What is CHT?
By Sally Harvey CLT, CLP
Education and Labour Development Department
After making many telephone calls to members in one of our chapters to promote certification, it quickly became apparent that CHT remains a best kept secret. So, I want to take this opportunity to explain CHT and its value to you and the future of our industry.
The Certified Horticultural Technician (CHT) designation provides an individual employed by the landscape industry or parks department with a means of proving a minimum standard of expertise in tasks typically required within the horticultural industry. It’s a national designation, with recognition across North America.
Currently, CHT evaluation and designation are available in the following horticultural sectors: Softscape installation, hardscape installation, ornamental maintenance, turf maintenance, retail garden centre and interiorscape.
To qualify to challenge the CHT designation, you must obtain proof from your employer(s) that you have a minimum of 1,000 hours of landscape industry experience. Currently there is no prerequisite to take part in the interiorscape evaluation.
Evaluation process
The certification of an individual’s competency is accomplished through a series of written and practical evaluations. Written evaluations are designed to measure overall comprehension of the sector, are typically taken prior to the practical evaluation and generally last up to one-half day. Landscape Ontario offers the written tests at any time of the year, providing a convenient time for our members. The practical evaluations measure an individual’s level of competence through a series of timed, hands-on exercises in the presence of a qualified industry judge. A minimum grade of 70 per cent is required at all stations before certification status can be obtained. Many candidates do not pass all stations or sections of the written test in the first attempt. At the next evaluation, the candidate will challenge only those test sections and stations that were not passed previously.
Test orientation sessions are available in Milton and Ottawa each year to review the itinerary and the structure of test day. Attendance at the orientation sessions is highly recommended for new candidates in order to gain a comfort level with the test site and to put the candidate at ease.
The value of the CHT is immeasurable to both the certified individual and the employer. I can tell you that it has gained our company the opportunity to bid on projects that others were not invited to, due to our certifications. Education and training are keys to the success of and future of your business and our industry.
Landscape Ontario offers courses that provide training on the various components during the fall and winter months to help prepare candidates for their CHT. The 2009 and 2010 season will offer even more of these opportunities. In addition, we will offer trainers a training program that will help them to train their own staff to become more competent at providing the services that you offer your clients. This will also help to prepare them for opportunities, such as CHT, apprenticeship and other designations they may wish to pursue. As you should know by now, I truly consider education and training as part of an excellent retention package that will motivate and inspire staff. I know that it helps me. You will reap the benefits!
I encourage you to register for CHT today:
July test: Milton, July 16 and 17, 2009; August test, Ottawa’s Kemptville College, Aug. 13 and 14; Sept. test, Milton, Sept. 24 and 25.
How to proceed
Go to www.horttrades/cht and select the application form for new test candidates:
- Complete and submit the application form with payment.
- Order study manual (strongly recommended).
- You will receive a study guide, plant list and descriptions of the practical stations, if applicable.
- After you are certified, plan your renewal credits to continue your horticultural training and development.
- Permanent records are maintained for certification and renewal.
In closing, I leave you with two messages from industry leaders who speak of CHT and its benefits:
“Education and training are vital part of our business’s future. The CHT program is the centerpiece of a well-run training program and is another way of raising the bar of expectation at our company. This also separates us from our competition,” Vic Krahn CHT, Lakeshore Tree Farms, Saskatoon, Sask.
“The CHT program helps me and my business, because it sets a standard of knowledge and safety expectations. Our customers know that with CHTs on staff, they are dealing with a professional company that cares about the health, safety and professionalism of their staff,” Mike Malleck CHT, Clintar Groundskeeping Service, London, Ont.
Sally Harvey may be reached by email at sharvey@landscapeontario.com