Certification Examination

Areas of knowledge tested
Exam format
Passing Scores
Examination locations
Results
Retakes
Denial and revocation of certification
Appeals

Areas of knowledge tested

The SOUL certification exam tests your knowledge in 10 areas:

Ecology
Botany
Plant Identification and Culture
Soil Sciences, including Drainage and Grading
Soil Management
Water Management, including Irrigation
Plant Maintenance
Landscape Installation
Landscape Health Management
Landscape Design

Exam format

The exam is composed of 200 questions. It looks like a regular multiple choice exam, but there are some significant differences:

Each question has four true / false choices, and more than one of them may be true.

You will receive one point for each correct answer you select (correctly true, or correctly false).

In effect the exam questions are a hybrid between multiple choice and true / false questions.

You have 3 hours to complete the exam.

Passing scores

To pass the exam you must receive:

at least 80% of the possible points overall, and

at least 70% of the possible points for each section.

You may write the examination at a school of your choice. To be able to write the exam you must find a proctor who will administer the exam to you. Acceptable proctors are public or private school principals and their delegates.

Results

If you have passed the exam you will be asked to submit the signed affidavit. Once we have received the affidavit you will be awarded the designation of SOUL Certified Organic Land Care Professional, and you will be sent a certificate, an ID card, and a certification logo. Only Certified Organic Land Care Professionals are permitted to use the certification logo.

If you have achieved the overall passing score but have NOT attained the minimum 70% of possible points in any section, you must retake those sections and score a passing level.

If you have NOT achieved an overall passing score of 80% you must retake the entire exam.

Retakes

You will be allowed to retake the full or partial exam once for free, however you are responsible for the fee charged by your proctor.

The fee for additional retakes is $75.00.

If you do not pass the exam within one year from the original test date you must pay another full exam fee when you retake the test.

Denial and revocation of certification

Certification will be denied or revoked for any of the following reasons:

Falsification of application
Misrepresentation
Violation of testing procedures
Non-acceptable education and / or experience in organic practices
Failure to pass the examination
Breach of the agreement signed in the Affidavit

Appeals

Denials or revocations of certification may be appealed in writing, providing detailed reasons for the appeal, to the:

Board of Directors
Society for Organic Urban Land Care
P.O. Box 8548
Victoria, B.C.
V8W 1L4