The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) has expanded the continuing education requirement for its Certified Grounds Technician (CGT) professional designation program. Effective Jan. 1, 2011, all certified CGTs will need to obtain 35 Continuing Education Units every five years.
“Maintaining certification through continuing education, be it academic instruction, technical classes or other education opportunities, will help build skills essential in personal professional development,” said PGMS Vice President John Van Etten, CGM.
Upon recertifying, CGTs will need to submit proof of attendance in the following accreditation categories: classes taken (that pertain to grounds, business, management, horticultural or technical); teaching or writing an article for the PGMS newsletter the Grounds Management Forum or any other professional trade magazine tying PGMS into the story; involvement with the society; attendance at the School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO, a PGMS Regional Seminar and Site Visitation and/or PGMS branch meetings and; certifications such as the Pesticide License or First Aid Certificate.
The CGT program is for grounds professionals who are directly involved with performing the day-to-day tasks of grounds maintenance. To become a CGT, an applicant must pass the CGT test that consists of 60 questions based on the overall grounds maintenance field and 10 questions based on the applicant’s region. For more information on the CGT process visit www.pgms.org/cgtcertification.htm.
PGMS also offers a Certified Grounds Manager (CGM) program, a more advanced certification aimed at already established grounds managers in the industry. Those achieving the CGM designation must have first accomplished a set level of education and on-the-job experience and then successfully completed a two-part examination process administered by PGMS. For more information on the CGM process visit www.pgms.org/cgmcertification.htm.
