Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professionals' 5.0 Study Guide “Cutting-Edge Research Enhanced by Real Life Experience.”

Digital Advantage

The current 5.0 version of the MCLP study guide was introduced in late 2008 offering the guide for the first time in a digital format. Joining the digital age was no easy task for the guide's creators, but it was well worth the effort.

“Going digital not only allowed us to keep the information current and relevant for landscape contractors studying for the MCLP exam, but also made it a convenient and portable resource for professionals in the field,” says Cara Christopher, MCLP of ValleyCrest Landscape Development in Boston, Mass. Christopher is chairman of the MCLP committee that helped oversee development of the new CD.

The environment was another factor in the decision. As work to update the guide began in 2001, the green movement was in its early stages. The creators of the first digital version of the MCLP Study Guide took into account the significant paper and ink demands of prior versions, not to mention fuel and freight charges for distribution of previous “mammoth” guides.

“In retrospect, our decision to transform the study guide from a ten-pound paper monstrosity into a three-ounce plastic-encased CD was cutting edge,” laughs MLP president Jon Ciffolillo MCLP. He estimates that a significant percentage of landscape contractors now have websites and regularly use email.

The first version 4.0 MCLP Study Guide was well-received, but the MCLP committee that spearheaded its creation was not completely satisfied.

“Putting together the first digital study guide was a learning experience,” said Michael Davidsohn, landscape program coordinator at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and leader of the academic team that developed the new guide's content. “The latest version navigates much better than the first, has better graphics and contains significantly more information.”

An Essential Resource

Designed as a preparatory tool for the MCLP certification exam, the study guide has quickly become an essential reference tool for the landscape professional. Led by Davidsohn, UMass faculty members worked with MCLP committee members to contribute to the study guide, including tutorials, video demonstrations, plant identification images and fact sheets.

“The MCLP Study Guide is unique because it combines knowledge from leading educators and leading business minds,” says Ciffolillo. “The result is cutting-edge research enhanced by real-life experience.”

The guide's content goes above and beyond what is tested in the MCLP exam. For example, among the CD's appendices are high quality digital images of the USDA Hardiness Zone Maps for New England and North America. These ultra-clear images include county lines, a detail overlooked on most replications of the maps.

“Running the MCLP program and providing high quality study materials, such as this guide, exemplifies how MLP is working to ensure the business success of its members,” said Davidsohn.

A Motivational Tool

Preparation for the MCLP exam is serious business. The exam is rigorous, with an average pass rate of only 35 percent. However, because the MCLP Study Guide is designed as a resource tool, it is intended not only for those expecting to take the MCLP exam in the next six months, but also for those who aspire towards certification down the road.

“The desire to become a Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional is spreading across the industry,” says Christopher. “Managers and business owners take pride in their MCLP designation and should pass that pride on to their employees.”

The guide is not meant for the layperson, however, as Ciffolillo points out. “The study guide was developed for people with professional aspirations because it assumes a high level of current knowledge,” he says. Ideally, the study guide should be used to attain MCLP certification and then to
refresh that knowledge on an ongoing basis. Because its content is pertinent to Massachusetts and to New England as a whole, the MCLP Study Guide CD can be used by landscape professionals across the region.

Real World Credibility

The MCLP designation is gaining credibility in the “real world.” Over the past five years, the number of landscape professionals certified as MCLPs has quadrupled to nearly 500, estimates Christopher. Customers who increasingly seek certified landscape professionals are helping to drive that growth.

“The MCLP designation is becoming known as the symbol of professionalism by the people who do business with landscape contractors, including general contractors, landscape architects, property managers and homeowners,” says Christopher. She cites anecdotal evidence that requests for proposal, or bids, now frequently request or even require that MCLP professionals be on staff or on the job site.

In fact, according to past surveys of MCLP test-takers, the reasons most often cited for attaining the MCLP designation are “to achieve a high level of professionalism” and “to elevate professional standing in the landscape industry."

“It comes down to setting professional standards for the industry,” says Ciffolillo. “In addition to a wealth of knowledge, the study guide provides a framework for self- governance among industry professionals.”

The Next Level

In the 5.0 version, the MCLP Study Guide has taken its resourcefulness to the next level. Landscape professionals can do the same by getting the guide, studying for and taking the MCLP exam.

Copies of the MCLP Version 5.0 Study Guide CD can be obtained from Charissa Sharkey, MCLP Certification Manager at csharkey@mlp-mclp.org or by calling 508-653-3373. See upcoming events for the next exam date.