FAQs

Q: Do I need to wait to attend an on-site course before taking any of the online modules?

A: No, you can begin taking the on-line modules at any time.  However, please remember that you cannot earn points for online modules which are associated with workshops you have attended in person.

Q: I attended one of the Postharvest Technology Center’s workshops one or two years before registering for the Produce Professional Certificate Program, can it count towards my Produce Professional Certificate points?

A: Yes, we offer a 2-year reciprocity for all our workshops and short courses.  However, you will need to complete the online quiz associated with the qualifying workshop for which you wish to receive credit.  We encourage you to review the materials you received for your workshop as well as any applicable on-line resources.

Q: I want to learn a little more about the quiz process before I take my quiz. Can you tell me what to expect?

A: A quiz bank has been developed for each course, and each online module.  The questions will be randomly selected from the quiz bank, and will appear in a random order.  The quizzes consist of about 20 questions for each day of instruction, so if you attended a 3-day workshop, the quiz you will take will consist of 60 questions.  You will complete all quiz questions, submit your responses, and then receive your score as well as feedback.  Feedback will include the correct responses. A passing grade is 80%.  If you earn less than 80%, you may re-take the quiz. 

Q: Can you tell me about the quiz certificates?

A: For each quiz you successfully pass with an 80% or better score, you will have the opportunity to print a personalized certificate indicating that you passed the quiz and earned points towards your Produce Professional Certificate. The certificates may be reprinted if needed.

Q: May I receive transferable academic credit from this program?

A: The Produce Professional Certificate program is a technical certificate sponsored by the UC Davis Postharvest Technology Center. The points earned in the program are not transferable at this time.

Q: I am not from the U.S., will I need a visa to participate in this program?

A: You will need to travel to California to attend the "Core In Person courses" required to complete the certificate program; so yes, you will need an appropriate visa.

Q: How long is the program?

A: The program requires that you earn 120 points, each point is approximately equivalent to 1 hour of education.  Participants have a four year period in which to earn the 120 points.  However, it would be possible for an individual to complete the entire certificate program in one year, by attending every core required course that is offered within that year’s time.

Q: What level of English do I need?

A: All instruction is given in English, so an adequate proficiency in English is necessary.  However, many of the people who attend our courses/workshops are from other countries, so our instructors are always willing to answer questions during breaks, etc. if there is content that was difficult to understand.

Q: Can you tell me more about the benefits of the Produce Professional Certificate Program?

A: The program provides participants with a measurable body of knowledge, with certificates validating that they have successfully passed quizzes with an 80% or better score, on key topics for each workshop or online module. The program also provides registrants with four years' of online access to recorded lectures, presentation handouts and additional valuable resources. Employers who register their employees not only receive the benefit of improved knowledge about postharvest handling techniques for produce, they also gain loyalty from those employees in whom they have invested.

Q: Are there any special requirements to enroll in this program?

A: While there are no specific requirements, we do recommend that participants have sufficient English ability to understand the instructors, course manuals, and quizzes.  We also expect that participants will have an adequate science background to understand the biology and other scientific concepts taught throughout the program.

Q: How do I enroll in this program?

A: Registration is easy and may be paid via credit card. To enroll click here. For other payment options call UC Extension at 530-757-8777.