Hours
Policy
Recertification has long
been a topic of confusion, both for me and for
many Master Gardeners. And we’ve been
inconsistent between counties around the
state. I’m instituting some changes in
recertification requirements for the coming
year in hopes that it will be more
understandable and consistent.
Once an individual has
completed Master Gardener training, he or she
is certified as an OSU Extension Master
Gardener. This certification is good for one
year following graduation. Master Gardeners
must then recertify annually to remain a
certified Master Gardener. For instance,
Master Gardeners graduating in 2010 are
certified through 2011, but must complete
recertification requirements during 2011 to
become recertified for2012.
Recertification
is defined as: Completing
educational training to further/enhance the
individual’s skills in the areas of
community horticulture deemed important to the
OSU Extension Master Gardener Program.
Why
do we require recertification? As time
goes by, we all forget details of diagnosis
and appropriate advice. Also, information
changes rapidly as new research results and
products or appropriate cultural treatments
become available. The goal is to keep Master
Gardeners updated and available to provide
high quality and up-to-date advice to the
public.
Master
Gardeners must be certified or recertified in
order to work in a plant clinic. You can
continue as a member of the Master Gardener
Association, and participate in all other
Master Gardener activities, without
recertification. And if you wish to work in
the plant clinic for your personal
development, you can do so as long as a
certified Master Gardener is present.
To maintain a high standard in the
Oregon Master Gardener Program, it is
important to have some degree of uniformity
for recertification requirements, while
providing the flexibility needed within
individual counties to meet local needs. The
following are the requirements for
recertification in both Jackson and Josephine
Counties.
Donating
a minimum of ten (10) hours of volunteer
service, and
Completing six (6) or more hours of continuing
education through:
Auditing class sessions
during the annual Master Gardener training
program.
Participation in any
approved classes during the annual Master
Gardener’s Mini-College (In Newport in 2011,
July 13-16).
Participation in
county-sponsored training sessions such as
Winter Dreams, Summer Gardens (Jackson
County), Seeds of Spring Home Garden Seminar
(Josephine County), or most of the evening or
weekend classes given in both Jackson and
Josephine Counties.
Participation in any
other home horticulture related classes. These
must be individually documented and approved
by me.
Self-study programs in
home horticulture related topics, but talk to
me first for approval. Folks doing research to
prepare home horticulture related
presentations often can fulfill the
requirement this way.
Scoring a 70% or better
on an open book Recertification Review.
Finally, you need to report
your volunteer and educational hours either
on-line at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/vrs
or manually in the Master Gardener office.
Return
to home page
