UGA Cooperative Extension

DeKalb County Extension Office:
DeKalb Advanced Master Gardener Program

How do I become an Advanced Master Gardener?

Advanced Master Gardener status can only be achieved if you are a certified master gardener and you are active in your county program. The intent of this effort is to provide in-depth training that will increase a volunteer’s knowledge and make them better volunteers who can then go back home to expand county efforts. When a Master Gardener successfully completes five (5) Advanced Sessions, he or she will receive a silver star to be attached to their badge and a state certificate of completion. Before these honors are received, your county agent will need to verify your attendance at the required training and that you are actively participating in county master gardener activities.

This training program is coordinated by the State Master Gardener Coordinator in Griffin, GA. Upcoming training dates are listed in the State MG Association newsletter,“The Scoop”, or on the State Master Gardener website at www.gamastergardener.org .

A Certified Master Gardener is...

A person who has satisfactorily completed the initial fifty (50) hour training class and returned the 50 or more hours of volunteer commitment. People who do not complete the required 50 hours of volunteer time are not certified and will not receive permanent Master Gardener status or the badge that goes with this title.

What is an Active Master Gardener?

To be considered Active and to receive a county membership card, you must submit an Annual Report (by December 1, each year) and your report has to reflect a total number of master gardener volunteer hours of twenty-five (25) or greater. Keep documentation of your annual participation (annual report) so that you can apply for Advanced Master Gardener Training and eventually obtain Lifetime Master Gardener after ten years of active service.