The goals, subject matter, and procedures of the certification test are different from the licensing exams conducted by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Written Exams for Problems 1.02 Safety, 1.03 Plan Reading, 1.04 Plant Sensitivity and 3.01 Maintenance General Comprehension will be conducted on exam day as well as at Mid-Am, Summer Field Day and other dates throughout the year. The Common Elements are required skills common to all core tests. Each core exam has a written component, which is offered several times during the year as well as on test day. The rest of the test is a series of timed, hands-on problems, supervised by one or more judges.
Most problems require applicants to install or maintain sample landscape projects.
At the end of each timed session, applicants rotate to another work station. This process continues throughout test. An applicant begins each problem with 100 points. A minimum score of 70 points on each problem must be achieved to become a Certified Landscape Technician. THE TEST Applicants will be sent a booklet of actual test problems.