General Information
The Certified Crop Adviser Program (CCA) is one of the professional certification programs offered by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA). It is a voluntary program providing a base level of standard through testing and raising that standard through continuing education.
The program is administered locally by 37 state/regional/provincial boards called "Local Boards" throughout the United States and Canada.
The only states or provinces not yet directly involved are Alaska, Quebec, Northwest Territories and the Yukon. Discussions are on-going with the those states or provinces not yet involved and other countries as interest in joining the CCA Program continues to grow.
Each CCA has to pass 2 exams (international and local) and submit credentials detailing their education, crop advising experience, plus 2 references. They must sign and adhere to a code of ethics.
The exams cover 4 major competency areas: Nutrient Management, Soil & Water Management, Integrated Pest Management, and Crop Management. Continuing education must also fall into one of these four areas to be valid for CCA Continuing Education Units (CEU's).
| Total exams given to date: | ~35,886 |
| Total CCA's certified internationally: | 14,869 |
First exam date: February, 1993
Education level related to % passing of exams:
| Education Level | % Passing |
| < High School | 35% |
| High School | 57% |
| < Bachelor Science | 69% |
| Bachelor Science | 81% |
| Masters | 89% |
| PhD | 89% |
Average passing % over all testing opportunities is 60%.
The number of CCA's with at least a Bachelor of Science degree is greater than 70%.
To maintain the certification, the CCA must earn 40 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The program has averaged a 94% renewal rate.