Requirements
To become a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist, a participant must fulfill the following:
- In order to register for an upcoming Master Naturalist certification course, first download and fill out the application form. Email the completed form to [email protected]
- Attend at least 7 of the 9 course workshops.
- Attend opening and closing workshops. workshops are field-based lectures held outdoors, and we have a few slideshow lectures where important. We follow current local mask rules in each workshop, and will keep you informed when requirements change.
- Complete 20 hours of approved volunteer service within six months following closing workshop
- Complete 8 hours of approved continuing education within six months following closing workshop
- Pay $25 for annual dues
Notes
- Opening and closing workshops are essential; If absence unavoidable, please notify workshop leaders.
- Opening / Closing make-up assignments should be completed within one week of missed workshop.
- Workshops that are missed within one semester can be made up in future classes. If interested in attending a workshop outside of your enrolled semester, please contact workshop leaders at least two weeks prior to the date of the workshop.
Maintaining Certification
Once Certified, Louisiana Master Naturalists must complete the following annually:
- Volunteer a minimum of 20 hours of approved volunteer service each year
- Attend at least 8 hours of approved continuing education training each year
- Pay $50 in Membership Dues each year
Benefits of Certification
- Gain knowledge about the ecosystems present in Louisiana
- Build understanding about the interconnections among our flora and fauna and the well-being of our ecosystems, economic foundation, and cultural communities
- Become part of a network of people who are passionately interested in Louisiana’s natural history, how it functions, and how to protect it
- Earn invaluable networking opportunities with multidisciplinary experts through course involvement, volunteering opportunities, and group meetings
- Build professional credentials by contributing to organizational management through involvement with the LMNGNO board and executive committees