Michigan State University Extension and the University of Florida IFAS announced a collaborative training certificate program this past summer: the Plant Health Professionals (PHP) Certificate Program. If registrants pass five courses in plant health (listed below), they can obtain a certificate of completion from University Extension to recognize your training, skills, and dedication as a Plant Health Professional. You can use this certificate to help grow your career and build your resume.
Growers must pass five of six courses, which include:
- Nutrient management 1 (UF) – (Previously held July 11-August 5, 2022)- Offered again in 2023
- Disease management (UF)– (September 19-October 14, 2022)- Offered again in 2023
- Weed management (UF) – (Currently running through November)
- Water quality and treatment (UF) – (Enroll now: November 14 – December 16, 2022)
- Abiotic disorders (MSU/University of Kentucky) (Enroll now: December 1, 2022 – March 15, 2023)
- Biological control (MSU/Kansas State University) (Enroll now: December 1, 2022 – March 15, 2023)
The four online training courses run once a year at different times of the year (May – December). Three of the courses that count towards the new Plant Health Professional (PHP) Certificate Program are enrolling now: Biological control, Abiotic disorders, and Water quality and treatment.
In addition to two courses run by Michigan State University Extension (Biological Control for Greenhouse Growers and Abiotic Disorders of Greenhouse Crops) that are part of the PHP, there are two other online greenhouses courses that are open for registration including Greenhouse and Horticultural Lighting and Root Zone Management. The four courses from MSU Extension are open for enrollment now through December 15, and students can access the material from December 1 through March 15, 2023.
For more information, check out the MSU College of Knowledge Online or contact Heidi Lindberg at wollaege@msu.edu.
For more information: 
Michigan State University
www.canr.msu.edu