, pesticide label for demonstration product, measuring cup and backpack or pump sprayer, first-aid kit on site | Instructor evaluates installation against the approved plan using a field performance rubric: plant placement within 6 inches of plan location, correct planting depth (root flare at or slightly above grade), mulch depth and clearance from stems, edging alignment, irrigation coverage with no dry spots observed during zone test, and safety compliance throughout (zero PPE violations recorded); students must pass the safety checklist 100% and score at least 70% on the installation rubric to qualify for the oral defense. |
| 4 | Portfolio Finalization and Oral Defense Preparation | 26 | theory | Students assemble a complete, polished project portfolio and rehearse a structured oral defense in which they explain and justify every major project decision using trade references and program knowledge. |
| Completed project documentation from Lessons 1–3, portfolio binder or digital folder, dividers and labels, peer mock-defense question bank, self-evaluation/credential-mapping form, NALP Landscape Industry Certified candidate handbook, State Pesticide Applicator study guide, laptop or tablet for digital portfolio version, printer for hard-copy submission | Portfolio completeness checklist (all nine required sections present and in order) must score 100% complete; credential-mapping document must correctly identify at least five NALP exam domain connections and at least two State Pesticide Applicator competency connections, verified by instructor before the student is cleared for the panel oral defense. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated Project Build and Installation Log | Project | 60% | 70% on the combined installation rubric (field performance + safety compliance with zero PPE violations) and submission of a complete installation log with photographs documenting all installation phases | The student's physical installation is evaluated against the approved design documents using a field-performance rubric assessing plant placement accuracy, planting technique, irrigation function, mulching, and continuous safety compliance; the installation log is reviewed for completeness and honest documentation of any field deviations from the plan. Meets specification · Within estimate · Workmanship · Safety · Documentation |
| Professional Project Portfolio | Portfolio | 20% | 70% on the portfolio rubric, with all nine required sections present and the credential-mapping document approved by the instructor prior to the defense | The portfolio is scored on a rubric covering professional presentation, technical accuracy of drawings and calculations, completeness of all required documents, quality of the maintenance calendar, and the accuracy of the self-evaluation mapping each section to NALP and State Pesticide Applicator exam competency areas. Completeness · Organization · Evidence quality |
| Oral Defense Before Instructor Panel | Oral / panel | 20% | 70% overall on the oral-defense rubric, with no critical safety question answered incorrectly (a wrong answer to a pesticide safety or OSHA question triggers one retest opportunity before a final grade is assigned) | The student presents a 10-minute structured overview of their project to a two- or three-person instructor panel, then responds to approximately 15 minutes of questions drawn from all program content areas including soils, plant science, irrigation, turf, design, and pesticide safety; the panel scores content accuracy, quality of justification using trade references, professional communication, and the ability to acknowledge and explain field deviations from the original plan. Explains decisions · Answers technical questions · Professional communication |
AGR-HORT49-10 Externship / clinical
Externship / Worksite Placement
243 hr · $970 COMPLIMENTARY
Students complete 243 supervised hours with a licensed landscape, horticulture, or agricultural employer, applying classroom knowledge in real production and service environments. A site supervisor evaluates technical performance, professionalism, and safety compliance using a structured rubric. This placement bridges academic preparation with entry-level employment and generates documented evidence of industry-ready competence.
Outcomes- Perform assigned landscape, horticultural, or agricultural tasks to employer quality standards under direct and indirect supervision for a minimum of 243 clock hours.
- Demonstrate safe work habits on every shift, including correct PPE selection, equipment lockout/tagout procedures, and pesticide handling practices consistent with state applicator license requirements.
- Apply trade math skills — area calculation, material estimation, irrigation run-time math, and mix ratios — to solve real job-site problems without instructor assistance.
- Receive a passing composite score on the employer mid-term and final evaluation rubrics covering technical skill, communication, attendance, and safety.
- Maintain a complete, accurate worksite journal documenting tasks, equipment used, observations, and reflective notes for every shift.
- Identify at least two areas of professional growth through a written self-evaluation submitted at externship completion.
Course text
Students complete 243 supervised hours with a licensed landscape, horticulture, or agricultural employer, applying classroom knowledge in real production and service environments. A site supervisor evaluates technical performance, professionalism, and safety compliance using a structured rubric. This placement bridges academic preparation with entry-level employment and generates documented evidence of industry-ready competence.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: Externship Orientation, Site Agreements, and Safety Protocols; Supervised Production Rotations — Core Trade Tasks; Independent Task Execution and Employer Final Evaluation; Worksite Journal Completion and Externship Debrief.
What competent looks like. Perform assigned landscape, horticultural, or agricultural tasks to employer quality standards under direct and indirect supervision for a minimum of 243 clock hours. Demonstrate safe work habits on every shift, including correct PPE selection, equipment lockout/tagout procedures, and pesticide handling practices consistent with state applicator license requirements. Apply trade math skills — area calculation, material estimation, irrigation run-time math, and mix ratios — to solve real job-site problems without instructor assistance. Receive a passing composite score on the employer mid-term and final evaluation rubrics covering technical skill, communication, attendance, and safety. Maintain a complete, accurate worksite journal documenting tasks, equipment used, observations, and reflective notes for every shift. Identify at least two areas of professional growth through a written self-evaluation submitted at externship completion.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Externship Orientation, Site Agreements, and Safety Protocols | 15 | theory | Students will identify site-specific hazards, review their employer's safety policies, and complete all placement paperwork before their first production shift. |
| Three-party externship agreement forms, site hazard-identification checklist, OSHA 10 wallet card (earned in Course 1), employer safety handbook, worksite journal (bound or digital), PPE issued by employer | All placement paperwork signed and on file with the program coordinator; completed hazard checklist reviewed and signed by site supervisor; first journal entry present — pass requires all three items complete before shift 2 begins. |
| 2 | Supervised Production Rotations — Core Trade Tasks | 168 | field | Students will execute assigned landscape, horticulture, or agricultural tasks — including planting, pruning, irrigation operation, turf maintenance, soil amendment, or greenhouse production — to the employer's quality and efficiency standards across a full range of shifts. |
| Employer-supplied tools and equipment (mowers, hand tools, pruners, irrigation controllers, sprayers, tractors, or greenhouse equipment as applicable), PPE (gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toed boots, respiratory protection as required), worksite journal, program mid-term evaluation rubric, tape measure, calculator | Completed mid-term evaluation rubric scored by site supervisor — pass requires an average score of 70% or higher across all rubric domains (technical skill, safety, communication, attendance, professionalism); improvement plan present in journal. |
| 3 | Independent Task Execution and Employer Final Evaluation | 45 | practice | Students will complete assigned tasks with reduced direct supervision, demonstrating that they can self-manage workflow, maintain quality, and make safe decisions independently. |
| Final employer evaluation rubric, student self-evaluation template, worksite journal (all entries complete), employer-supplied tools and PPE | Final employer evaluation rubric average score of 70% or higher across all domains; self-evaluation submitted and at least two pages in length — both required to pass this lesson segment. |
| 4 | Worksite Journal Completion and Externship Debrief | 15 | theory | Students will compile a complete, organized worksite journal and present a structured oral debrief to the program coordinator summarizing their hours, key experiences, and professional growth. |
| Completed worksite journal, hour-log summary sheet, student evaluation of site form, oral debrief outline template | Journal contains an entry for every shift with all required fields completed, hours total 243 or more, and oral debrief delivered — pass requires all three criteria met and debrief rated satisfactory by coordinator (addresses all four required topics). |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Evaluation Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 70% | Composite average of 70% or higher on the program's standardized employer evaluation rubric, combining mid-term and final scores across the domains of technical skill, safety compliance, communication, attendance, and professionalism; any domain score below 50% requires a documented remediation plan. | The site supervisor scores the student at mid-placement and at completion using the program's standardized rubric, observing real task performance over the full 243 hours. This skills demonstration assessment captures evidence that the student can perform trade tasks safely and to industry quality standards in an authentic employment setting, directly aligning with the hands-on performance components of the NALP Landscape Industry Certified credential and the safe-handling expectations of the State Pesticide Applicator license. Competency · Safety · Attendance · Conduct · Initiative |
| Worksite Journal and Reflective Log | Log | 30% | Journal must contain a complete entry for every scheduled shift (date, hours, tasks, equipment or materials, brief reflection), hours must sum to 243 or more, and the final self-evaluation must be at least two pages addressing skills gained, content connections, and career goals; missing more than two shift entries or failing to submit the self-evaluation results in an incomplete grade until remediated. | The bound or digital worksite journal serves as the student's primary written record of the externship, functioning as a lab log for the field placement. Reviewed by the program coordinator at the debrief meeting, it documents the breadth of tasks performed, safe-work decisions made, and professional growth over the placement period, providing written evidence suitable for a credential portfolio. Complete · Verified |
AGR-HORT49-11 Exam prep
Certification Exam Preparation: State Pesticide Applicator & NALP Landscape Industry Certified
68 hr · $680 COMPLIMENTARY
This capstone review course systematically maps every major content domain of the State Pesticide Applicator license exam and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified exam to the knowledge and skills students have built across the program. Students complete timed, full-length mock exams under realistic conditions, analyze their performance by domain, and close remaining gaps through targeted drill sessions. The course ends with every student exam-ready and in possession of a completed application packet for each credential.
Outcomes- Demonstrate exam-passing command of pesticide laws, safety, label reading, pest identification, and integrated pest management as tested on the State Pesticide Applicator licensing exam.
- Demonstrate exam-passing command of NALP Landscape Industry Certified content areas including plant identification, landscape installation, turf management, irrigation, and horticulture practices.
- Complete and submit a fully accurate State Pesticide Applicator license application, including required documentation, fees, and any state-mandated prerequisites.
- Complete and submit a fully accurate NALP Landscape Industry Certified candidate application with supporting program documentation.
- Analyze personal mock-exam results by domain, identify deficient areas, and execute a self-directed remediation plan before the final mock.
- Apply test-taking strategies — time management, process of elimination, label and reference use where permitted — to maximize score on timed multiple-choice licensing exams.
Course text
This capstone review course systematically maps every major content domain of the State Pesticide Applicator license exam and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified exam to the knowledge and skills students have built across the program. Students complete timed, full-length mock exams under realistic conditions, analyze their performance by domain, and close remaining gaps through targeted drill sessions. The course ends with every student exam-ready and in possession of a completed application packet for each credential.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: Credential Roadmap: Exam Formats, Applications & Test-Taking Strategy; State Pesticide Applicator Exam Domain Review; NALP Landscape Industry Certified Exam Domain Review; Full Mock Certification Exams & Personal Remediation Debrief.
What competent looks like. Demonstrate exam-passing command of pesticide laws, safety, label reading, pest identification, and integrated pest management as tested on the State Pesticide Applicator licensing exam. Demonstrate exam-passing command of NALP Landscape Industry Certified content areas including plant identification, landscape installation, turf management, irrigation, and horticulture practices. Complete and submit a fully accurate State Pesticide Applicator license application, including required documentation, fees, and any state-mandated prerequisites. Complete and submit a fully accurate NALP Landscape Industry Certified candidate application with supporting program documentation. Analyze personal mock-exam results by domain, identify deficient areas, and execute a self-directed remediation plan before the final mock. Apply test-taking strategies — time management, process of elimination, label and reference use where permitted — to maximize score on timed multiple-choice licensing exams.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Credential Roadmap: Exam Formats, Applications & Test-Taking Strategy | 8 | theory | Students will accurately describe the structure, domain weighting, eligibility requirements, and application process for both the State Pesticide Applicator license exam and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified exam, and will submit a complete draft application for each credential. |
| Official state pesticide applicator candidate handbook and application form (state agency website); NALP Landscape Industry Certified candidate guide and application (NALP.org); program transcripts and externship hour logs; highlighters, annotation worksheets; computers with internet access; instructor-prepared study-priority matrix template. | Each student submits a completed draft application for both credentials with all required fields filled and supporting documents identified; instructor verifies accuracy — pass requires zero critical omissions (missing signature, wrong fee category, absent prerequisite documentation flagged). |
| 2 | State Pesticide Applicator Exam Domain Review | 20 | theory | Students will correctly answer practice questions drawn from each core domain of the State Pesticide Applicator exam — including federal and state pesticide law, label and labeling interpretation, pesticide chemistry and formulations, pest identification, integrated pest management, application equipment, environmental protection, and safety — at a rate consistent with a passing score. |
| Current state core pesticide applicator study manual; EPA Pesticide Applicator Competency document; six actual registered pesticide product labels; USDA Cooperative Extension pest and weed identification reference sheets; instructor-authored domain quizzes; answer keys; whiteboard; projector. | Cumulative score across all domain quizzes: student must average 75% or higher across all domains to be marked ready for the mock exam; students below 75% in any single domain receive a targeted remediation assignment before Lesson 4. |
| 3 | NALP Landscape Industry Certified Exam Domain Review | 20 | theory | Students will correctly answer practice questions and perform hands-on identification tasks covering all NALP Landscape Industry Certified written exam domains — plant identification, landscape installation and construction, turf and ornamental maintenance, irrigation principles, and horticulture science — at a rate consistent with a passing score. |
| NALP Landscape Industry Certified study guide (current edition, nalp.org); 50-specimen plant ID kit or high-resolution plant photo cards; program course notes from Courses 2–8; instructor-authored scenario problem sets; answer keys; tape measures, calculators; whiteboard and projector. | Cumulative score across domain quizzes and the plant ID drill: student must achieve 75% or higher overall and correctly identify at least 70% of plant specimens to be marked ready for the mock exam; students below threshold in any area receive a targeted remediation assignment before Lesson 4. |
| 4 | Full Mock Certification Exams & Personal Remediation Debrief | 20 | practice | Students will complete full-length, timed mock exams for both the State Pesticide Applicator license and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified exam under realistic test conditions, score their results by domain, and produce a written remediation summary identifying remaining gaps and next-step study actions before sitting the official exams. |
| Instructor-authored full-length mock exams for both credentials (minimum 50 questions each for written components); bubble-sheet answer forms; two-credential domain scoring grid worksheet; timers; no-calculator and calculator sections as appropriate to each exam's rules; Personal Exam Readiness Plan template; pens. | Pass standard for course completion: student must score 75% or higher on each full mock exam AND submit a complete, specific Personal Exam Readiness Plan; students who score below 75% on either mock may complete one instructor-supervised remediation session and a second sitting of the relevant mock before the course end date — second mock score is recorded as the final mark. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dual Credential Full Mock Examination | Mock certification exam | 100% | 75% or higher on each mock exam (State Pesticide Applicator and NALP Landscape Industry Certified) plus a complete, instructor-approved Personal Exam Readiness Plan; one remediation resit is permitted per exam if the first attempt falls below 75%. | Students sit two full-length, timed mock exams — one mirroring the State Pesticide Applicator license exam and one mirroring the NALP Landscape Industry Certified written and plant-identification exam — under realistic, closed-note exam conditions. Scores are analyzed by domain, and each student produces a Personal Exam Readiness Plan documenting specific remaining gaps and a concrete self-study schedule before sitting the official credentialing exams. Score · Time management |
Program completion
External credential: NALP Landscape Industry Certified; State Pesticide Applicator
Students sit the State Pesticide Applicator licensing examination administered by their state department of agriculture, and the NALP Landscape Industry Certified examination administered by the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Pass standard: Credential issued by the body.
Back to Agriculture / Horticulture / Landscaping · How the school gets authority to award these credentials
