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Landscape Industry Certified Technician

The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) has moved to an online test format for the Landscape Industry Certified Technician (LICT) – Exterior. The test format changed from written and hands-on tests, delivered by state associations, to a centralized online test. The online exam allows for more people across the country to access the test.

Previously, only 15 states, including Colorado, were able to offer the test due to the resources need to be able to stage the hands-on test event. The online test evaluates the same skills as the previous written and hands-on tests did. Landscape Technician Training Manuals, available through ALCC, are still the recommended study material. As with the previous exam format, landscape professionals will choose a module to test in and enroll in the program.

Modules/practice areas are unchanged from previous test format:

  • Hardscape Installation
  • Softscape Installation
  • Irrigation
  • Turf Maintenance 
  • Ornamental Maintenance

Once enrolled, certification candidates can choose a date and time they want to test and schedule it online.

The test will include a variety of test question types including:

  • Multiple choice
  • True/False
  • Short answer
  • Matching
  • Heat map – identifying an area of concentration (for example, where to make a pruning cut on a tree)
  • Drag and drop – to order a sequence of activities to indicate how to complete a task, or indicate where an element might be placed in a plant layout, as an example. There are also videos included for some questions. The test candidate watches a vid-eo of someone completing a landscape task or skill and answers questions about what to do next.

The exam can be taken seven days a week; candidates choose from available dates and times during registration. To ensure security, the test is taken via remote proctoring, in which a proctor will observe a candidate testing remotely. 

The Landscape Technician training manuals are still the recommended study resources. The training manuals can be purchased from ALCC.

For more information and to register, visit the NALP web site. Questions? Contact [email protected]. To register your CEU credits for recertification, visit landscapeprofessionals.org.