Growing Your Expertise: Louisiana’s Native Plant Certification Coming This Summer!
This summer, the Louisiana Native Plant Society will offer classes leading to the first-ever Louisiana Native Professional Certification. Created with support from the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program and the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association, the classes will address the increased demand for professionals who understand the complexities of native plant ecology and horticulture and who can implement and care for native landscapes. Local landscape professionals and environmental industry workers will be trained to understand, identify, plan and maintain landscapes built with a native plant palette. The Louisiana Native Plant Society will maintain a public directory of those successfully completing the instruction and receiving certification which will allow the public to locate skilled professionals in this specific field.
The Basic level class will take place over two days and include in-class presentations, landscape planning exercises, on-site field walks and plant identification sessions, and off-site field trips to see and discuss native landscapes. Instructors are some of the state’s most knowledgeable experts in native plants and landscape planning and maintenance
Topics covered in the training manual and in-person classes:
- Native plant basics, ecology, and terminology
- Plant nomenclature and anatomy
- Native and invasive plant identification
- Louisiana soils and ecoregions
- Site evaluation
- Landscape planning, plant selection and placement
- Installation and maintenance of native landscapes
Beyond the Classroom: Real Benefits for Certified Native Plant Professionals:
Graduates of the Basic curriculum will be listed indefinitely on a public-facing database on lnps.org, the website of the Louisiana Native Plant Society and will be promoted alongside ongoing marketing for the program. They will receive a certificate and a vehicle decal/magnet and have the option to purchase other promotional materials identifying them as Certified Louisiana Native Professionals. They will qualify to attend future Advanced level training.
Graduates will be kept up to date on continuing education opportunities as well as Advanced level offerings from LNPS. LNPS will promote this program, graduates, and their businesses to advertise their newly acquired skills.
Who will benefit from this program?
The courses are designed for landscape and environmental professionals of all level to become certified in the use of native plants in the landscape.
This course will be great for:
- Park Service Employees
- Public Land Managers
- Public Garden Staff
- Landscape Architects & Designers
- Horticulturists
- Arborists
- Urban Forestry Workers
- Groundskeepers
- Environmental Scientists (with a focus on land management)
If you would like to be notified about this upcoming course, please sign up for the latest email notifications here:
Course Dates & Pricing
Coming Soon!
How to register.
Coming Soon!
Questions & Answers
Can you take this course if you are from out of the state?
Yes, you can attend from out of the state. Note that the classes are geared towards Louisiana plants and conditions. We do have similarities with nearby states, so the course can benefit all.
Will there be an opportunity to discuss special interests?
Yes, over the 2 day training class, there will be an opportunity to talk with instructors and other participants about course subjects and special interests.
Will more advanced training be offered at a later date?
Yes, more diverse and specialized trainings will be offered at a later date.
Can existing professionals who are already practicing native landscaping test out and receive certification?
YES. Individuals already knowledgeable in native plants and landscaping may test out of the Basic level curriculum and become certified for a fee of $150.00. The written exam must be taken on-site at a scheduled class. The fee includes a printed and shipped Training Manual (required), listing in the on-line directory, a certificate of completion and one vehicle decal/magnet.
Is Certification guaranteed with attendance?
No, the participant must fulfill the course requirements. This includes the certification exam which consists of a written test at the conclusion of the class followed by a presentation (remote) of an original native landscape design within a few weeks of the class . The written test will have questions based on the Training Manual, including identification of native and invasive species. The landscape planning portion of the test will be assigned directly after the written exam and is to be executed outside of class. The participant will submit a landscape plan and maintenance regime for this landscape to a review committee via email and attend a virtual Zoom interview at a scheduled date to present and explain their plan. A committee of at least 3 of the class instructors will evaluate the landscape plan and presentation.
Completion or testing out of Basic certification is a requirement for any Advanced level classes that may be offered in the future.
Is there a Cancellation Policy?
Once registered and paid, an individual may cancel their registration for an 80% refund up until one week before the class. The Training Manual will remain theirs to keep. If that person registers for a future class, they may use that manual and take the class at a discounted price without receiving a new manual.
Why Get Certified? Master Native Landscaping & Make a Difference.
A growing number of residential and commercial customers are looking for native plant experts.
This is an excellent opportunity for you to stand out in your industry and get ahead of the growing demand. Early adopters will have the advantage of being some of the few who are certified before anyone else.
Nature friendly landscapes are in demand
People are noticing the decline in pollinators, birds along with other wildlife and want to do something about it. As a trained native plant professional you will be educated and certified to design nature friendly landscapes that help our habitat and look beautiful.
Native plants are known to create highly resilient landscape designs
Learn to create landscapes that withstand extreme elements. Extreme droughts, flooding and weather related events. The designs are even known to remediate and clean soils!
Native plants require less inputs
They require less irrigation, fertilizer, labor and fossil fuels for equipment, saving your customers time and money. You will be able to offer your customers a low maintenance garden design.
Those that successfully complete this training will be listed in a directory available to homeowners, municipalities and government entities who seek qualified professionals in this field. If you would like to be notified about this upcoming course, please sign up for the latest email notifications here:
