You have your spray rig and spray equipment. Your pesticide applicator license and any other licenses your state or county require for your lawn spray business are in order. Now what?
Many independent lawn care operators learned the ropes by working in the field for a larger company, not in the “classroom.” However, even if you bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to your own lawn care business, it pays to prove your credentials.
Earning professional certifications shows your customers and potential customers that:
- You stay on top of lawn-care best practices
- You know how to apply weed and pest controls safely and effectively
- You’re invested in your business
- You’re committed to delivering top-quality lawn care services
Certifications that Support Your Lawn-Care Business and Inspire Customer Confidence
State universities, agricultural extensions, and professional organizations may all offer a variety of certificate programs in lawn care. For example, here are just three that the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) offers – and that any independent lawn care operator should consider.
- Lawn Care Manager Certification: The program covers the growth, maintenance, and troubleshooting issues with warm- and cool-season turfgrass, as well as customer relations.
- Business Manager Certification: Managing turf, pests, and weeds is one thing. Managing your business is another. In this program, you’ll cover the latest business management strategies and sharpen your knowledge of finance, operations, marketing, and people management.
- Lawn Care Technician Certification: The program focuses on the unique challenges of cool-season grasses. An excellent certification for your crew to have.
Certifications that Expand Your Lawn Care and Landscape Knowledge
More and more customers want lawn care and landscaping from the same provider. Two additional NALP programs cover material that will help you begin to bridge any gaps in your knowledge and service offerings. They also focus on ornamental tree and shrub care, which is useful to any lawn care provider.
- Exterior Technician Certification: In addition to maintenance of turf, trees, and shrubs, the program covers irrigation issues.
- Horticultural Technician Certification: Focuses on tree and shrub care in residential and commercial landscapes.
Learn at Your Own Pace and Convenience
Many certificate programs are online, self-study courses. You can work at your own pace and take exams when you’re ready. Chances are you’ll even be able to take an exam from your home or office. To learn more about certification programs, visit the websites of regional colleges and professional organizations, such as NALP.