CHA Landscape Short Course

The 2025 CHA Landscape Short Course will take place January 16-17th at Chattanooga State Community College.

UT Extension – Hamilton County is excited to present the 2025 CHA Landscape Short Course January 16-17. Formerly known as the Green Express Short Course, this program is the same format as before, just with a new name! The event offers green industry professionals the opportunity to learn the latest research-based information from various experts across the state to advance their management practices.

The 2025 CHA Landscape Short Course will be held at:

Chattanooga State Community College

Building: Charles W. Branch Center | Room 30

4501 Amnicola Highway

Chattanooga, TN 37406

Please see the Google Maps to the right of this page for building directions.


Professional Credentials:

  • Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) Pesticide Recertification Applicator Points will be offered for TDA Commercial Applicators.
  • Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) Pesticide Recertification Credit Hours will be offered for GDA Applicators.
  • International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be offered for ISA Certified Arborists.
  • Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA CES) Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will be offered for licensed landscape architects.

Payment Information for 2025

Pay online with the button below – be sure to select whichever option suits your needs:

  • January 16 (1 day)
    • $80 until January 8
    • $100 after January 8
  • January 17 (1 day)
    • $80 until January 8
    • $100 after January 8
  • January 16 & 17 (both days)
    • $150 until January 8
    • $190 after January 8

Early bird pricing will be available until January 8th. After January 8th, registration costs will increase so make sure to register ASAP!

Program Schedule:

This information is for the 2024 program to serve as an example until details are confirmed for 2025. Return to this page for updates when 2025 credentials are awarded.

For each day, registration will begin at 8:30 am and adjourn around 4:00 pm.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1


Spotted Lanternfly & Other Emerging Pests Update
Hannah Nelms
Plant Inspector

Tennessee Department of Agriculture


Tree Health & Structure: What’s the Difference & How to Apply it
Benjamin Moore & Chris Winters
Owner & Arborist
s
Scenic City Arborists


Nursery Nuisances & Management Strategies
Phil Haar
Regional Nursery Specialist

TSU Extension


Incorporating Ecological Spaces into the Urban Context: Design Theory and Weed Management Considerations for the Wild & Woolly Landscape
Greg Huber
Programs Coordinator & Landscape Architect

UGA Center for Urban Agriculture


Plant Studs, Not Duds and Reduce Pesticide Suds! (Plants with Few Pests Need Fewer Pesticides)
Justin Stefanksi
Agriculture & Natural Resource Agent
UT/TSU Extension Rutherford County


FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2


Sustainable Design Through Contemporary Landscapes
Mike Ross
Professor of Landscape Architecture & Design
UT Department of Plant Sciences


What’s Going on in the Turf Weed World?
Benjamin Pritchard
PhD Candidate

UT Department of Plant Sciences


Sustainable Lawn Management – Tips for Professional Success
Dr. Becky Bowling
Turfgrass Specialist

UT Department of Plant Sciences


Lunch & Learn: Financial Management in the Green Industry
David Bilderback
Area MANAGE Specialist
UT Center of Farm Management


Improving Water Efficiency of Irrigation in a Sustainable Landscape
Rolando Orellana
Urban Water Management Agent

UGA Center for Urban Agriculture


Per-Acre Pesticide Limits for Municipal & Commercial Tree Care
Peter Stewart
Urban Forester

City of Chattanooga


Professional Credentials:

This information is for the 2024 program to serve as an example until details are confirmed for 2025. Return to this page for updates when 2025 credentials are awarded.

This page is relevant to those seeking some form of professional development credential such as TDA recertification pesticide points and/or ISA Continuing Education Units. If you are a professional or non-professional in the industry only seeking education, this page is not necessary to explore.

If you are a certified applicator with the Tennessee or Georgia Department of Agriculture, this page outlines the number of points that will be awarded to you for attending. If you are an ISA-certified arborist, this page will inform you as to the number of CEUs you’ll receive from this program.

Tennessee Department of Agriculture Pesticide Recertification Points for 2024 are awarded as follows:

Thursday, February 1st

  • 5 commercial applicator points for category 2
  • 5 commercial applicator points for category 3
  • 5 commercial applicator points for category 10
  • 5 commercial applicator points for category 12

Friday, February 2nd

  • 4 commercial applicator points for category 2
  • 4 commercial applicator points for category 3
  • 4 commercial applicator points for category 10
  • 4 commercial applicator points for category 12

Category 2 = Forest Pest Control | Category 3 = Ornamental/Turf | Category 10 = Researchers/Regulators | Category 12 = Pesticide Dealer


If you attend both days, then you will be awarded 9 total TDA pesticide points if you fall into the categories of 2, 3, 10, or 12.

To gain these points, participants must arrive to the program on time in the morning and may not leave until the conclusion of the program that day. No points will be awarded if a participant arrives late or leaves the program early.

To learn more about Commercial Applicator information, click here to navigate to our Tennessee Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) website.

Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Recertification credit hours for 2024 are awarded as follows:

Thursday, February 1st

  • 5 commercial applicator credit hours for category 21
  • 2 commercial applicator credit hours for category 23
  • 5 commercial applicator credit hours for category 24
  • and/or 3 private applicator credit hours for category 10

Friday, February 2nd

  • 1 commercial applicator credit hours for category 21
  • 1 commercial applicator credit hour for category 23
  • 4 commercial applicator credit hour for category 24
  • no private applicator credit hours available for this date

Category 10 = Private Applicator | Category 21 = Agricultural Plant | Category 23 = Forest | Category = 24 Ornamental & Turf


To gain these points, participants must arrive to the program on time in the morning and may not leave until the conclusion of the program that day. No points will be awarded if a participant arrives late or leaves the program early.

To learn more about Pesticide Applicator information, click here to navigate to the Georgia Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) website.

International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for 2024 are awarded as follows:

Thursday, February 1st

  • 4 CEUs for the Certified Arborist Category
  • 1 CEU for the BCMA – Science Category
  • 4 CEUs for the Municipal Specialist Category
  • 3 CEUs for the BCMA – Management Category

Friday, February 2nd

  • 3 CEUs for the Certified Arborist Category
  • 3 CEUs for the Municipal Specialist Category
  • 3 CEUs for the BCMA – Management Category

To gain these points, participants must arrive to the program on time in the morning and may not leave until the conclusion of the program that day. No points will be awarded if a participant arrives late or leaves the program early.

To learn more about ISA Certification, click here to navigate to the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Website.

The Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA CES) is a collaboration of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) among other national and international landscape architecture organizations.

Thursday, February 1st

  • 5 professional development hours

Friday, February 2nd

  • 5 professional development hours

To gain these hours, participants must arrive to the program on time in the morning and may not leave until the conclusion of the program that day. No points will be awarded if a participant arrives late or leaves the program early.

To learn more about LA CES, click here to navigate to their website.