Program Overview

Continuing Education Unit Requirements and Policies

• 40 CEUs every two years
• A minimum of five CEUs in each of the four competency areas
• A minimum of 20 CEUs must be board-approved
• Ohio accepts approved CEUs from all states

If you are certified by the Ohio Department Agriculture as a “pesticide applicator," you may receive 10 CEUs in pest management for your two-year CEU cycle. To obtain these CEUs you must send a copy of your current Ohio Applicator License to:

American Society of Agronomy / CCA Program 
5585 Guilford Road
Madison, WI 53711

Exam Information

Exam Details: The internet-based proctored CCA Exam is offered exclusively 4x per year, completed at the examinee's computer and monitored by a proctor via the examinee's webcam and microphone, with additional security features to protect the integrity of the exam. The exam can be taken 24 hours a day, including Saturday and Sunday during the quarterly window for testing, for which you will register and then schedule.

There are three steps to the testing process:

1. Registration
   • Examinees must register for the exam during an Exam Registration window just prior to their preferred testing windows.
2. Scheduling
   • Examinees must then schedule their specific exam time during the Exam Scheduling period.
3. Exam Window
   • Examinees must complete testing at their scheduled time in that exam window.

Exam Prep: Ohio State University Extension offers an online CCA Exam Preparation Course Jan 1 - June 30 (Register by March 31 - more information here:  https://go.osu.edu/ccaonline) and also an in-person course (each January). This course will provide an overview of the CCA program, and help you prepare for the exams by covering basic principles in the four competency areas – nutrient management, soil and water management, pest management, and crop management. Even if you are not considering the CCA program, this class is a great basic agronomy course that any farmer, ag retailer, or anyone working with field crops will find valuable. 

Published registration and exam periods for 2025 are noted below:

FEBRUARY - MARCH 2025

• Exam Registration: Wednesday, February 26, 2025 – Monday, March 24, 2025
• Exam Window: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 – Wednesday, April 16, 2025

JULY – AUGUST 2025

• Exam Registration: Wednesday, July 2, 2025 – Monday, July 28, 2025
• Exam Window: Wednesday, August 6, 2025 – Wednesday, August 20, 2025

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025

• Exam Registration: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 – Monday, October 27, 2025
• Exam Window: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 – Wednesday, November 19, 2024

EXAMS NOW AVAILABLE BY SECTION

Examinees will have the option of completing their ICCA and Local Board Exams one section at a time. This means that they can take Nutrient Management, Soil and Water Management, Pest Management, and Crop Management separately thereby being able to study for and take the test for one subject at a time. Examinees choosing this option will have a five-year window to finish all four sections of the exam they choose to take this way. More than one section can be taken in any given exam window.

The following information is included in the registration packet.

• Registration Form
• International Performance Objectives
• Tri-State Performance Objectives

CCA Exam Cost:
International Exam - $275 (includes remote proctoring fee) 
Tri-state Exam - $100 (includes remote proctoring fee)

Link to exam registration: 

• https://www.certifiedcropadviser.org/exams/registration 

There are two exams, the International Exam with 150 multiple choices questions and the Tri-State Exam with 100 multiple choice questions. Both exams are timed - two and a half hours for the International Exam and two hours for the Tri-State Exam. The exams cover four performance objective areas:

• Nutrient Management
• Soil & Water Management
• Pest Management
• Crop Management

In addition, we currently have three specialty exams that you can take which will be offered for OH CCAs:

• 4R Nutrient Management Specialty (4R NMS) Certification
• Precision Agriculture Specialty (PASp) Certification
• Resistance Management Specialty (RMS) Certification
• Sustainability Specialty (SSP) Certification
• Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg) Certification

Information on the specialty exams can be found here:  https://www.certifiedcropadviser.org/exams/specialty-certifications.

Click here to learn more about the CCA Exams from the American Society of Agronomy.

All CCA Exam questions can be directed to certification@sciencesocieties.org.

CCA Links

Tri-State Performance Objectives

Technical Service Provider Program (TSP)

Technical service providers (TSPs) offer services to agricultural producers such as farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners on behalf of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). TSPs help these producers plan, design, and implement conservation practices or develop conservation activity plans to improve agricultural operations.

American Society of Agronomy

The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) is a progressive international scientific and professional society that empowers scientists, educators, and practitioners in developing, disseminating, and applying agronomic solutions to feed and sustain the world.

Ohio Certified Crop Adviser of the Year Award

The Ohio Certified Crop Adviser of the Year award was designed to recognize individuals who are highly motivated, deliver exceptional customer service for farmer clients in nutrient management, soil and water management, integrated pest management and crop production and have contributed substantially to the exchange of ideas and the transfer of agronomic knowledge within the agricultural industry in Ohio.

Check back later for the 2026 CCA of the Year nomination form.

Congratulations Clint Nester - 2025 CCA of the Year!

Nester Ag, LLC

Click here to learn more about the 2025 Ohio CCA of the Year.

Past Award Recipients:

2024

Josh Snyder, Sunrise Cooperative

2023

Dr. Alex Lindsey, The Ohio State University

2022

Tina Lust, Lust Seed Sales & Service

2021

Thomas Puch, Heritage Cooperative

2020

Wesley Haun, Tiger-Sul Products, LLC

2019

Don Boehm, Legacy Farmers Cooperative 

2018

John Fritz, The Andersons, Inc. 

2017

Timothy Berning, Precision Agri-Services, Inc.

2016

Matthew VanTillburg, VanTillburg Farms

2015

Chuck Gates, Seed Consultants Inc.

2014

Joe Nester, Nester Ag. LLC

2013

Melvin Lahmers, TMK Farm Service

2012

Mike Dailey, Independent Consultant

2009

Dave Moroschan, S & D Application, LLC

2008

Jeff Howard, Harvest Land Coop

2007

William Gombash, Berket Farm Center

2006

Roger Butts, Agro Serve Consulting

2005

Bill McDonald, Champaign Landmark

2004

Bill Lehmkuhl, Precision Agri-Services, Inc.

2003

David Scheiderer, Intergrated Ag Services
(also National AFBF Winner)

Ohio Certified Crop Adviser Board Members