Advanced Master Gardener

In response to the continued requests for more information on various horticulture topics not covered in the basic Master Gardener program, the Advanced Master Gardener Program was formed in 2000. In the Advanced Program, Certified Master Gardeners can continue to pursue their quest for knowledge and commitment to community volunteerism. The commitment is more flexible in the Advanced MG program giving MG’s a longer time period to complete the required classroom and outreach hours need for certification.

These classes are offered in a catalog published twice a year. The classes are in five categories:

• Gardening Design: Focusing on basic design principles and techniques for establishing and maintaining perennial borders
• Gardening Series: These courses address specific horticultural topics with a focus on in-depth training and hands-on practices
• Educational Series: These courses focus on different tools and materials that can be used in teaching adult learners
• Landscape Design: Students in the landscape design program learn the history and art of planting design, as well as design of the landscape from a sustainable or environmentally friendly perspective
• Horticultural Therapy: HT is the use of live plants and the growing environment to help heal and rehabilitate people.  The objective is to train Master Gardeners in the design, implementation and maintenance of HT programs

Requirements to obtain advanced certification

• 20 classroom hours
• 40 outreach hours over a three year period. This time starts accumulating with the first AMG class you take

Yearly requirements to maintain active Advanced Master Gardener status

Five (5) AMG classroom hours per calendar year

• Three (3) must be the Hot Topics class *NOTE:  the fee is waived if you are an active Certified Advanced Master Gardener
• Two (2) hours towards a class of your choice
• Twenty (20) hours of outreach hours – ten (10) hours must be completed mentoring in your Extension Office or the Bartlett Arboretum

After completing the annual requirements you will receive a voucher good for 2 free hours of advanced instruction, to be redeemed within one year of issue for any of the AMG classes. The following incentives are also being offered to any Certified AMG wishing to advance their status.

Bronze  40 classroom hours and 80 outreach hours
Silver     60 classroom hours and 100 outreach hours
Gold      80 classroom hours and 140 outreach hours
Ruby   100 classroom hours and 180 outreach hours

These hours will be cumulative, adding on to the previous earned hours of 20 classroom and 40 outreach hours that was initially achieved for their AMG certification.

Unlike the initial AMG time requirement (earned over 3 years) these AMG levels will have no time restrictions placed on them.

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