Maryland Nursery, Landscape, & Greenhouse @ MANTS

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The Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association (MNLGA)
We support all constituent groups of the horticulture industry, including landscape, garden centers, interiorscape, grounds maintenance, nursery, greenhouse, arboriculture, botanical gardens and other allied businesses. Since 1934 the MNLGA has existed to support, promote, and provide services and assistance to member businesses. The MNLGA also provides a unified voice of the industry, communicating to the public the vital role of the green industry in improving the quality of life. Our membership, over 300 strong, enjoy the benefits of quality continuing education programs, publications, the Certified Professional Horticulturist Program, active lobbying program through the Maryland Green Industry Council (MaGIC), and much more.
Address: PO Box 726 Brooklandville, MD 21022
Email: office@mnlaonline.org Contact: Vanessa A. Finney
Phone: 410-823-8684 FAX: 410-296-8288

There are many resources available to assist Maryland growers, retailers, and landscape contractors in the successful operation of their business. Select below for a variety of industry resources, including information on state licensing, U of MD Extension services, pesticide certification, etc. Links for larger topics, such as recycling, crop insurance, etc. are found to the left.

American Nursery and Landscape Association

American Standard for Nursery Stock - ANSI Z60.1 - 2004

Cecil College - Certificate Program and AAS Degree Programs in Horticultural Sciences

Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council (CCLC)

Community College of Baltimore County

Delmarva Safety Association, Inc.

Landscape Contractors Association of MD, DC and VA (LCA)

LEAD Maryland

Maryland Arborist Association

Maryland Christmas Tree Association

Maryland Department of Agriculture

Maryland Department of the Environment

Maryland Greenhouse Growers Association

Maryland Invasive Species Council

Maryland Master Gardeners

Maryland Turfgrass Council

Montgomery College - Horticulture and Landscape Technology Program

Professional Landcare Network (PLANET)

United States National Arboretum

University of Maryland College of Ag and Natural Resources

University of Maryland IPM Resources

Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturist Program (CPH)

History
In 1985 the Maryland Nurserymen’s Association began its Certified Professional Horticulturist program, a voluntary program for those desiring to demonstrate proficiency in horticulture. After meeting a combination of educational and work experiences, and studying a comprehensive manual that is the heart of the program, an applicant must pass a rigorous examination in order to be certified.

Objectives
To raise and improve the professional standards of the nursery, landscape, and garden center industries by giving special recognition to individuals who have demonstrated a high level of competence in the principles and practices relevant to these industries.To encourage and promote the education and training of new employees.To encourage and promote continuing education and training of all nursery, landscape, and garden center employees, including owners and managers.To have this high level of attainment recognized by the gardening public as well as within the nursery, landscape, and garden center industries.

Eligibility
In order to apply for certification, an industry member must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Sponsorship by a Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association member.

Three years of full-time employment within the Ornamental Horticulture Industry (2 years part-time, minimum 500 hours per year, will constitute one year of full-time employment), or Two years of full-time industry employment and two years post-secondary education in horticulturally related fields, or One year of employment and four years of post-secondary school education in horticulturally related fields.

Letters of reference must be submitted from previous employers to verify years of employment.

To view the CPH program brochure, select here.

Procedures
In order to become a Certified Professional Horticulturist, one must:

Submit a completed application (for the online version of the application select here) together with any applicable references and the certification fee (made payable to the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association).

Achieve a score on the Certification Exam of at least 70 points on each section of the exam - multiple choice and plant identification. Examinations will be scheduled by the Certification Board.

At the time of testing, sign a Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association Code of Ethics form.

Certification is valid for three years, after which it may be renewed for an additional three years for a minimal fee and fulfillment of a Continuing Education (CE) requirement. The Continuing Education requirement will be satisfied with the attendance of the Certified Professional Horticulturist at a minimum of two courses over the three-year certification period. Please use the Continuing Education Record form to keep rack of your CE requirements. Carry over of credits will not be permitted. Courses that will be considered as meeting the CE requirement include, but are not limited to:

MNLA sponsored events such as field days; educational workshops; management dinners.

University of Maryland Cooperative Extension programs.

U.S. Department of Agriculture seminars or training sessions.

Any seminar of educational program sponsored by a national horticulture association, such as ANLA or PLANET.

Courses taken to accomplish a degree in horticulture.

Horticulture Short Courses offered by colleges or professional horticulture associations.

Certificates will be issued by the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association; however, certification will not be limited to MNLA members and their employees.

Certification examination will be based on the Certified Professional Horticulturist Training Manual of the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association and/or other approved study materials.

The Required Body of Knowledge
Managing or working with a nursery, landscape, or garden center business requires in-depth knowledge of a wide variety of subjects. For CPH certification purposes, after the eligibility requirements have been met, the candidate need only demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the CPH Board, that the candidate knows and can apply the essentials of the nursery, landscape, and garden center industries.

The examination questions will be based on such essentials as are included in the Training Manual.

Administration
The Certified Professional Horticulturist (CPH) program is sponsored by the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association. Responsibility for administering the CPH program rests with the CPH Board. The Board is comprised of four appointed members from MNLA, representing nursery, landscape, and garden center industries, one member from the University of Maryland Department of Horticulture, one member from the Maryland State Department of Agriculture, the MNLA President, and the Executive Director.

CPH examinations are prepared, conducted, and graded by or under the direction of the CPH Certification Board.

The Certification Board has no intention whatever to determine who shall engage in the nursery, landscape, and garden center industries. That a person is not certified does not indicate that the candidate is unqualified to engage in these industries, only that such a person has not fulfilled the requirements for CPH status or applied for the recognition.

Use of CPH Designation
As a Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturist, individuals may use the CPH designation with his/her name on his/her business letterhead and on his/her business card. Certification is for individuals only. The CPH designation may not be used to imply that a business or firm is accredited.

Membership Application
To join the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association, please complete an online application, accessible from the link in the upper right hand corner of this page. If you prefer, you may download a paper application, fill it out, and mail it with a check. If you have any questions, please contact the MNLA via e-mail or at 410-823-8684.

To view the MNLA membership brochure, select here. To download a printable MNLA membership application, select here.

Mission Statement
The purpose of the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association is to promote the use of ornamental plants, products and services. The association supports all constituent groups of the horticulture industry and is a business resource for its members.

Specific Goals

Promote the role of the horticulture industry in improving people's quality of life.

Promote professionalism through education programs for members and the public and by encouraging enrollment in educational institutions.

Monitor state and local laws relating to the horticulture industry.

Participate actively in the legislative and regulatory processes.

Promote the use of environmentally sound practices in the horticulture industry.

Monitor and communicate to members developments in allied industries including agri-technology.

Support donations of plant products and services to state and community programs.

Participate in Maryland agriculture organizations.

Member Benefit Programs
Membership in the MNLA includes automatic legislative representation through the Maryland Green Industry Council (MaGIC). This benefit is, pehaps, the greatest single benefit of the MNLA. Further benefits included availability of participation in the Certified Professional Horticulturist Program (CPH), discounted registration at Green Industry educational events, Free State Nursery and Landscape News, periodic electronic newsletter, containing timely important pieces of information, networking opportunities, etc. The MNLA also offers several money saving partnerships for its members:

Office Depot Purchase Partnership Program

ANLA PartnerSHIP (discounts on national shipping programs)

Energy Purchasing Co-op - both commercial and residential program

Membership Application
To join the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association, please complete an online application via the link in the upper right hand corner of this page. If you have any questions, please contact the MNLA via e-mail or at 410-823-8684.

Careers

The Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association is committed to advancing the fields of ornmental horticulture and the related industries of landscape contracting, landscape architecture, and landscape design. In keeping with this mission, the MNLA offers access to several different collegiate scholarships and provides resources to educational resources and job opportunities within the Mid-Atlantic Region.

For more information regarding ornamental horticulture/landscape scholarship opportunities, select the "Scholarship" link to the left.

For more information regarding educational resources and job opportunities, please select the "Careers" link to the left.