2025-2026 Credential Information
WARNING: This information is considered DRAFT until August 22, 2025.
Future Plant Professional
Credential Name | Future Plant Professional |
Credential Vendor Info | NC Nursery and Landscape Association Katie Oskey Executive Vice President 968 Trinity Road | Raleigh, NC 27607 education@ncnla.com 919-816-9119 https://ncnla.com/page/FPP |
Credential Auto Collect | No |
Diploma Endorsement | AP44 = No |
Validation Artifact | Copy of certificate |
Credential Lead Consultant | Josh Bledsoe joshua_bledsoe@ncsu.edu |
Course Number and Title | AP44 Horticulture II - Landscape Construction |
Credential as POL | AP44 POL = Yes |
Cost of Instructor Training | $0.00 |
Instructor Training Requirements | None While there are no requirements to teach the course associated with the Future Plant Professional, NCNLA does offer a professional-level credential available for teachers: Certified Plant Professional. |
Exam Voucher Expiration | N/A |
Credential Lifespan | Lifetime |
Renewal Options | N/A Once earned, the FPP designation does not expire and there are no renewal or continuing education requirements to maintain the designation. |
Articulation | No |
Sequencing | Yes The FPP designation is the entry-level introduction into NCNLA’s plant professional program. With future industry-related experience, students may utilize the skills they acquired through the FPP exam and their experience to sit for the CPP exam. CPP exam process is available at www.ncnla.com/CPP. |
Employer Transferability | Yes |
Delivery Format | On-line |
Proctored Environment Required | Yes The exam will require the use of the Moodle platform. |
Test Site Options and Requirements | N/A |
Testing Environment Requirements | N/A |
Proctored Requirements | Any NC teacher can serve as a proctor. Teachers interested in proctoring an exam must attend a one-hour virtual training with NCNLA prior to proctoring. This is a pre-recorded training which can be taken at the teacher's convenience. |
Exam Time Allotment | 2 hours |
Exam Passing Requirement | 70% or higher on each of two parts Written Exam: 50 multiple-choice questions concerning plant nomenclature, planting requirements, maintenance, pruning techniques, etc. Plant Identification: Identify 25 selected plants pulled from the NC FFA Plant Identification Career Development Event base list and the nursery landscape list. The test contains videos of the selections to be identified; live plants will not be used. |
Retakes | Yes Retakes are available after the 24-hour lockout period. Candidates are permitted one retake without an additional fee. |
Student Accommodations | Yes Accommodations can be made on a case-by-case basis and the NCNLA is ready and willing to work with any students individualized needs. NCNLA requires a 45-day notice to ensure proper time to facilitate requested accommodations. |
Multilingual Resources* | No |
Directory Notes | None |