Get Accredited
Enroll in an Accreditation Course
The Accreditation Course in Organic Land Care is offered in multiple formats to meet the needs of our wide professional audience. Courses in all formats lead to accreditation.
Online Learning
An online, asynchronous learning course allows working professionals to participate on their own schedule and from different regions. Each course runs for approximately 6 weeks and includes opportunities to meet over video call with experts and OLC staff. An online exam is given at the end of the course.
Coursework and the exam are completed at one's own pace but must be completed within the 6 week course period. Students should expect to spend a minimum of 5 hours per week on the course work.
In-Person Learning
In-person courses are offered periodically in different regions with participation from a partner organization. In-person courses may run for 3 or 4 consecutive days, allowing face-to-face learning and interaction with instructors and peers. The exam is taken online after completion of the course.
In-Person Accreditation
In-person courses may be organized with participation of a local partner organization. Check back or join our mailing list for updates.
If you represent an organization looking to partner with OLC to bring this course to your area, please contact OLC Program Director Jennifer Shaffer.
Information about In-Person Courses
No in-person courses are scheduled at this time. Please check back or join our monthly mailing list for updates. If you are interested in taking an in-person training course, you may also click below to provide your contact information and region. This helps us gauge regional interest in future in-person course locations, and we'll contact you if training comes to your area!
Online Accreditation
The online, asynchronous learning course allows working professionals to achieve accreditation on their own schedule. Each online course runs for about 6 weeks, during which students work at their own pace to complete the learning and have optional weekly meetings with instructors and OLC staff.
Register for An Online Course
Registration closes a week prior to the course start date or when the registration limit is reached. Please register early to assure your spot in the session of your choosing!
Registration Fee
The course registration fee covers tuition for the course and the the first year of accreditation. For 2026 courses, the accreditation course registration fee is $500 before any discounts.
Beginning with the February 2027 course, the accreditation course registration fee will be $600 before any discounts.
Registration Fee Discounts
Employees of current AOLCPs always receive a 20% discount on accreditation course registration.
Groups of 3 or more registrants enrolled from the same organization in the same session are eligible for a 15% discount.
ELA members who are new to the Organic Land Care Program are eligible for a $100 discount on the cost of registration.
Eligible registrants may apply only one of the above discounts!
Contact jennifer@ctnofa.org for the appropriate discount code before registration.
When registering, please note the time frame of your course.
Our online, asynchronous accreditation courses generally begin on the first day of the session's named month. The accreditation exam is given about 6 weeks after the start of the course. For example, the February course starts on or about February 1 and ends on or about March 15th. Course work should be completed in this timeframe.
The Organic Land Care Accreditation Course applies principles of organic agriculture to the landscapes where most of us live our daily lives. The knowledge and perspective gained from this accreditation course allow us to contribute more to the natural world we love, to enhance the beauty and the resilience of these landscapes.
- Dina Brewster
Why Should I Earn This Credential?
This credential, NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professional (AOLCP), tells consumers that you are following a set of guidelines with the NOFA Standards for Organic Land Care and that you belong to a recognized and credible accreditation program.
There is an increasing demand by homeowners, municipalities, and private entities for organic practices on a wide variety of landscapes. This credential will demonstrate that you have professional competency in the area of organic landscaping and that you will protect the public interest in the responsible use of land care products and land resources.
The word 'organic' is not regulated in landscape and land care practices as it is with agriculture. For this reason, it is important to earn this credential from a reputable organization, in this case following the NOFA Standards for Organic Land Care.
Course graduates benefit from:
- The respected AOLCP credential for use with potential clients and employers.
- Use of the NOFA Organic Land Care logo for promotional materials and websites.
- Discounts on other NOFA OLC courses and other affiliates gatherings.
- Networking with a community of highly trained organic professionals who know how to manage organic lawns, gardens, and landscapes.
- AOLCPs can be found by new clients via NOFA's Organic Land Care search engine.