NASCA members utilize the Ask NASCA tool to gain feedback and support from their peers within the network. Any NASCA member (director or staff) is free to post in this public forum.
Her in Minnesota we are in the beginning stages of developing a state level training and credentialing program. Our goal in the end is that it will be done in partnership with NRCS but we recognize that we may need to pursue some aspects alone.
Our question is to find out which other states have developed and are implementing a state training and credentialing program with or without NRCS support.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Doug Thomas, Assistant Director – MN Board of Water and Soil Resources
In Iowa we partner closely with NRCS. All of our staff are housed out of the USDA buildings. They provide training to our staff as well as some SWCD staff in an efort to make sure that all of our practices meet NRCS standards and specs. Most of our folks do not have the engineering approval authority that the NRCS staff has. The DCs typically sign off on the work completed by IDALS and SWCD staff unless it it has to be approved by an NRCS engineer.
Our staff also works on many federal programs completing layourt and design.
Feel free to give me a call if you want to discuss in more ddetail. 515-281-7818
In Wisconsin we have an Agricultural Engineering Practitioner Certification program for county land conservation technicians and others who design and install conservation practices for landowners. Certification is a means of exempting county and state employees from state licensure when engaging in specified engineering practices. The WI NRCS Job Approval Authority (JAA)
was redesigned concurrently with the development of the Certification program in order to create a seamless process that would enable recipients to meet the requirements of state and federal programs. Concurring signatures by DATCP and NRCS assigning engineers is all that is necessary to receive the dual rating of Certification and JAA. This collaboration does not restrict either agency from delivery of JAA or Certification independently, if it should become necessary.
Wisconsin also relies on a group called the Statewide Interagency Training Committee (SITCOM) that includes members from various local, state, and federal agencies, as well as the private sector to identify conservation training needs and provide free and low cost training to conservation professionals in the state. More information can be found on this website:
In Virginia we train, certify and require Continuing Education to maintain Nutrient Management Planner certifications without NRCS support. In fact NRCS requires it's NMP to be certified by the state.
