Connecticut Certified Horticulturist Program

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Unlock Your Green Potential: Become a Certified Plant Expert!

Did you know?

An increasing number of professional firms now require certified staff to handle installation and design projects

Why Enroll in CCH?

• Boost Your Knowledge: Gain expertise to guide consumers in making informed plant choices.
• Enhance Work Performance: Elevate your skills and excel in your role.
• Advance Your Business: Propel your company forward with industry-recognized certifications.
• Foster Team Collaboration: Join a community of like-minded professionals.
• Industry Relevance: Stay competitive by having certifications that matter.

CCH Welcomes All Green Industry Professionals!

Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, CCH caters to everyone working or studying in the green industry. Our past students come from diverse backgrounds including design, growing/propagation, landscape, retail, turf management, and wholesale.

About the Connecticut Certified Horticulturist program:

CNLA’s annual 13-week certification program (formerly CANP) will teach you botany, plant identification, and professional horticultural information. The low admission fee for the Connecticut Certified Horticulturist program makes accreditation open to all persons in the nursery and landscape industry. Learn directly from several instructors, who give great, two-hour informative lectures each night. Pass the CCH exam and you will be recognized at the CNLA Winter Symposium in January

This on-line classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 7:00—9:00 pm beginning August 26, 2025. Prior to the start of class, a link to login to the on-line course will be emailed to you. Only registered attendees can participate in the class.

Registration for employees of member companies is $150. Non-members are $215.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Be employed or be a student in the horticultural industry.
• Enroll in the Accreditation program and achieve a passing score of 70 or higher on the written and plant identification accreditation exam. The accreditation course is 13 weeks and is held annually from August to November. The exam is administered at the conclusion of the course.
• Sign the Connecticut Accredited Nursery Professional Code of Ethics and submit to the CNLA.

2025 SCHEDULE*

All classes are on Tuesday; 7:00—9:00 pm

August 26 – Perennials
September 2 – Plant ID I
September 9 – Plant ID II
September 16 – Botany
September 23 – Environmental Factors & Culture
September 30 – Lawns
October 7 – Soils
October 15 – Insects
October 21 – Plant ID III
October 28 – Nutrition
November 4 – Plant Diseases
November 11 – Design
November 18 – Weeds
November 25 – Review
December 2 – Exam

* Schedule subject to change

Re-certification

To encourage on-going professional improvement through education and service to the industry and retain certification status, all CCHs (formerly CANPs) must compile at least five credits yearly to keep their status current and pay an annual fee (starting with the 2010 class and going forward) of $10 for CNLA members and $20 for nonmembers.

The deadline to recertify is December 31 of each year.

Complete this on-line form to re-certify as a CCH (Select the Category for CCH)

Download the Recertification Form

Need Financial Assistance?

Look into the Connecticut Nurserymen’s Foundation CNLA Member Scholarship. Deadline to apply is two weeks before the beginning of the CCH course. Scholarship recipients will receive reimbursement upon passing the CCH exam.