The Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist (PCH) program is for professionals who have an in-depth knowledge of plants, including their physiology, identification, culture, growth and maintenance as well as the basics of landscape design and installation and garden center operations.

The Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist (PCH) Associate program is for horticultural students or green industry employees who have not yet gained the experience to pass the professional PCH exam but want to pursue certification which tests his/her knowledge of plant health care practices, basic botany, soils and climate and plant identification.

The Sustainable Landscape Certification (SLC) program is for those with specialized knowledge about how plants can be used most effectively to provide ecosystem services that improve water quality, air quality and enhance human health and performance.

Individuals with PCH/PCH Associate may also obtain the SLC and become dual certified and vice versa.

1. Purchase a study manual and review the material. (optional but recommended)

PCH/PCH Associate – PCH Study Manual

SLC – SLC Study Manual

2. When you are familiar with the material, apply to the program online. If you need to mail in payment, you can choose "Check/Money Order" at checkout for the application fee.

3. Take and pass the exam prior to your application expiration date.

4. Maintain your designation with continuing education credits and by paying the recertification fee every two years. (PCH Associate students only pay a recertification fee at the 2^nd and 4^th year)

Events approved for PCH or SLC CEUs have received pre-approval for recertification continuing education credit (CEUs). CEUs do not apply to the application process to obtain a certification with PLNA.

Yes, you are more than welcome to purchase one of our study manuals prior to applying to the program. Once you complete the application process, you will be provided with an expiration date and must pass the exam within your application period to obtain your desired certification.

Our study manuals are separate from the application process and are not included with the application fee.

You can apply online, see below for applicable links for each certification. Payment must be submitted with your application form to complete the application process. If you need to mail in payment, you can choose "Check/Money Order" at checkout for the application fee.

PCH Application: Online | Fee

PCH Associate (Employee) Application: Online | Fee

PCH Associate (College Student) Application: Online | Fee

SLC Application: Online | Fee

Are you a high school student interested in the PCH Associate program? Visit our PCH Associate – Student Level page for more information or contact Tiffany Carpenter, Certification Coordinator, at tcarpenter@wannerassoc.com.

While we have recommendations for each certification, anyone can apply for our programs. See below for each certification’s recommended criteria.

PCH Associate

It is strongly recommended that individuals meet one of the following criteria:

• Student enrolled in a high school or career/technical school horticultural program
• Individuals who have been employed in the landscape or nursery industry for at least 1 year.

PCH

It is strongly recommended that individuals meet one of the following criteria:

• Two years of employment in the landscape or nursery industry during the previous four-year period; or
• Two years (60 credits) of classroom study in a recognized horticulture curriculum completed within the past four years; or
• A combination of one year (30 credits) or horticulture education and one year of employment in the landscape or nursery industry, for a total of two years, within the last four years.

SLC

It is strongly recommended that individuals meet one of the following criteria:

Professionals who design, install, and maintain sustainable landscapes in the residential, commercial, or municipal environments.

Note: If you obtain the PCH Associate certification, you must wait one year with the certification prior to applying for the PCH program at a discounted rate.

The requirement of being a Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist (PCH) prior to obtaining the Sustainable Landscape Certification (SLC) was changed in 2018. You may apply for the SLC program as it is, separate from the PCH. Here is link to an article about this on our website for reference: https://www.plna.com/news/news.asp?id=430996. We strongly recommend the SLC for professionals who design, install, and maintain sustainable landscapes in the residential, commercial, or municipal environments; however, anyone can apply for this program.

Not at all. You may live in another state and apply for any of our PLNA certifications.

After your application has been approved, you will be provided with a form link that you can use to schedule your exam at any point during your application period. Exams are proctored online during normal business hours and availability is offered year-round.

Yes, in-house proctoring is available upon request. To be eligible for in-house proctoring, your company must have someone who already has a PLNA certification and/or is someone who does not have an active application with PLNA. Contact Tiffany Carpenter, Certification Coordinator, at tcarpenter@wannerassoc.com to request in-house proctoring.

There will be a PDF attachment included in your scheduling confirmation email that will include the documents you need based on the exam you are taking. These documents will need to be printed out prior to your exam date, with the exception of the candidate guidelines which are for your reference only.

The exam will be proctored using Zoom's screen share feature. You will need a simple calculator and a device with a working camera and microphone; a laptop or desktop computer are recommended for better visibility and easier scrolling through the screen shared questions. You will also need to be able to take a clear picture or scan the answer sheet and scratch paper after the exam is complete then email it to your proctor.  If you have any technical difficulties, please contact your proctor prior to the exam. You may have to reschedule your exam if a resolution is not possible.

Note: If you do not have a working camera and microphone, you will need to reschedule your exam.

Never used Zoom before or a need a refresher? Learn how to join a Zoom meeting here. Test your internet connection, audio, and camera here.

The time allotment and number of questions for each of our exams is listed below. If you are taking the PCH exam, you will only need to take the sections that you haven’t passed yet.

• PCH Exam
  • Section I – 1 hour – 100 questions
  • Section II – 1 hour – 100 questions
  • Section III – 1/2 hour – 50 questions
  • Section IV – 1/2 hour – 50 questions
• PCH Associate – 1 hour and 30 minutes – 100 questions
• SLC – 1 hour – 125 questions

PCH Exam Note: If you finish early for one section, this does not provide you with additional time in another section. The time allotted for each section remains the same throughout the exam.

No, none of our exams are open book. During your exam, you will be expected to only use a simple calculator, if applicable, and the exam materials that are emailed to you prior to the exam.

It is recommended that you take your time with the exam; however, you are not required to stay for the entire time allotted and you may leave the exam meeting after you provide a copy of your answer sheets.

When the exam is completed, you will be expected to scan or take a clear picture of your exam answer sheets then email them to your proctor prior to leaving the exam meeting. You do not have to mail your answer sheets or the exam materials that were provided to you.

You will receive your exam results within one week of your exam date. Your results will be emailed to you and will not be given over the phone. If you haven’t paid your application fee/retest fee, your results will not be emailed until payment is received.

After you receive your results, you can use the scheduling form link that you were provided to schedule a retest at the soonest availability.

Note: If a retest fee is due, your balance must be paid in full before we provide your retest exam results.

Our applications expire quarterly so availability will show on our exam scheduler throughout the year. If you choose a date that is beyond your application period for your exam, the submission will be deleted. Please contact Tiffany Carpenter, Certification Coordinator, at tcarpenter@wannerassoc.com if you have any questions or you have extenuating circumstances and would like to explain your situation.

Your application includes the initial exam and one retest. Each retest needed after your one retest will require payment for the retest fee. The fee will need to be paid before we release your exam results.

PLNA Member Retest Fee: $25.00

Non-member Retest Fee: $35.00

You can schedule to take the exam prior to our office receiving your retest fee; however, you will not receive your exam results until we receive your payment.

You will need to reapply to the certification program you are interested in, this includes submitting an application and paying the application fee. If you passed any sections of the PCH exam, all previous scores are invalidated. Please contact Tiffany Carpenter, Certification Coordinator, at tcarpenter@wannerassoc.com if you have any questions or you have extenuating circumstances and would like to explain your situation.

When you are dual-certified, your recertification requirements are adjusted. You must report 12 continuing education units (CEUs) for each certification and pay dual-certified recertification fee. See below to determine when your dual-certified recertification requirements will take effect.

If you are in year one of your two-year renewal period for your current certification, your second certification expiration date will match the first. Your dual-certified recertification requirements will take effect immediately.

Example:

1. Your current SLC certification period is 9/30/2020 to 9/30/2022
2. You pass the PCH exam on 8/15/2021
3. Your PCH expiration date will be 9/30/2022
4. You must meet the dual-certified recertification requirement of reporting 12 PCH and 12 SLC CEUs as well as paying the PCH-SLC recertification fee by 9/30/2022

If you are in year two of your two-year renewal period for your current certification, your second certification expiration date will match the next anticipated expiration date of your first certification. Your first certification requirements will remain the same until you recertify, then your dual-certified recertification requirements will take effect.

Example:

1. Your current PCH certification period is 9/30/2020 to 9/30/2022
2. You pass the SLC exam on 6/15/2022
3. Your SLC expiration date will be 9/30/2024, rather than 9/30/2022
4. You must meet your original PCH recertification requirements by 9/30/2022
5. When you renew your PCH on 9/30/2022, your dual-certified recertification requirements will take effect and both certifications will have the expiration date of 9/30/2024

As long as you remain current with your PLNA certification, you may advertise the designation and logo on any promotional material.

The recertification requirements will depend on your certification type, if you are a student, and if you are dual-certified. Review the PLNA Recertification Overview page for more information.

You may have to reapply to the program and pass the exam to reinstate your certification. Reach out to Tiffany Carpenter, Certification Coordinator, at tcarpenter@wannerassoc.com to discuss your certification status.

PLNA accepts reciprocity for our PCH program for similar certifications, such as a nursery and landscape certification from another state.

To apply for reciprocity:

1. Reach out to Tiffany Carpenter, Certification Coordinator, at tcarpenter@wannerassoc.com to request reciprocity and provide a copy of your applicable certification ID card or certificate as confirmation.
2. You will receive a follow up message regarding your approval status for reciprocity. If you are approved, you will need to apply to the PCH program and pay the application fee to complete the reciprocity process.

Note: you will not be expected to purchase the study manual or pass the exam to receive the PCH designation through reciprocity

3. You must meet recertification requirements every two years to maintain your PCH designation.