Trusting a company to take care of your outdoor space can always feel a little nerve-racking. You hear horror stories about homeowners having bad experiences with a company, whether the company damaged their lawn or simply didn’t deliver the results they were hoping for. It can leave you wondering: Why did that happen? Did they use the wrong products? Did they do something incorrectly? And most importantly, do they know what they’re doing?
At Oasis Turf & Tree, we’ve built our business around making sure you don’t have to worry about any of that. With more than 60 licensed technicians on our team and specialized, in-house advanced certification opportunities, we can help ensure proper application, quality results, and, most importantly, service you can trust.
We’re here to help you understand what our in-house certifications are, how they benefit you, and how our credentials compare to other certifications within the industry.
Quick Answer: Oasis Master certifications are advanced, in-house certifications developed by Oasis Turf & Tree to help team members deepen their skills and expand their knowledge. The certification tests are specifically tailored to the unique lawn, tree, shrub, soil, and environmental conditions found throughout the Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky region. The Oasis Master I certification focuses on Turfgrass Management, while the Oasis Master II certification focuses on Tree & Shrub Management. This knowledge helps our technicians make more informed treatment recommendations and provide a higher level of service to our homeowners.
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The Oasis Masters I & II Certifications are advanced, in-house certifications designed to provide Oasis Turf & Tree team members with additional education beyond standard state licensure. These certifications are focused on expanding a technician’s knowledge of lawn and tree care while allowing them to continue developing their skills throughout their career.
The Oasis Masters I & II Certifications were created to provide a new opportunity for advanced education after the National Association of Landscape Professionals' advanced exam was discontinued. Rather than allowing that opportunity for continued education to disappear, we created our own advanced certification program. This allows our technicians to continue learning and developing their expertise while working toward higher levels of professional knowledge.
The Oasis Masters I & II Certifications are comprehensive, multi-part exams that cover advanced lawn and tree care knowledge. To earn either certification, team members must demonstrate their understanding by passing the required exam with a score of 85% or higher.
State licensing provides technicians with the foundational knowledge they need to safely and effectively perform their work. The Oasis Masters I & II Certifications take that education a step further by providing additional, advanced training specific to lawn and tree care. The goal is to give our team members another opportunity to learn, strengthen their knowledge, and continue honing their craft as they gain experience in the field.
The Oasis Master I Certification focuses on Turfgrass Management. To earn this certification, team members must first pass the Ohio state certification exam administered by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). This includes the ODA Core Exam and the ODA Turfgrass Applicators Exam. After passing their state licensure exams, they can sign up for the Master I exam to earn their in-house credentials.
The ODA core exam covers foundational pesticide knowledge, including:
The ODA Turfgrass Pest Control Exam focuses specifically on the management of pests found in turfgrass. The exam covers topics such as:
Team members must also complete an online training program focused on Turfgrass Management and pass the comprehensive multi-part Master I exam with a score of 85% or higher. This exam covers 10 different categories:
The Oasis Master II Certification focuses on Tree & Shrub Management. Like the Master I Certification, team members must first pass the Ohio state certification exam. However, the Tree & Shrub state Licensure requires you to pass 3 additional exams, rather than the 1 required for lawn care. These include the ODA Core Exam and the additional Ornamental Pests Exam, Vector Control Exam, & General Pest Control Exam. After passing these state licensure exams, they can sign up for the Master II exam to earn these in-house credentials.
The ODA Ornamental Plant Pest Control Exam focuses on the identification and management of pests that affect ornamental plants, shrubs, and trees. The exam covers topics such as:
The ODA Vector Control Exam focuses on the identification and management of pests that can transmit diseases to people or animals. The exam covers topics such as:
The ODA General Pest Control Exam focuses on the identification and management of common pests. The exam covers topics such as:
Team members pursuing the Master II Certification must also complete an online training program focused on Tree & Shrub Management and pass the comprehensive multi-part Master II exam with a score of 85% or higher. This exam covers 16 different categories:
Lawn and landscape problems aren’t always straightforward. Different grass types, soil conditions, weather patterns, pests, diseases, and environmental factors can all affect how your lawn or plants respond to treatments. The additional education required for the Oasis Master Certifications helps team members build a deeper understanding of these factors and how they can affect the health of your lawn and landscape.
For you, Master I & II Certifications mean having a well-educated team you can trust to better diagnose and recommend solutions based on what is happening in your lawn, trees, and shrubs.
Oasis technicians are not required to earn Master Certifications, but we strongly encourage continued education and professional development, with more than 40 of our 100 team members holding one or more Master certifications.
Because of the level of knowledge and expertise required for this role, every Quality Assurance team member is required to hold at least one Oasis Master certification. Our quality assurance team makes sure we provide the best level of care for our customers and the best atmosphere for our team. Our quality assurance team
As mentioned earlier, the Oasis Master certifications were developed after the NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals) discontinued its advanced licensure exam. The NALP exam was a high-level professional credential available to individuals across all 50 states and covered advanced topics related to turfgrass management, plant health, pest identification, safety, and other areas of professional lawn and landscape care.
The Oasis Master certifications cover the same advanced topics as the NALP exam, but we’ve tailored the material specifically to the Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky service areas. This allows our team members to develop a deeper understanding of the lawn and landscape challenges unique to our region, so they can provide more informed, localized service and recommendations.
All of our technicians complete a two-week training program where they work alongside management, quality assurance team members, and experienced technicians to gain hands-on experience in the field.
During training, they learn about safety requirements, equipment operation, proper application techniques, the products they use, and how to identify and address common lawn & landscape problems. Our training program is designed to give new team members the knowledge and skills they need to perform their jobs safely, effectively, and confidently. It’s also built with beginners in mind, so previous lawn care experience isn’t required to learn the fundamentals and become a successful technician.
Oasis technicians use their training to do more than simply apply a scheduled treatment. When they arrive at a property, they first look at the condition of the lawn and surrounding landscape to identify anything that could affect the health of the turf or the way a treatment should be applied.
They may look for signs of disease, weeds, drought stress, recent rainfall, soil conditions, and drainage. Their training helps them recognize these conditions and understand how they may affect the lawn.
From there, technicians can make informed decisions about the appropriate treatment and how it should be applied. This could mean identifying a lawn problem, adjusting an application based on property conditions, or recognizing when an issue may require additional attention.
Real-Life Example: One of our tenured technicians, Dylan Lindsey, remembers learning an especially helpful technique during his training: how to adjust his equipment when treating tight or hard-to-reach areas where a machine may not fit or could be unsafe to use. He learned how to use a hose reel to reach these areas more effectively and safely, which may seem like a small adjustment, but it can make a big difference when treating a property. It helps him provide more thorough service, reach areas that might otherwise be overlooked, and make sure the entire lawn receives the attention it needs.
Now that you know more about our team, their training, and the expertise they bring to every service, you may be wondering if our services fit your needs and budget.
Want to learn more about which homeowners we’re the best fit for? We made a video that goes over who benefits most from our lawn care, five reasons we may not be the right fit for you, and what you can realistically expect when working with us.
Think we’re the right fit for you and want to know how much lawn care would cost for your property? Simply fill out our quick quote form on our website or call (513) 697-9090 to speak with one of our Turf & Tree Specialists.
Do all lawn care technicians need to be licensed at every company?
Licensing requirements vary by state and the type of work being performed. For example, certain pesticide applications require specific credentials, but not every employee may need the same license. In Ohio, only one person within a company is required to hold a pesticide applicator license, allowing other team members to work under that license.
How can I tell if a lawn care company invests in technician training?
Ask about their training process. Look for companies that provide hands-on training, ongoing education, safety training, and opportunities for technicians to earn additional certifications.
Do lawn care licenses expire?
Yes. Many lawn care and pesticide licenses must be renewed periodically. Requirements vary by state and may include continuing education or renewal fees.
What is the difference between a license and a certification?
A license is generally required by a government agency to legally perform certain types of work. A certification shows that someone has completed specific training or met certain professional standards.