CCA-Local Board
Presentation for: (school
image)
American Society of Agronomy
Offers and Administers the CCA Program
•
Established in 1907
•
Primary goal: To enhance conservation
and promote the wise use of natural
resources for the production of food,
feed, and fiber crops, while maintaining
or improving the environment.
•
Certification is the benchmark of
professionalism. The purpose of a
certification program is to protect the
public and the profession.
Certified Crop Advisers (CCA)
•
•
•
•
History:
• 20th Anniversary of the CCA Program
• Established in 1992 by American
Society of Agronomy (ASA)
• Testing began in 1993
• Professional Designation
• Benchmark for Agronomy
Professionals
Non-partisan
Based on Ethics
Professional Accreditation
Recommendation/Referral driven
Certified Crop Advisers (CCA)
Today:
• Largest voluntary, agriculturallyoriented certification program in
North America!
• 13,000+ participants
• Students
• Agronomy Practitioners
• Employers
•
•
•
•
Producers
Farmer Demand
Consumer Demand
Government Mandates
(positioned to implement)
Certified Crop Advisers (CCA)
Tomorrow:
•
•
•
•
•
Grow CCA Numbers
North American Reinforcement
International Outreach (Canada, Mexico & India)
Huge student growth initiative (Future of Agriculture)
Employer preference for certification adds value to the
credential
Certified Crop Advisers (CCA)
Possible Career Paths
Who should be certified?
•
•
•
•
Field Agronomists
Agricultural Sales (chem/fert/seed)
Consultants and Farm Managers
Natural Resource conservation
personnel
• Educators and Extension
• Govt./Academic scientists and
researchers
• Technical Support Personnel
CCA-Candidate
Student Program
Certification Requirements:
•
Pass 2 exams (Local and International)
•
Apply for CCA-Candidate Status: Code of Ethics & Credential
Application
•
Work towards gaining experience (documented grower references)
•
2 years with BS Degree
•
3 years with Associates Degree
CCA-Candidate
Student Program
School Involvement:
1.
Put a CCA in the classroom or club activity (agronomy, agri-business,
and other related majors)
2.
Use existing curriculum to shape a Certified Crop Adviser Candidate
(CCAC) Program
3.
Qualify students for testing
4.
Potentially contribute to discounting examination fees for enrolled
students
5.
Proctor the ICCA and Local-Board exams (closed just to students)
6.
Receive and Evaluate the data received from ASA/ICCA
CCA-Candidate
Student Program
Program Objectives :
• Align a student’s skills & knowledge base with their future
professions
• Align a student’s career path with a professional credentialing
program
• Help graduates skill sets meet the demand of future employers
• Evaluate graduates entering the workforce
• Put a system of uniform standards in place that are designed to
maintain the quality of individuals giving qualified agricultural and
environmental recommendations
• Enhance a students opportunities to enter the work force
CCA-Candidate
Student Program
Educational Institution Benefits:
• Exams used as an Outcomes Assessment (no need to recreate a
system and exams that are already in place)
• Evaluate Departmental Learning Objectives
• Data generated from student testing is sent back to the school
• Data categorized by 4 core areas (correlates with curriculum)
• Use data to aid in curriculum development
• Testing can be used as a tool to evaluate the department, major
course work or program-track curriculum
• Aligns department objectives with education legislation
CCA-Candidate
Student Program
Student Benefits:
• Enhanced Marketability to
employers
• Increased Income Potential
• Creates opportunity for
advancement
• Raised Reputation in the
Community
CCA-Candidate
Testimonials
“I tell those considering the merits of the CCA program that it enhances their image of
professionalism in that it indicates they have taken the extra effort to excel above the norm…”
“The CCA designation definitely catches the eye of my client companies and gives the potential
candidate a competitive advantage for opportunities…”
“When individuals are able to put the CCA designation on their business cards…it elevates their
standing with their producers, peers and the industry.”
-- Prominent Ag
Recruiter, Don Van Lyssel
Certified Crop Advisers (CCA)
THANK YOU!
http://www.certifiedcropadviser.org
board@boardcontact.com
Board Contact-Phone-Number