The next CCA exam date is February 2, 2018. Only one certification can be taken per exam date. For more information on the 4R NMS, Resistance Management, and Sustainability Specialty Certifications, please visit the exams page.  You can find the performance objectives list (here). It covers all of the potential subject matter areas that the specialty certification exams cover. They are designed to help guide your study and continuing education.

4R NMS – 4R NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT SPECIALTY

Next CCA Exam Date:  February 2, 2018
Registration period October 2 – December 8, 2017

The 4R NMS specialty is for CCAs who do nutrient management planning and focus their work in this area.  It allows CCAs to prove their knowledge, advance their skills and draw awareness to their abilities.  It should align with USDA-NRCS and state nutrient management standards.

The 4R NMS exam and certification does not replace the state/provincial required exams or rules for nutrient management planning for those states/provinces with such rules. MORE INFORMATION

RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT SPECIALTY (RMS)

Next CCA Exam Date:  February 2, 2018
Registration period October 2 – December 8, 2017

The Resistance Management Specialty (RMS) is for CCAs who do Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and focus their work on crop protection.  Not all CCAs work extensively on pest management but focus on other aspects of crop advising.  The RMS allows those CCAs who advise on pest management to become more visible and recognized for their integrated systems thinking and approach to avoid development of resistance or alleviate resistance problems in order to meet the need for improved environmental stewardship.  It allows CCAs to prove their knowledge, advance their skills and draw awareness to their professional abilities.  It should align with USDA-NRCS and US-EPA for pest management standards. MORE INFORMATION

SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALTY (SSP)

Next CCA Exam Date:  February 2, 2018
Registration period October 2 – December 8, 2017

Sustainability – Meeting the needs of the present while improving the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Field to Market)

  • Follow three global (UN) principles
    • Environmental
    • Social
    • Economic (profitability)

The purpose of implementing a Sustainability Specialty is to utilize CCAs to help farmers/producers to become better acquainted with and adopt/enhance/implement sustainability concepts, stewardship, and best management practices within their operations. CCAs are the single best influencers to work with local producers and help them adopt more sustainable crop production practices that will satisfy the future demands of the food industry and address demands from consumers for safe food, while protecting the environment and preserving natural resources. MORE INFORMATION