The North Carolina Certified Plant Professional certification is a written and plant identification test that seeks to recognize proficiency in the green industry's workforce, upgrade the status of industry professionals and provide the public with a means of identifying qualified green industry professionals.

The CPP exam is a two part test. The written portion identifies knowledge and skills needed while working in a nursery or landscape operation. The Plant ID portion demonstrates knowledge of a wide selection of plant material. The Plant ID portion of this test is required by the NC Landscape Contractors License Board.

Please note that new testing is on hold as we work to improve the CPP program and other educational offerings. Check back for updates in the coming weeks.


Who can take the test?

Any person with twelve months of experience in either plant production or plant sales, is eligible to take the test.  

What’s on the test?

Written Exam: 100 multiple choice and true-false questions - there are no essay questions.

Plant Identification Exam: There are 125 live plants to identify. Test plants are assembled by local nurseries for each individual test – no two tests have the exact same plants. The plants are numbered and the applicant matches the plant number with the correct name, from the Plant ID list provided. No spelling or writing names of plants is required!

How do you pass the test?

To become a Certified Plant Professional, the applicant must pass (70% correct) of the written test and the plant identification test.

Preparation Tools

CPP Study Manual 

2015 Plant ID List 

How much does it cost?

NCNLA Member — $50
Non-member — $100
Re-take — $25
ID only — $50 (Landscape Contractors License)


Cancellation Policy

Cancellation/refund requests must be submitted in writing to NCNLA via mail or email (info@ncnla.com). Requests submitted at least 30 days prior to the enrolled short course and/or exam will receive a full refund, less a $10 processing fee. Requests submitted at least seven (7) days prior to the enrolled short course and/or exam will receive a 50-percent refund. Requests submitted within seven (7) days of the enrolled short course and/or exam will not be considered. Registrants who fail to attend the enrolled short course and/or exam forfeit their registration fee.

Registration Transfer Policy

For a $10 processing fee, registrants may make a one-time transfer to a different short course and/or exam if the request is submitted in writing at least seven (7) days prior to the enrolled short course and/or exam. The date of the requested short course and/or exam must be within six (6) months of the enrolled short course and/or exam. If no such option exists, the transfer request will not be considered. Transfer requests submitted within seven (7) days of the enrolled short course and/or exam will not be considered. Approved transfers are ineligible for subsequent cancellation/refund requests.