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When landscape contractors talk about the value of certification, the words “marketing,” “training,” and “selling” often come to mind. Being involved with the ALCA certification program from day one, and having certification as an important part of our company culture, I can say categorically that all three are good reasons for anyone or any company to pursue certification. To me, though, this is not where the true value of certification lies. Instead, the process of training for certification, taking the requisite exam, and becoming certified is a tremendous confidence builder. I know because when I earned my CCLP letters, it gave me confidence to continue to grow my company.

As I mentioned, certification is a key part of our culture. Part of our mission at Gachina Landscape Management is to give our employees the best training possible, to give them a career path so they can grow with our company. Certification helps us in both regards. Studying to achieve Certified Landscape Technician (CLT) status is a tremendous training exercise in itself. We hold review classes for the written portion of the CLT exam and have set up outdoor stations where employees can prepare for the hands-on testing.

We pay for the tests and any retakes and give employees a small bonus when they receive their CLT. Achieving certification is also taken into consideration at review time. In fact, having a CLT is a requisite for all our account and project managers.

The certification program is good for our employees and for us. It gives our training program structure and a way to measure an employee’s progress. For them, it provides a tangible goal, and, more important, it builds their confidence. You can see their confidence building before they take the exam, and those who pass are virtually beaming with their success. Our employees take pride in becoming certified because it says to them, their peers, and our customers that “I’m good at what I do.”

We have 28 employees who have CLT after their name, 60 percent of whom are Hispanic. In addition, two of our managers are beginning to study for the Certified Landscape Technician (CLP) test. Certification at any level is valuable, as a training tool and as a confidence builder. That to say we fail to take advantage of it in our marketing and sales efforts. We include a list of our “certified” employees in our proposals and when we are asked to help develop specifications for a project, we include a CLT as a requisite for meeting a minimum standard.

In California, the CLT exam is given twice a year. It is not unusual for us to have a team of 12 or more employees taking the exam and another half-dozen of our CLT employees acting as judges. If you have never been to test site, go just for the experience. The CLT exam is a daylong event with an atmosphere charged with both apprehension and excitement. It is a big deal for any employee, and passing the test is bigger yet.

The exam’s degree of difficulty also lends value to certification. The CLT test is not a pushover. In fact, a very low percentage of employees pass all segments the first time. The same can be said for the CLP test. It, too, can be difficult, especially for those who fail to study for it or otherwise take it seriously.

What is the old saying, “No pain, no gain.” Sure, certification requires a commitment in terms of both time and money. But the benefits derived from having certified and confident employees on staff far outweigh any expenditure in company resources.

2/05

By John Gachina, CCLP, CLT, Gachina Landscape Management, Menlo Park, CA