Advanced Master Gardener Program

What are the Goals of the Advanced Master Gardener Program?

The goals of the Advanced Master Gardener Certificate Program are (a) to recognize those master gardeners who have made a commitment to expand their horticultural knowledge beyond the initial training and (b) to better serve the NH community by strengthening the caliber of the Master Gardener Program.

Who is Eligible to participate in the Advanced Master Gardner Program?

All Master Gardeners who have attained Active Status (completed their 45 hours of initial service and continue to volunteer for 15 hours per year) are eligible to enroll in the advanced master gardener program.

How do I enroll in the Advanced Master Gardener Program?

To enroll in the Advanced Master Gardener Certificate Program, master gardeners must submit a completed application form along with a $45 registration fee to cover administrative expenses to the Advanced Master Gardener Program Coordinator at UNHCE/ Master Gardener Program, 200 Bedford Street , Manchester , NH , 03101.

What are the Certification Requirements of the Advanced Master Gardener Program?

To receive Advanced Master Gardener Certification (ADV. MG), master gardeners must be:

• Registered in the advanced master gardener program. Upon registering the participant will be sent a CEU Record Report that must be completed and submitted to the program coordinator on a yearly basis.
  
  
• Have accumulated 30 continuing education units (CEUs) within three-years from the closest October first to their date of enrollment and maintained their active status. For example, an Active Master Gardener who applies during August would have three years from the following October first to complete the CEUs, but one who registers in December would have three years from the preceding October first to complete them.
  
  
• Included in the 30 CEUs requirement is mandated attendance at the annual workshop on “Hot Topics for Master Gardeners” which will cover the latest research findings on horticultural issues in NH.
  
  
• Certification will be acknowledged at the annual master gardener conference.
  

Master gardeners who have completed the CEUs for ADV MG status will receive a pin and certificate at the conference Their ADV MG status would last for three years from that date.

What are the Maintenance and Re-certification Requirements of the Advanced Master Gardener Program?

The title of Advanced Master Gardener brings special recognition to the individual master gardener. With that recognition comes expectations and responsibilities.

• ADV. MGs are expected to volunteer a minimum of 25 hours per year in the master gardener program.
  
  
• They are also required to keep their horticultural knowledge current by participating in the mandated annual workshop on “Hot Topics for Master Gardeners”
  
  
• Earn a minimum of 9 CEU’s every 3 years for re-certification.
  
  
• A CEU Record Report of earned CEUs must be maintained by the participant and submitted on a yearly basis.
  
  
• Advanced Master Gardeners are required to formally apply for re-certification every three years after receiving the award. At that time they must remit a fee of $30 to cover administrative expenses along with an application requesting review for re-certification.
  

Continuing Education Units (CEUs): The Master Gardener Continuing Education Committee, which is composed of UNHCE representatives and NHMGA members, will oversee the designation of the number of CEUs assigned to specific workshops and conferences. The decision of the committee as to the awarding of CEUs is final.

One continuing education unit is defined as equal to approximately one hour of actual class time. CEUs that are a fraction of one hour will be rounded up if over 0.5 hours or down if less than 0.5 hours. The exception will be approved college classes. Master Gardeners who take approved college classes will receive CEUs for the number of credits assigned by the college for that class.

Special consideration will be made to those active master gardeners who participate on the Family, Home and Garden Education Center’s Information Line. Because researching questions at the Ed Center is a valuable learning opportunity for the master gardener, active master gardeners who volunteer at the Ed Center can earn 1 CEU for every 10 hours of volunteer time up to 3 CEUs every 3 years.

Refresher courses or sitting in on MG training for new interns will not count towards CEUs because this is basic training that MGs should retain.

CEU Approval for Outside Programs : In addition to the continuing education committee offerings, CEUs can be earned through participation in NHMGA Spring Symposium workshops and other outside course offerings of such organizations as the New England Wildflower Society, Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Arnold Arboretum and various plant societies, etc. However, it is the sole responsibility of the individual master gardener to obtain approval from the continuing education committee for CEUs earned from any outside organizations by submitting a Request for CEU Approval form one month prior to attendance at the event.

An organization can also petition the committee for assignment of CEUs for a specific workshop by submitting an application, which contains a course description, length of time of instruction and information about the credentials of the presenter up to one month prior to the event. After review, the committee will determine the appropriateness of the workshop and, if approved, will assign the number of CEUs according to actual time of instruction. The decision of the committee as to the awarding of CEUs is final.

Submission of CEUs:

• Master gardeners who are working towards an ADV. MG certificate must submit their record of earned CEUs at least once a year. The record should include the names and the dates of the workshops attended and the number of CEUs earned.
  
  
• It is the responsibility of the MG to submit for approval information on workshops that are outside the continuing education offerings. The MG must submit a completed Request for CEU Approval form 1 month prior to attendance at the event. The MG must also submit a certificate of attendance or confirmation from the organization verifying that she/he attended the program when submitting their yearly CEU Record Report of accumulated CEUs.