Composting Council’s certified operations credential program improves website

The Certification Commission of the United States Composting Council (USCC) has expanded the customer experience online system to manage the growth and operations of its first nationally recognized professional compost credential, the Certified Compost Operations Manager (CCOM).

The CCOM credential enables compost professionals to quantify and qualify their knowledge and experience by obtaining a professional certification developed by the Certification Commission of USCC and endorsed by foremost experts in the compost industry.

The certification program launched in October 2016. By November 2017, the USCC says the CCOM program grew to add online applications and paths for inviting training providers, course creators and conference owners to submit their compost management training sessions for approval of professional development hours by the Certification Commission.

“The more extensive and robust online system provides a permanent home and secure area for recertification activities and 24/7 access to updating employment and professional development advances during the CCOM’s career,” USCC says.

A CCOM designation allows municipal, commercial and agricultural compost manufacturers and consumers to verify that a compost operator meets stringent professional standards set by a commission of experts in the industry, and has demonstrated technical expertise in the production of safe, high-quality compost material, USCC explains.

Before being awarded a CCOM designation, a certified compost professional must demonstrate competency by passing a rigorous exam and provide evidence of approved training hours and substantial manufacturing and operations experience in the production of compost. Additionally, to ensure that CCOMs are knowledgeable about of the latest technological advances, credential holders are required to undertake and document 30 hours of approved continuing education every three years to maintain their certification.

Compost educators, producers and consumers can access information and use the site to advance the commercial compost industry by getting certified, hiring certified operators and by consuming products produced by compost companies who employ CCOM professionals.

With the expansion of the Commission’s website at www.certificationsuscc.org, the online customer experience system starts at a login page and features “smart” technology that recognizes the returning visitor and knows if they are a certification candidate, a training provider or someone else, and then transports them to where they left off at their last trip into their account, USCC explains. The expanded operating system means the process of certification and verification can be accessed from anywhere and managed entirely online.

The mission of the Certification Commission of the USCC is to develop and administer national, valid, credible, vendor-neutral certification programs for organics recycling professionals, which enhance the profession of organics recycling facility management and in turn benefit the community business and environmental outcomes.