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Overview of Technical Service Provider Certification Process

Certification (valid for a three year period)

1. Determine if you want to be certified

  • Access the NRCS national TechReg web site at: http://techreg.usda.gov
    Click on the “Certification Criteria” button on the right side of the page. Review the categories that you
    may want certification in and the criteria that you must meet to receive certification.
  • Click on “View the Technical Service Provide Agreement” and review.
  • Continue if you meet all the required criteria and wish to apply for certification.

2. Request certification.

  • “Getting the appropriate accounts and passwords needed to request certification”
  1. Access the NRCS national TechReg web site at: http://techreg.usda.gov
  2. Click on “Get a USDA User Id and Password”. You will be taken to the E-authentication site.
    Review the “What is an account” page and apply for a USDA level 2 E-government user ID and password.
  3. Respond within 7 days to any confirmation e-mail that may be sent to you from this site.
  4. Then visit a local NRCS office with a government picture i.d. to activate your level 2 information and to request a Service Center Information Management System (SCIMS) account. The local office official should activate your level 2 information; develop a SCIMS account for you and “link the SCIMS account to your level 2 information.” Local officials sometimes forget this critical linking step. So remind them if necessary. TechReg will not allow you to use your activated i.d. and password if the SCIMS/Level 2 link has not been completed. Once linked your Level 2 user id and password can be used within a few hours to begin the on-line certification process on TechReg.
  5. Note: Neither a level 2 Account nor an assigned TSP application number means you are certified.
  • “Requesting certification”
  1. Go back to the main TechReg site and click on the step by step instructions for certification on the right hand side of the page. Print and review.
  2. Return to the main TechReg site and click on either “login” (upper left hand corner” of page) or “apply on-line (left side of page); login and follow instructions.

3. Common issues and problems in requesting certification:

  • Profile Part 1 Section A. Contact Information. This comes from your SCIMS account. If you need to change your contact information you have to return to your local office and change your SCIMS information. The information cannot be changed on line by you.
  • Profile Part 1 Section B. Associated Companies/Agencies. This section is normally left blank and only used when a business or agency wants to appear on TechReg.
  • Profile Part 1 Section C. Accreditations/Licenses. Certification criteria for some categories require licenses or accreditations. Your application will not be processed if required licenses or accreditations are not shown in this section or if your license has expired.
  • Profile Part 1 Section E1- Professional References. Always fill this section out and try to provide references from clients. Certification criteria for some categories require references specific to the category or practice you want certification in (indicated by a red box in Section G). In such cases your application will not be processed if Section E1 is not completed. Additionally, NRCS staff will be looking at this section carefully for all categories.
  • Profile Part I Section F-Familiarity with NRCS Guidelines, Criteria and Standards. Always complete this section. This section is often left blank or is lacking in specifics. All State TSP Coordinators will carefully review this section. The Illinois NRCS will not certify you until you have familiarized yourself with NRCS-IL. Conservation practice technical guidance and cost-share program policies addressing producer payments for implementing or installing conservation practices.
  • Profile Part 1 Section F1-modules 1-5 conservation planning course. Not indicating that you have taken this course or have equivalent knowledge leaves your application in a “pending” or “incomplete” status.
  • Profile Part 1 Section F2- TSP Orientation. (Does not apply to renewal requests.) Not indicating that you have taken this course leaves your application in a “pending” or “incomplete” status.
  • Profile Part 2 Section G-Certification Categories. Select the category (ies) you are requesting certification for. Then select the option under each category whose criteria you must meet to receive certification (toggle it on). Then indicate “how you meet the criteria” (Check the appropriate boxes). “Save” your entries. This section should show a “ready” status (as in ready for signing your certification agreement) if you have completed and saved everything correctly. After signing the agreement in section J this section should show a “submitted” status (as in submitted for review). If you miss something your application will show “pending” or “incomplete” and you won’t be allowed to sign your certification agreement. The only status you ultimately want to see is “submitted”. This indicates your application has been submitted for review.

    A print screen of a correctly completed Section G is shown at the end of this overview. The selected
    category was Manure Wastewater Handling and Storage. The applicant had several options (left
    hand column) available to demonstrate competency. The applicant toggled the “experience”
    option. The “experience” option had six requirements (criteria) all of which must be met. The
    applicant toggled all appropriate “how criteria were met” boxes.

    Many mistakes are made in this section. Some candidates fail to select or toggle an “option.” Others fail to check one or more “how criteria were met” boxes making the application “pending” or “incomplete.” Others fail to provide references in Section E1 when references are mandatory.
  • Profile Part 2 Section H-Services. Many applicants select all the conservation practices (services) available under a category instead of limiting services to those they have experience in.
  • Profile Part 2 Section J-Certification Agreement. Applicants sometimes do not complete this section even though everything else has been correctly completed. In this case the application will show a “Ready” (possibly an “incomplete” status) and will not be “Submitted” to NRCS for review. Anytime you “update” Section G you will have to resign the Part J Certification agreement. However your original certification renewal date remains the same. Successfully completing your application puts it into a “Submitted” status in Section G. If it says “Submitted” you know that state TSP Coordinators have been sent your application for review. Additionally, you will receive an E-mail telling you that you have successfully requested certification.

4. Review of requested certification.

  • NRCS employees in each state you are requesting certification in will review and verify your application by:
  1. Checking required licenses
  2. Checking completion of required courses
  3. Checking references when these are a required criteria
  4. Occasionally asking for work examples on certain practices such as “prescribed burning ”
  5. Often asking you how you became familiar with NRCS standards and policies
  6. Occasionally asking you about your experience with specific conservation practices (services) that you are requesting certification for within a category.
  7. Some states will interview you.

Certification renewal

Your certification is valid for three years. You will be notified by NRCS via e-mail or letter at least 60 days
in advance that it is time to request renewal.

For More Information Contact:

James B. Johnson
TSP Coordinator
NRCS in Illinois
james.johnson@il.usda.gov

Updated 04/27/07
 

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