CERTIFICATION STANDARDS
A. Requirements for Certified Members
1. Annually recertify as Master Gardeners by completing requirements for volunteer service, continuing education, paying dues, and, as required, applying for and passing background checks. Members complete requirements in the current year for recertification. The number of recertification hours may be increased or decreased by the Taylor County AgriLife Extension Agent/Master Gardener Coordinator. Any changes made in the stated requirements will be included in the recertification packets.
2. Annual Recertification Requirements
(NOTE: As of 01/01/2025 you need to disregard a, b and c as noted below. The new hours for Volunteer Hours (VOL) are 20 and the Continuing Education hours (CE) are 10)
a. Complete six (6) hours of Extension Service (EXT);
b. Complete twelve (12) hours of Community Service (COM);
c. Complete six (6) hours of Continuing Education (CEU);
d. Submit hours monthly to Membership Chairman;
e. Pay annual dues for the new year in January;
f. Apply for and pass a criminal background check every three years, or as necessary, to comply with the minimum standards required by the State.
B. Requirements for Transitioning from Trainee to Intern
1. Apply for and be accepted into the Texas Master Gardener Training Program;
2. Attend the Class Orientation or obtain the information presented at the Orientation prior to attending the first class;
3. Apply for and pass the criminal background check;
4. Complete a minimum of fifty (50) hours of combined classroom and field instruction;
5. Complete all chapter tests;
6. Graduation to Intern will be held after the last scheduled class, as determined by the Master Gardener Training Chairman (MGTC). Each graduate will receive a graduation certificate and introduction at the next mutually convenient membership meeting or scheduled social.
7. Additional Trainee Guidance
a. Trainees must pass the criminal background check to continue the course. Students may not work on any BCMGA volunteer project dealing with children until the background check has been completed and the MGTC advises the student has passed.
b. Trainees are responsible for informing the MGTC in advance of missed orientations or classes, especially for workshops or field trips. Trainees are responsible for completing any approved make-up sessions for missed classes. The topic of the make-up session will be the same subject as the missed class. The MGTC will determine and approve make-up opportunities on an individual basis.
c. Class orientation does not count towards the fifty (50) hours of instruction time.
d. Trainees are encouraged to start working towards the fifty (50) volunteer hours’ requirement (separate from the fifty (50) hours of instruction) during the classroom training period as soon as notified they have passed the background check. A list of approved projects with contact names will be available. BCMGA highly encourages Trainees and Interns who are working towards final certification to work on approved projects. These projects are a major part of the BCMGA organization and require many volunteer hours to accomplish the stated goals.
e. BCMGA encourages Trainees to attend the regular monthly Master Gardener membership meetings. Trainees are welcome to attend the Executive Committee meetings.
f. Trainees will keep their contact information (email address and phone numbers) current with the Membership Chairman and the Corresponding Secretary. The Corresponding Secretary uses contact information to provide information about BCMGA general activities to all members, Interns, and Trainees.
C. Requirements for Transitioning from Intern to Certified Master Gardener
1. Complete certification requirements within one (1) year from the end of the month of the class graduation;
2. Complete a minimum of fifty (50) extension and community service hours;
3. Upon certification, pay annual dues to the Treasurer, prorated at the current rate based on the month certified for the remainder of the calendar year;
4. Upon certification, the Master Gardener will receive a certificate and a permanent name badge.
5. Additional Intern Guidance
a. Interns are defined as those members who have successfully completed the required Master Gardener Training Program but have not yet completed the fifty (50) volunteer hours or any other requirements for certification. Interns are not BCMGA voting members, nor can they hold office or serve on the Executive Committee. Interns can and are encouraged to volunteer for assistant positions with the various standing or special committees.
b. On occasion, a Master Gardener Intern may be unable to fulfill the requirements to obtain certification due to extenuating circumstances, such as injury, extended illness, a family member’s extended illness, call to active duty, or other personal situation. In these cases, the County Master Gardener Coordinator may grant a Leave of Absence. It is the Intern’s responsibility to request the Leave of Absence in writing explaining the circumstances. The Coordinator will notify the Intern and the Executive Committee of the decision to grant/not grant a Leave of Absence and the specific timeframe allowed to meet certification requirements. The Intern may hold Leave of Absence status for up to one (1) year, although the Country Master Gardener Coordinator at his/her discretion may extend this timeframe. If the Intern has not completed the certification requirements within the approved timeframe, BCMGA will drop him/her from membership.
c. Interns are not required to pay annual dues.
d. Interns who certify are deemed to have met recertification requirements for the calendar year in which certified. The newly certified member has completed the required six (6) Extension, twelve (12) community service, and six (6) continuing education hours for recertification and is not required to earn any additional hours during the calendar year, although BCMGA highly encourages them to do so. They are also eligible to pay dues in January for the new calendar year.