Currently the WSU Cowlitz County MG Program requires 10 hours of continuing education per year to qualify for recertification. The purpose of obtaining continuing education hours is to improve a volunteer’s knowledge and skill base for performing work as a community educator in horticulture and environmental stewardship.
What qualifies for Continuing Education?
· Horticultural courses given by WSU, including re-taking of some MG basic training sessions.
· Webinars, field trips, and workshops sponsored by Extension.
· Classes offered by accredited institutions: community colleges, technical colleges, and universities.
· WA State Department of Agriculture-approved pesticide or pesticide alternative classes. Internship Certification Retaining Certification Continuing Education (also called Advanced Education) 6
· Classes taught by professional associations such as WA State Nursery and Landscape Association, WA Association of Landscape Professionals, International Society of Arboriculture, etc.
· Time spent doing research preparing a MG presentation which is then delivered to the community (research-time limit of 4 times the length of the presentation).
· Time spent doing research for a newspaper or MG newsletter article which is then published (limit of 4 hours).
· Other activities, including training on presentation skills, meeting facilitation, or how programs are planned, delivered, or evaluated, etc., may qualify. Program coordinators must pre-approve these for continuing education credit.
What does not qualify?
· Food preservation or preparation classes
· Personal trips and tours not pre-approved by program coordinators
· Garden craft or photography classes
· Personal research or reading not related to a specific MG project
· Travel time to and from events, unless approved by program coordinators.