Why Get Certified?
Why should I become a Certified Conservation Planner?
The conservation planner certification process provides a consistent structure for supporting the technical competence of employees to perform conservation planning. Planner certification helps to ensure quality conservation treatment to address resource concerns, land-user objectives, and the wise use of technical and financial resources.
NRCS conservation planning policy, GM-180, Part 409, provides the framework for a planner to demonstrate their skills and knowledge. It is the agency standard for establishing an employee's allowable scope of work in providing planning assistance. There are 3 levels of designation for field office planners: Apprentice Conservation Planner, Certified Conservation Planner and Master Certified Conservation Planner.
Working through the certification process will help conservation planners to recognize that they are working in a complex natural system and decisions made about one area or concern may have impacts on other parts of the same operation and offsite as well.
