SC Green is thrilled to announce the award of a Specialty Crop Block Grant through the US Department of Agriculture for funding towards the revision of our Certified Nursery Professional Program. One of only thirteen projects funded in the state of South Carolina, SC Green will use the grant to update research, information, and graphics to educate growers, plant nurseries, and their employees on the best practices for producing plants. Be on the lookout for more program updates!

SC Green’s Certified Nursery Professional Program (CNP) began in 1985 with the intent of furthering professionalism and knowledge for those in the state’s plant industry. The CNP Program educates growers, plant nurseries, and their employees on best practices for producing plants. Since its inception, hundreds of industry professionals have passed the test and received the CNP certification. Prior to taking the exam, the study material is provided in a manual. The CNP manual, like the exam, is facilitated through SC Green and can be sold to wholesale growers and plant nurseries as training manuals for their employees. The CNP manual has also been used as part of the curriculum for horticulture programs at South Carolina colleges.

The CNP exam is typically offered once or twice a year and has two sections. A written portion of approximately 140 questions covers a variety of topics including plant growth and development, irrigation, pest management, and landscape design. The plant ID section requires matching the botanical names of roughly 130 plants with a lineup of the corresponding plants.