Benefits and Process of Obtaining CPSS Designation

Frank GibbsResource Soil Scientist-NRCS

Andy KleinschmidtOhio State University Extension

Objectives

1. Benefits of designation as a Certified Professional Soil Scientist

2. Process of becoming Certified

Background

• Not a licensing program, but a voluntary program.

• The certification program sets the minimum standards of skills, knowledge and conduct.

• If your education, experience or career is involved with soil science I strongly encourage you to consider obtaining certification.

Benefits

• Well, you get to work closely with soil.

• You will be able to:– Work with biosolid application– Determine soil capacity for

wastewater disposal– Full gambit of

agricultural/environmental applications (e.g. remediation)

Benefits (con’t)

• Networking, you’ll expand your professional network (your network is your net worth)

• Career opportunities open up at private-sector consulting, government, etc.

• Self-employment as a private consultant (not just for household septic systems)

Process

• Well, I hope you are excited about the opportunities!

• Let’s discuss the process

• There are three main areas to address– Education Requirements (B.S. is minimum)– Experience Requirements– Demonstrate Knowledge (exam)

Education Requirements

• I concede that obtaining the education requirements is likely the #1 issue holding most people from jumping into this certification

• The education requirements are stringent, but necessary.

• I liken this certification to that of a PE or PG. • Educ. requirements important, because you will

be considered the soil expert once certified.

Education requirements (con’t)

• There are two sections: “Professional Core” and “Supporting Core”

• I’ll discuss the Supporting Core first, since you likely have taken some of these courses

• Supporting Core– Math, chemistry, physics, stats, communication, econ,

engineering– A few of these are basic classes (comm, math, econ) that many

college grads have– Generally need 3.0 semester hours or 5.0 quarter hours in each

of these courses– Don’t trust your memory! Look at your official university

transcript. You may have taken more of these than you thought.

Education requirements (con’t)

• “Professional core” – unless you were an agronomy or soil science major you are severely lacking here.

• BUT DON’T BE DISCOURAGED!!!!– Must have 15.0 semester hours of soil science (23.0

quarter hours)– Must have 6.0 semester hours of botany and soil

biology (9.0 quarter hours)• Includes agronomy, horticulture science, forestry,

microbiology, biology, plant physiology• These can be BASIC 100- or 200-level courses. Does not

have to be high level or graduate courses!!!!!

Education requirements (con’t)

• Where to go to get these classes

• The certification requirement is loose on where you can obtain your class work “…any major U.S. or Canadian institution…”

• Where there is a will, there is a way ->

Again, where there’s a will…

• ISU online M.S. agronomy course– 15 semester hours of SOIL SCIENCE! (with prereq’s)– 10 semester hours of botany/soil biology– Cost: DOES NOT CHARGE OUT OF STATE

TUITION– Don’t have to quit your job – all online and flexible– You’ll need to pick up only a few prereq’s in intro soil

science (very basic)• As near as I can tell, this is the MOST

FLEXIBLE program available• Disclosure: I am an ISU graduate (M.S. ISU ’97)

but I am in no way tied to this program.

Don’t overlook other institutions!

• There is no reason you cannot pick up the ‘Supporting Core’ courses (remember, these are basic classes that deal with math, physics, econ, etc) at a local accredited community college or outreach of a major institution.

• Even a few of your “Professional Core” classes may be picked up at a local community college.

Experience/Knowledge

• I spent most of my time discussing education requirements because that is the major hurdle.

• The other two components are Experience and Knowledge– Experience: 5 yrs with B.S. degree; 3 yrs with

M.S. (possible mentoring program)– Knowledge: take and pass a Fundamentals

Exam and Professional Practice exam

Resources for you

• ISU M.S. Agronomy– http://masters.agron.iastate.edu/

• Official site of Certified Professional Soil Scientists– https://www.soils.org/certifications/cpss-cpsc

• My email– kleinschmidt.5@osu.edu