About Accreditation
Take the First Step: The Accreditation Course in Organic Land Care
The path to becoming an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional (AOLCP) begins with the NOFA Accreditation Course in Organic Land Care.
The course is offered several times per year as an online course and occasionally in an in-person format. Courses in all formats lead to accreditation.
About the Course
The course provides approximately 30 hours of instruction from scientists and land care practitioners, all experts in their field. Instructors present lectures in their areas of expertise, drawing connections to the principles and practices outlined in the Standards for Organic Land Care.
The online course is generally offered three times per year, with each session lasting six weeks. The learning is asynchronous, allowing participants to work at their own pace and timing over the 6-week course period.
Student learning is focused on the scientific underpinnings of soil, ecology and ecosystem health in relationship to practical applications in land care. Students learn how and why organic land care differs from conventional land care and how to apply their learning in their daily work.
Looking for Organic Training? Register Now!
Advance registration is required. Courses fill up quickly.
How to Become Accredited
The Accreditation Course prepares graduates to become AOLCPs and begin or continue practicing organic land care. It is the starting point for professional growth in the field. Accreditation is achieved by:
- enrolling in and successfully completing the course and all course requirements,
- passing the Accreditation Exam with at least a 70% grade, and
- pledging to practice organic land care in accordance with the Standards when offering organic services.
Continuing professional education and an annual reaccreditation fee are required to maintain the credential. Learn more about the annual reaccreditation process here.
Why become an AOLCP?
Growing public awareness of pesticide use hazards, interest in supporting pollinators and growing native plants, and legislative efforts to mandate least toxic and non-toxic alternatives are fueling market opportunities for professionals with knowledge of organic lawn, garden, and landscape care.
Earning the AOLCP credential allows professionals to access a client base of homeowners and land managers looking for trained, trust-worthy professionals who can help them to manage their land organically, based on a set of shared, science-based principles.