Advanced EMG Training

ATTENTION: CHANGES TO OUR ADVANCED EMG PROGRAM ARE IN EFFECT AS OF 01 JULY 2026

Interested in specializing your Extension Master Gardener knowledge?

Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners have a few options for advanced training.  Training for each program is available on a rotating basis by the State EMG Office. For large groups interested in a steward program, the training may arranged to take place locally. These opportunities are only for certified Extension Master Gardeners.

After completion of training, Advanced EMGs have no further requirements from the State EMG Office. Your local VCE program lead may have additional requirements of you.

ADVANCED EMG TREE STEWARD TRAINING REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

View the Syllabus here

Register here

  • Registration Opens July 8th 2026
  • Registration Closes August 14th 2026
  • Class Starts August 31st 2026
  • Class Ends (all assignments due) November 23rd 2026

ENTO DAY REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

Advanced Deep Dive Days are offered on a rotation. These events offer one-day trainings to certified EMGs on specific topics. Coursework is designed to be taught at a graduate student level, to satisfy our volunteer’s desire to learn intensively.

August 5th 2026 is our Entomology Deep Dive Advanced Continuing Education Day (ENTO Day 2026).

Register here

  • Where: Hampton Roads AREC, Virginia Beach VA
  • When August 5th 2026 from 9 am to 4 pm
  • Cost: $25

Workshop Learning Objectives 

  • Participants will be able to accurately identify insects brought to Extension offices to at least order/family level and justify their reasoning using morphological and ecological traits.
  • Participants will be able to design IPM strategies that integrate cultural, biological, mechanical, and behavioral controls, and evaluate their effectiveness for specific pest scenarios.
  • Participants will be able to distinguish key beneficial arthropods (predators, parasitoids, pollinators) and recommend habitat management strategies to enhance their presence in managed landscapes.
  • Participants will be able to predict pest emergence and vulnerability windows using life cycle knowledge and degree-day models.
  • Participants will formulate clear, research-based pest management recommendations appropriate for homeowners
  • Participants will be able to use dichotomous keys and diagnostic features (wing venation, mouthparts, metamorphosis type) to identify unfamiliar specimens
outline of the Commonwealth of Virginia with an illustrated tree overlaid

Tree Stewards

In Virginia, advanced Master Gardener tree steward training is offered by the local Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program. Once the training is completed, volunteers become certified advanced EMG tree stewards and may create and work on projects based on the needs of their local community as determined mutually between the local agent/coordinator and EMG.

View the Tree Steward Manual here.

Water Quality Steward

Advanced Extension Master Gardener Water Steward Trainees receive the benefit of a high level of training which is both technical and programmatic in nature. The advanced technical training provides in-depth water quality, conservation and management knowledge. The programmatic training enables trainees to further extend the reach of Extension because it is meant to prepare the EMG to research community water needs, then to design, implement and evaluate a program meant to meet those needs.

Got a suggestion for a topic? We’d love to hear about it: Advanced EMG Program Survey

Advanced EMG Training Changes- July 1 2026

  1. The State EMG Office is no longer requiring the “nested” volunteer program for Advanced EMGs. Starting now, any of the “stewards” who are already certified in the commonwealth are no longer required by the State EMG Office to do specific work for their tree/water/land care certification. They are no longer required to maintain additional CE, nor are they required to contribute additional steward-specific hours.
    1. If a local VCE Agent would like to maintain additional requirements for certified Advanced EMGs within their EMG Unit, they are allowed to do so.
    2. This means that ALL fully certified EMGs in VA have THE SAME annual requirements, as far as the state is concerned- 8 CE and 20 volunteer hours.
  2. The State EMG Office will administer a variety of VCE Advanced EMG Trainings to provide volunteers with specialized knowledge to take back to their local units.
    1. There will be no requirement of these volunteers to complete a project or to complete specific hours. When they have satisfactorily completed our training, they are forever trained in our eyes.
    2. Previously, although not widely enforced, EMGs wanting to take Advanced Trainings no longer need to acquire their agent’s sign-off.
    3. The trainings will be hybrid- primarily virtual with in person learning opportunities if necessary.
  3. If a Local EMG Unit desires to utilize the State EMG Office’s Canvas courses for your local Advanced EMG Training Program, please ask us! we are happy to provide you a copy to utilize as you see fit.
    1. currently, Advanced EMG Water Steward is available to use. ( contact Grace at emgoffice@vt.edu)
    2. Advanced EMG Tree Steward will be available to use in the Spring of 2027

FAQ: What is the difference between Advanced EMG Trainings and the Tree Steward Program in my locality?

The Virginia Extension Master Gardener (EMG) Program has historically referred to some of its advanced training programs as “Steward” programs (for example, Tree Steward training). These advanced EMG trainings are designed specifically for certified EMGs and prepare volunteers to provide specialized education and service as Extension Master Gardeners in their localities.

Many local and regional organizations also offer programs called Tree Steward, such as Richmond Tree Stewards (RTS), Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards (CATS), and other community forestry programs. These programs are independent of the Virginia EMG Program and have their own training, certification, and volunteer requirements.

Because they are separate programs:

  • A certification earned through a local or regional Tree Steward organization is not equivalent to an EMG Advanced Training certification.
  • Completion of a non-EMG Tree Steward program does not confer Advanced EMG status.
  • Advanced EMG certifications and expectations are tied to service performed within the EMG Program and may include specific volunteer and continuing education requirements, as determined by your local EMG Coordinator and/or VCE Agent

We recognize that the shared use of the term “Tree Steward” can be confusing. While local Tree Steward programs and EMG Advanced Trainings may cover similar subject matter, they are administered separately and serve different purposes. Both provide valuable learning opportunities, but certification in one program does not replace certification in the other.

Individuals must first become certified Extension Master Gardeners before participating in Virginia EMG Advanced Trainings.

FAQ: I’m an intern in my EMG Unit- can I participate in Advanced Training?

Individuals must first become certified Extension Master Gardeners before participating in Virginia EMG Advanced Trainings.