The certified crop adviser is a valuable resource on the farm. To keep that rating, however, those CCAs have to keep current, an effort that includes taking exams regularly. For those interested in testing to be a CCA, or to update their certifications or get specialty ratings, the date is set. Feb. 2, 2018 will be the CCA testing date, according to the Far West Agribusiness Association.

Those interested in taking the main test, or any of the specialty tests (you can only take one of these on each test date), can register at the certified crop adviser website, certifiedcropadviser.com/exams/registration.

There are several sites in the Northwest where proctored exams will be held, including Boise and Rexburg, Idaho; Madras, Ore.; Logan, Utah; Spokane, Wash.; Sparks, Nev.; Fairbanks, Alaska; and Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.

Note that to become eligible for the CCA certification, applicants must take, and pass, both the international test and the local board exams.

Other rules include the fact that you must be 18 years old to register for the exams. Only one CCA specialty exam — such as the 4R NMS Exam, Resistance Management Exam or Sustainability Exam — may be taken each exam date.

There was a change in policy in 2017 that affects CCAs and prospective advisers. There is now a five-year time limit to pass both the international and local exams. This time limit starts with the first testing date of the first exam scores reported. If the five-year time limit is exceeded without both exams passed, scores are nullified, and the candidate starts over in his or her sixth year.

If you have other questions, you can visit fwaa.org and click on the "CCA" tab.

Source: Far West Agribusiness Association