NASM Plan Development Certificate
You are required to have a Non-Agricultural Source Material (NASM) Plan Development Certificate if you are preparing a NASM Plan for an agricultural operation. A NASM Plan is a nutrient management plan for the management of NASM and other nutrients that may be applied to agricultural land or stored in NASM storage facilities. NASM are materials that are not generated from an agricultural source and must meet quality criteria listed in the Nutrient Management Act and are applied to agricultural land as a nutrient. Examples of NASM include: culled vegetables, food processing by-products, pulp and paper biosolids, and treated sewage biosolids. Your certificate number is required on all NASM Plans you prepare.
NASMPD Certificate Information Summary Sheet
Certificates are valid for 5 years from date of issue.
Requirements for Certification:
1. Take the Required Courses
Introduction to Nutrient Management
2. Pass an Exam
You are required to successfully pass the NASM Plan Development Certificate exam. A passing grade is 75% or greater.
The exam covers materials taught in the required courses and general knowledge areas specific to nutrient management planning. We encourage candidates to review the list of competencies published in the NASM Plan Development Certificate Core Competencies document as a study guide for the exam.
You will have three opportunities to complete the exam successfully. If you fail the second time you write the exam, you must wait three months before you write again, to allow time for you to improve your knowledge of the subject matter.
3. Complete Practicum
After you have taken your required courses, you must complete a practicum. For this practicum, you will use AgriSuite to complete and submit two fictitious NASM Plans for grading. The NASM Plans will be based on fictitious scenarios which will be provided to you.
You must achieve a passing grade of 80% on two fictitious scenarios within four attempts.
4. Apply for Certificate
After you fulfill the requirements, submit a completed application to the address indicated on the form. You must submit your application within one year of successful completion of the exam. If you fail to do so, you must retake the exam. If you are taking the exam to renew your valid certification, you must submit your application prior to the certificate expiry date.
Application for Non-Agricultural Source Material (NASM) Plan Development Certificate
Reviewed 09/22/2023