MN Landscape
MNLA Certified Professional
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The MNLA Certified Professional credential is offered by the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, a Roseville, Minnesota trade association that describes itself as serving green industry professionals across six focus areas: Landscape & Hardscape Install & Design; Garden Services & Landscape Management; Garden Centers; Nursery & Greenhouse Growing; Irrigation & Water Management; and Arborists & Tree Care Services. The association lists MNLA Certified Professionals first among the certifications and licensures it recognizes, alongside credentials such as ISA Certified Arborist, ICPI Paver Certified, Irrigation Association Certified, MDA Licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicator, MnDOT Certified Landscape Specialist, and NCMA SRW Certified. That list is a useful map of the knowledge territory a Minnesota green-industry professional is expected to hold: planting and hardscape construction, ongoing landscape management, retail garden center operations, nursery and greenhouse production, irrigation and water stewardship, and tree care. Candidates typically come from crew leaders, foremen, designers, growers, and managers who want a single credential that signals broad, cross-discipline competence rather than a narrow specialty. MNLA does not publish exam content, format, or scoring details on its public certification page, so preparation should combine hands-on field experience with the association's education offerings, including Classes & Events and the Northern Green conference, and with the published BMP guidance MNLA circulates to members. Confirm scheduling, eligibility, and fees directly with MNLA before you register; this page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the association.
What you'll study
About MN Landscape preparation
Who administers the MNLA Certified Professional exam?
The Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, a trade association based in Roseville, Minnesota. MNLA lists MNLA Certified Professionals on its Certification & Licensure page and posts exam sessions on its events calendar. Verify eligibility, registration steps, and any prerequisites directly with MNLA, since the public page does not publish them.
What topics should I study?
Build your plan around MNLA's six focus areas: Landscape & Hardscape Install & Design; Garden Services & Landscape Management; Garden Centers; Nursery & Greenhouse Growing; Irrigation & Water Management; and Arborists & Tree Care Services. Treat them as a coverage checklist and audit your own weak spots before deciding where to spend study hours.
How do I find out when exams are offered?
Check the MNLA events calendar. The association has posted an MNLA Certified Professional Exams window running 10/23/2026 through 11/13/2026, which suggests exam sittings are scheduled in defined windows rather than continuously. Confirm dates, location, and whether sittings are in person or remote with MNLA before planning.
Does MNLA publish the exam format or passing score?
Not on the public Certification & Licensure page reviewed here. Question count, time limit, passing score, fee, and retake rules are not stated, so treat any figure you see elsewhere as unverified until MNLA confirms it in writing. Plan for a knowledge-based assessment and ask about format when you register.
How should I sequence my studying?
Start with the area where you have the least paid work experience, because that is where field intuition will not carry you. Then move to the areas you touch weekly so review is fast. Finish with cross-cutting topics such as Minnesota-specific water, pesticide, and tree care regulations referenced in MNLA's licensure list.
What are common reasons candidates fall short?
Studying only your own specialty. Someone who installs patios all day may be weak on greenhouse production or irrigation scheduling, and a grower may be weak on hardscape base preparation. Breadth is the point of a cross-discipline credential. Also weak: ignoring Minnesota-specific rules and relying on general national practice.
Can other certifications substitute for studying?
No, but they help. MNLA recognizes credentials such as ISA Certified Arborist, ICPI Paver Certified, Irrigation Association Certified, NCMA SRW Certified, and MDA Licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicator. If you hold one, you already have depth in that slice. Use it as a confidence anchor and spend remaining time on the other focus areas.
What preparation resources does MNLA offer?
MNLA promotes education through Classes & Events and the Northern Green conference, and it publishes industry news such as updated Nursery & Landscape Best Management Practices for reducing the spread of jumping worms. Those are legitimate study inputs. Ask MNLA whether a specific exam-prep course or study guide exists, since none is described on the public page.
Is this study page official?
No. It is independent preparation material and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association. Always confirm exam dates, fees, eligibility, and scoring with MNLA, and treat this page as a way to organize your studying rather than as an authoritative source.