Get Certified As a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional
9 September2016FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Get Certified as a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional
Required Classes begin Thursday, October 13 in Arlington, Va.
And in other Maryland, D.C. and Virginia locations
The Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Certification is a new voluntary credential for professionals who design, install, and maintain sustainable landscapes in the Bay watershed. Landscape professionals who gain the first level of this new certification will demonstrate skill by required coursework and examination in troubleshooting and maintaining green infrastructure or stormwater best practices and in providing conservation landscaping with native plants.
“Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional may be the first such multi-state landscapercertificationwith a watershed health focus in the United States”, explains Debbie Hamrick, whose ‘New Terrain’ online newsletter targets green infrastructure and conservation landscape specialists.
The certification project is steered by the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council ( and Partner organizationsUniversity of Maryland Extension, Maryland Sea Grant, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Habitat Partners©, and Wetlands Watch. Collectively, this consortium is working with conservation and stormwater experts to develop the new comprehensive credential.
“The goal ofconnecting buyers of these services with consistently trained professional providers of these skilled services will ultimately ensure that these best management practicesfunction properly in all parts of the watershed, to meet runoff, sediment and nutrient reduction goals for each locality, for the streams in our backyards, and ultimately, in the Bay,” said Lesley Riddle, 2016 Chair of the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council.
“Across this watershed, local governments, non-governmental organizations and neighborhoods are asking landowners and landscape professionals to increase the use of these stewardship practices for a healthier Bay, particularly on the millions of acres of existing residential-scale or and small commercial landscapes,” said Tom Schueler of the Chesapeake Stormwater Network.“When designed, installed and maintained properly as a ‘retrofit’ or ‘makeover’, small-scale BMP’s (best management practices) such as rain gardens, bio swales, permeable hardscapes, rainwater harvesting, plus tree and other native plantings, are effective in reducing stormwater runoff and pollution originating from a property,” Schueler added.
“The work of these conservation landscape professionals is focused on the science of healthy, functional landscapes for both people and ecosystems, and the resulting benefits of better water quality in a watershed, “ said Dr.Laurie L. Fox, Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension. Fox’s roleaspart of an advisory team is to help shape the educational content of the new professional certification based on sound science and best communication for mastery of the skills needed.
“Environmental site design to handle all runoff on site, and verifying maintenance of the best practices that accomplish this task, are now the standard, virtually Bay-wide, for any new larger scale construction,” noted Jim Edward, Deputy Director of EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program.
“Training and identifying landscape professionals who know how to maintain these BMP’s, and who would then know how to design, construct and maintain many more conservation landscape best practices for water quality on existing landscapes, just makes good business sense,” said Shawn Cummings of GreenskeeperLandscaping, a landscape professional who also serves on the advisory team for the new certification. “The market is ready and willing. We see a growth trend in clients who know their landscapes can actually be beneficial for the streams in their backyards and for the Bay,” Cummings added.
CBLP will offer two levels of training and certification: Level 1 is a baseline credential in design, installation, and maintenance of sustainable landscapes, withemphasis onhow to properly maintain stormwater best management practices.
“Above all, we seek to include the wide array of professionals working in conservation landscaping. Applicants must have academic backgrounds or industry recognized certifications that require continuing education”, said Shereen Hughes, the Virginia Coordinator of the certification. “Training opportunities during the ‘pilot’ are scheduled in multiple locations this fall between October 7 and November 30, 2016 allowing professionals to choose exactly what they need to prepare for the Level 1 exam. The Level 1 Exam will be given at locations in D.C.-Maryland-northern Virginia area, and in the Hampton Roads, Va. area. The exam fee includes one free re-test,” Hughes added.
The group also plans Level 2, anadvanced credential in design or installation of conservation landscapes and small, residential-scale stormwater practices. Graduates of this year’s inaugural Level 1 class whose business demonstrates prior experience in design/install will be encouraged to continue to Level 2 in January 2017.
An online database maintained by the organizers of the certification program will connect consistently trained landscape professionals with potential employers and clients. It will be introduced with the first graduating class.
“Because this is a Bay-wide credential, candidates may participate in training and take exams in any location available, to suit their schedule”, said Beth Ginter, the Lead Coordinator of the pilot project, working on behalf of the Chesapeake Conservation Landscape Council and its consortium partners.
“Registration opens just after Labor Day online at and a calendar with locations and fees for all available webinars, classes and exams, fees are detailed there. Please contact us by clicking on the ‘Get Certified’button or link on the site,” said Ginter. “If your strength and passion for conservation are the focus of your landscape business in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, you can now be certified as a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Pro.”
For more information, contact:
Beth Ginter, MPSLD
Coordinator, Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Certification
Mobile:703-501-1208