The Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) announced that its Turfgrass Science Certification, delivered through the iCEV platform, has been officially approved in Arizona.
Industry credentials are a required performance measure of the Arizona Perkins V State Plan for the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act.
As part of Arizona state legislation for a CTE program to receive Career Technical Education District (CTED) funding, a CTE program must lead to certification or licensure as appropriate.
The College and Career Readiness Index (School A-F) generates .5 up to 1.0/2.0 points for students who obtain an industry-recognized credential more than one point may be awarded.
SFMA Certification state approvals are currently as follows:
- AZ
- ID
- IA
- OH
- MD
- NY (Approved testing platform, which automatically makes SFMA approved. NY doesn’t keep an approved list of certs.)
The SFMA Turfgrass Science Certification is designed to prepare learners at all stages — from high school students to adults — for meaningful careers in sports field management. The credential validates essential knowledge and skills for maintaining athletic surfaces across a variety of venues, including:
- K–12 school districts
- Parks and recreation facilities
- Golf courses
- Colleges and universities
- Professional sports stadiums and complexes