[dan deutekom]

From an employee's standpoint is the CLT (Certified Horticultural Technician in Canada) worth the expense and time to acquire.

From an employers standpoint does anyone require this CLT designation to be hired?

Pros? Cons?

The reason I am asking is because of some heated debates and I am looking for more varied points of view.

[Stonehenge]

I guess from an employee's perspective, expense shouldn't be an issue (if they are already an employee and the employer wants the person to be a CLT). As for whether it's worth the effort - depends on what the employee gets upon attaining that status. If it's a raise, then sure.

For the employer - is CLT training/testing a guarantor of employee success? If so, then it may be of great benefit (you didn't ask this, I'm just adding my $.02). Do I require it? Nope. But it would certainly jump out at me on an app.

[Robin Ramsay]

i CAN ONLY TELL YOU ABOUT MY FINDINGS WITH CERTIFICATION.I HAVE HLT FROM HUMBER COLLEGE TORONTO AND A HORTICULTURE TRADE CERTIFICATE.
MY DRIVERS LICENCE AZ {cdl} IS ALWAYS MORE IMPORTANT TO EMPLOYERS THAN ANYTHING ELSE MY QUALIFICATIONS DON'T MEAN A WHOLE LOT.

[John Palasek]

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Although I think that the CLT and CLP programs have some merit, I don’t understand how they apply in the real world. My reasoning is that the public at large has no idea what any of this means and consequently any such certification serves more as a way to impress one’s peers than anyone else. In all the years I’ve been in this industry, I have never encountered a person outside the industry who even heard of such programs much less anyone who knew what they signified. Because of this, I feel that unless the public is made aware of such certifications, then having them is essentially useless.

The average homeowner, through having read countless newspaper and magazine articles and having seen many television news reports on the subject, knows to ask three basic questions regarding home improvement contractors, which are:

1. Are you licensed?
2. Are you insured?
3. Can you furnish me with references?

Since the same homeowner has no idea what CLT stands for or what it represents, they are not likely to be overly impressed with any such certification because they haven’t been “told” to look for it. No “official” source, (Newspapers, TV, Radio, etc.), has informed them that such certifications would be beneficial or indeed preferable in assuring them that they are dealing with professionals.
In fact, since most people regard landscapers as, “the guys who cut the grass”, if a maintenance company mentioned CLT or CLP while soliciting work, I think homeowners in general would view such claims as little more than a marketing gimmick.

Take the ICPI, (Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute), for example. If you tell someone that such a thing exists, most of them offer a wry smile and say something like, “There’s an institute for that?”
In this case, the term “certified installer” carries more weight to an uninformed public than any affiliation with some alleged “institute”, because at least that phrase implies that a manufacturer is so impressed with the workmanship of a particular contractor that they are willing to recommend them to do the work; which is more of an implied guarantee than anything else.

My personal opinion is that most jobs are sold on references and finished jobs that can be shown to prospective clients, and I don’t think that will change. CLT and CLP certifications are probably a good way to get a foot in the door, but ultimately it’s past performance and satisfied customers that will win the day.

In any case, in order for the CLT and CLP certifications to mean anything, the public needs to know that it does. That means that the emphasis needs to be on advertising the importance of looking for these qualifications when interviewing prospective contractors.
Keeping it within the industry as it is now, is just preaching to the choir.

-JP



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[Mac]

I earned the CLP designation and am a firm believer in the value certification carries.

I have set up my job matrix so that at such a point in my company, it is required for my employees to become certified to progress their career with the company. For instance, if they wish to qualify themselves for a maintenance crew leader, they must prove them selves in part through earning their CLT- maintenance designation. It is comany sponsored and will carry a wage raise. They win and the company wins.

Yes, for certification to be effective it must be promoted. Your quality work can only take you so far. At some point you need a significant point of differentiation. For my company, I am banking on certification to be such an asset. In our proposal cover letters, you better believe I make a significant point about the value of partnering with a company that believes strongly in certification. Not only does the client get my compnay's satisfaction guarantee, they also have an independent validation of our employee's competency. As I see it, it is basically a double guarantee.

[johnkeegan]

I had one of my guys certified as a pesticide applicator and on a whim I congratulated him in my weekly ad on the front page of the local "pennysaver." Well, he clipped the ad out and showed it to everyone in his family and his friends. He was proud as could be. Can you put a value on that?
PS- That was 5-6 years ago and he still with us.

[dan deutekom]

John

Dosn't a pesticide applicator have to be licensed by law in your area? Because even if you have the certification and not the license you still can't apply pesticides legally.

[johnkeegan]

Perhaps my terminolgy was wrong (yes he can legally apply pesticides).... though that was not the relevant to the point being made, which is that you could use the certification or other continuing education to help an employee take interest and pride in what they do.

[dan deutekom]

I agree that it can bring self pride and increase motivation. But what do these certifications really bring to the table with the public.

These are not recognized certificates by the public or the government. In fact a lot of landscapers havn't heard of it. Unless you belong to a landscape association it is unheard of. It is not like being a electrician where you need this certification to legally paid to do the work.

Out of 22 job listings on the site that promotes this certification only one company mention CHT certification and they only listed it as an "asset" (this was a sponser of the program)

So what does this certification bring to the table other than a minimal set of skills? Because what i have seen of the requirements it is pretty minimal.

[Stonehenge]

By "bringing to the public" do you mean marketing value?

If the answer is yes, then it's only as valuable as the employer makes it. Having a staff full of CLT's doesn't make the company more marketable unless they promote that fact.

That being said, I often hear Home Depot ads describing their "trained/certified plant experts". Having shopped there a few times, I'm pretty sure the training consists of little more than reading a pamphlet.

My point is a company might have it's own internal training, then promote itself as having trained professionals, ala Home Depot. And it'd probably cost less than CLT training (guessing).

[johnkeegan]

I agree with Stone that, as far as marketing goes, if you're not prepared to push the values of certification to your potential customers then it may not directly result in more sales. But, indirectly, I can guarantee that having employees with " self pride and increase(d) motivation" will result in better quality work and a more stable, dependable workforce. Good for customers and good for the employer.
And neither certification nor licensing guarantees the work will be done right. Just because someone passed a test years back doesn't mean they'll choose to take the time and energy to do it right today.

[cutntrim]

I have thought about it, but haven't started down that road. I think certification is a worthwhile ideal for the landscape industry (and the snowplowing industry too), but I think it should be implemented by the government first.

It's common knowledge that our industry has very few barriers for those that want to hang a sign on their door and call themselves a "Landscaper". On the one hand that's great, because hard-working, honest guys (and gals) have an opportunity to create a career and a niche for themselves. By investing little more than blood, sweat, and tears, a person with an appreciation for hard work and a respect for nature can make a decent living, and help make their little corner of the world look a little nicer for it in the bargain.

On the other hand, without much (if any) regulation, there are always those that are going to be out there cheating people out of deposits, not honoring (or even signing) contracts, and generally putting out shoddy work. That's where certification can help.

But until the public (and not just a percentage of association members) demands that landscapers be certified by a recognizable governing body, I don't think the CHT, CLP,etc...will really catch on. In fact, if the association I belong to made it mandatory that members become certified, I would likely allow my membership to expire.