§ 151-a. Planner certification. There is hereby established a planner
certification program for the purpose of certifying individuals in both
the public and private sectors who are qualified by education,
experience, or examination to develop an AEM plan as defined in section
one hundred fifty of this article. Subject to the availability of
funding, the department, in cooperation with the state soil and water
conservation committee, may develop or contract to have developed such
testing procedures, educational requirements, and examinations as it
deems appropriate to assure the competence of persons seeking
certification. To the extent practical, and consistent with the purposes
of this article, the department may waive or accept substitutions for
educational or testing requirements to facilitate planner certification.
Such substitutions may include, but not be limited to, United States
department of agriculture natural resources conservation services third
party certification and job approval authority. The department may
establish application and testing fees and terms and conditions of
certification, such as procedures for certification suspension and
revocation, and planner continuing education.