California Nitrogen Management Specialty (CA-NSp)

Next CCA Exam Dates:  February 1 - 8, 2023 - Register Now!

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the University of California – Davis, the American Society of Agronomy’s (ASA) International Certified Crop Adviser (ICCA) Program and the CCA – Western Region (WR) Board have collaborated on developing the next version of the Nitrogen Management Program.

The CA-NSp is for California based CCAs in good standing who desire to provide nitrogen management planning services for their clients.  A separate self-certification program is available through CDFA for farmers (landowners) who would like to do nitrogen planning for their own operations.  If you are not currently a CCA and would like to become one, click here to learn more.

The new requirements including the exam became effective October 1, 2020 with the first exam being offered in February 2021.  Those CCAs with the Nitrogen Management Specialty prior to October 1, 2020 are automatically added to the new program and must adhere to the new program’s requirements for maintaining the specialty.

A CCA must pass the California Nitrogen Management Specialty exam before being eligible to certify Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plans for clients.  To maintain the specialty, the CCA must earn additional continuing education units (CEUs) in the nutrient management and soil and water management categories.  The total number of CEUs remains at 40 every two-years while the nutrient management category minimum rises to eight (8) and the soil and water management category rises to seven (7).  There is also an annual fee in addition to the CCA annual renewal fee.

UC Davis offers online educational modules that will help a CCA prepare for the exam and provide existing CCAs with the Nitrogen Management Specialty an opportunity to earn CEUs in nutrient management and soil and water management. Learn more about the online education.

  • CA-NSp Performance Objectives
  • University of California Nitrogen Course
    An online course delivered by University of California (UC) researchers and extension specialists that can prepare individuals for the exam.  Modules cover environmental impacts, soil N cycling, plant N utilization, N sources and budgeting, irrigation and N management, and California cropping systems.  Click here for additional information and registration.

Updates

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the University of California – Davis, the American Society of Agronomy’s (ASA) International Certified Crop Adviser (ICCA) Program and the CCA – Western Region (WR) Board have collaborated on developing the next version of the Nitrogen Management Program.

Those CCAs with the California Nitrogen Management Specialty prior to October 1, 2020 are automatically added to the new program and must adhere to the new program’s requirements for maintaining the specialty.

Already have the California Nitrogen Management Specialty?

Here is what you need to know:

  • Those that received the specialty training prior to October 1, 2020 are automatically added to the new program.
  • As before, you must be a CCA to retain the specialty certification.
  • California Nitrogen Management Specialty (CA-NSp) will be added to appropriate records within the next couple of months.
  • Additional CEUs are now required. See below for details.
  • A renewal fee of $35 will be added to 2022 renewal statements.

CEUS

  • Additional CEUs will now be required
    - Nutrient Management - +3 (8 total)
    - Soil and Water Management - +2 (7 total)
    - Total overall CEUs remains the same
  • Additional CEUs will be added when you begin a new CEU cycle.
    - e.g. CEU cycle ending 12/31/2020, additional CEUs will be added to the 1/1/2021-12/31/2022 cycle
    - e.g. CEU cycle ending 12/31/2021, additional CEUs will be added to the 1/1/2022-12/31/2023 cycle
     

Your CEU cycle dates can be found at the top of your CEU statement (dates in red at the top). Click here to check your cycle dates.

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