Douglas County incentives inspire employee certification Email
Written by Cherie Courtade   
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 03:30 AM

Certification testEmployees of Douglas County Parks and Trails have been consistent participants in Landscape Industry Certification testing in recent years. When employee Morgan Morehart earned his fifth certification module in 2019, certification test organizers learned about incentives offered by the county for achieving all five certification modules.

The goal of the incentive, which was recommended in June 2018 and formally implemented in January 2019, was to encourage employees to demonstrate knowledge and skills in their profession and provide them opportunities for career advancement. Upon achieving all five certifications, an employee receives a promotion in the form of a salary increase and title (Senior Park Maintenance Technician).

Landscape Industry Certification was chosen as the required designation because it “was the only program that we are aware of that provides the five areas of expertise: softscape installation, hardscape installation, turf maintenance, ornamental maintenance, and irrigation,” according to Wendy Holmes with Douglas County.

“Employees who complete these modules have a much better understanding and proficiency of the landscape construction industry and are competent to complete higher skilled tasks within our division,” Holmes explained.

There is no time limit in securing all five modules—an employee can complete it within their own timeline. The certification tests are particularly rigorous—few candidates pass on the first exam, and most only pursue one or two modules at a time. As a result, earning all five module certifications can be a multi-year process. Morehart began the exam process in 2016 and completed it in 2019.

The incentive program has been well received by the employees currently working on completing the modules. County officials will keep track of how employees respond to format changes in the Landscape Industry Certification exam this year.

This is an excerpt from an article that appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of Colorado Green. Read the full article online.

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