1、American Society of Agronomy International Certified Crop Adviser Program,American Society of Agronomy (ASA),Started in 1907 11,000 members Membership comprises: Academia Government Industry or private sector,American Society of Agronomy (ASA),Products and Services: Scientific Publications - Agronom
2、y Journal Monthly Magazine CSA News Bi-monthly Magazine Crops and Soils World Class meetings Latest research updates Educational programs Advocacy Certification: Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg),American Society of Agronomy (ASA),Certifications: protects the publ
3、ic and the profession helps establish the profession through standards enhances professional developmentCertified Crop Adviser (CCA) Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg),International Certified Crop Adviser Program (ICCA),13,000 + (CCAs) certified in the USA and CanadaCCA Mission: The Certified
4、Crop Adviser (CCA) Program validates the credentials of professional crop advisers by establishing standards for knowledge, experience, ethics and continuing education.CCA Vision: To be the most valuable certification a professional crop adviser can hold by establishing Certified Crop Advisers (CCA)
5、 essential role in agricultural production, food safety and environmental stewardship.,International Certified Crop Adviser Program (ICCA),*Crop advisers provide advice and counsel to farmers, ranchers and other agricultural entities in their decision making process.*This responsibility requires a p
6、roficient understanding of crop production science, food safety, technology, economics and the environment.*Crop advisers combine their knowledge in these disciplines as well as their local experience to provide sound recommendations to their clients.,Questions ?,What you always wanted to know ,Cert
7、ification or Membership,Certification: A credential you “earn” and must meet a set standard, usually defining a profession and /or professional conduct, employment relatedMembership: Something you “join”, usually open to anyone with the common interest, pay fees,Words,Certification: voluntary, profe
8、ssional standards, defines professionLicense: mandatory, government required, defines practice, title, responsibilitiesRegistry: list of those who meet a standard or requirement, voluntary or mandatory,Structure,American Society of Agronomy (ASA)International CCA Board (ICCA)State/Province/Regional
9、(Local) CCA Board,Structure/Relationship,ASA is the credentialing organizationICCA Board is the certifying body Sets the policies and proceduresLocal CCA Boards implement the program grants/denies certifications to individuals,ICCA Board Structure,45 voting 1 voting member from each local board (37)
10、 3 chairs vice-chair; chair; past-chair 1 ASA Board representative 4 standing committee chairs Finance; S/E; CEC; EPC 8 ex-officio government and staff 2 CSREES; NRCS; EPA; FSA; ASA CEO; ASA Pres.; Dir. Certification,Local Board Structure,7 minimum members Similar to ICCA board State / Province equi
11、valent for government agencies At least 50% should be CCA and elected Chairs serve 1 or 2 year, non-consecutive terms Vice-chair; chair; past-chair rotation Members serve up to 2 3 year consecutive terms,Duties of the ICCA Board,Set the policies and procedures for the programPolicy and Procedures ma
12、nual online:https:/www.certifiedcropadviser.org/files/policy_manual.pdf,Duties of the Local Board,Administer the CCA program, actively market CEU opportunities, ensure availability Enforce the code of ethics Rule on work exp. & ed. Requirements Develop the local exam Administer the exams Grant certi
13、fication Approve expenses and update ASA on board member changes,Board Member updates,Very Important !Not on list = not covered by E & O Liability insurance provided by ASAMadison will send reminders annually but dont wait for those,Supporting Documents,Credential Booklet Performance Objectives CEU
14、Application Reporting FormsAll found on the website or we can provide paper copies as needed,Basics,“This is a football.” VL Exams Experience / Education Ethics Enforcement Continuing Education,Exams,International Local Board 4 primary competency areas Nutrient management Soil and water management I
15、ntegrated pest management Crop managementFirst Friday in February and August (optional) Deadline to register is 6 weeks prior,Exams,Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Performance Objectives Content experts draft (academia, govt, industry) End user review, relavence Exam question development Validat
16、ion of exam questions by end users All exams must follow the same procedures Is yours?,Experience / Education,4 years / no degree or not related degree 3 years / associate degree, 15 semester hours 2 years / BS degree agronomy or close,Experience,NOTE: If an applicant spends less than 30% of his or
17、her time engaged in the activities described previously, partial credit might be assigned based on the following: Actual Experience CCA Experience 30% 1.00 year per year involved 25% 0.83 years per year involved 20% 0.66 years per year involved 15% 0.50 years per year involved 15% No credit is given
18、. This is not to be retroactiveFor example, an applicant spends 20% of his or her time in activities outlined in 3a, b or c and lists 10 years experience. The applicant should receive 6.6 years credit for experience (i.e; 0.66 x 10 years = 6.6 years),Education,Degree must meet the minimum course wor
19、k listed on the forms Agronomy Degree or Closely Related Agronomy related course work is key 15 semester hours minimum,References,1. Two completed reference forms (one from the employer and one from a client or individual who is familiar with the applicants work experience in crop production). Be su
20、re the two reference letters are signed and witnessed or notarized. 2. Do the references recommend the applicant for certification? 3. Are the references familiar with the applicants work history?,CCA vs. CCA Candidate,CCA - meets all of the requirements CCA Candidate does not have the full experien
21、ce, defined time frame set by the local board, ideal for students Pass exams Has at least one reference Course work/degree if claiming Does not have CEU or annual fee requirements,Continuing Education,40 hours (continuing education units CEUs) With at least 5 in each of the 4 categories 2 year cycle
22、 calendar based No yearly minimum Minimum of 20 as Board approved Max of 20 as self study No limit on Professional Development or self reported but indirectly they do,Forms/instructions,CEU event application Sign in sheets Self study instructionsScanners electronic version of sign in sheet,Types of
23、CEUs,Board Approved professional meetings, structured field days/research plot tours, seminars, workshops can be face to face or live internet delivered with a way to track attendance board reviews and approves = CCA CEUSelf Reported same as board approved but board did not review, CCA self reportsB
24、oard Approved Self Study distance education, must have a quiz attached,CEUs,Online access 24/7 Local board administrators have online access CCAs have accessReports mailed 2x / year, Jan. and Sept.,CEUs,Unique tracking number assigned to every event once approved Assigned by local board or Madison o
25、ffice Identifier through system,Ethics,Code of EthicsEnforcement Procedures Starts with a written complaint Local board standards and ethics committee Process is very deliberate and needs to be followed closely to ensure fairness,Calendar of Events,Updated in Dec./Jan. each year Deadlines for activi
26、ties,Promotions and Communications,Advertisements Press releases Articles Logos Exhibit booth Posters/brochures,Government,Recognized by USDA EPA RMA Technical Services Provider MOU Nutrient management Integrated pest management Land management tillage practices,TSP,CAPs new in 2009 Conservation Act
27、ivities Plans Focused on using TSPs 17 categories,USDA NRCS New Program,Mississippi River Conservation Initiative RFPs coming out on how to implement focused, comprehensive on farm conservation practices that will help improve water quality Practical Production enhancing 12 states along the MS River
28、 Cooperative partnership approach,Webinars,ASA sponsored each month Timely topic of interest to CCAsFuture need an advisory team of CCAs who would communicate the latest events that a webinar should address, will help make the events more timely,Fundamentals in Applied Agronomy,Online course, 12 ses
29、sions, 2 hours each Fall and Spring Prep to become certified and good review Follows ICCA POs,Crops and Soils Magazine,ASA delivered 6X per yearEducational focus on what is important to Certified Professionals in Agronomy and Soil Science CCA, CPAg, CPSS/CNeed more local content available to local boards provide updates,Questions ?,Board meeting starts at 10:30Thank you.,
