Educational Requirement

Approved applicants are required to have a current eligible master certification at time of reimbursement – not at time of application – to be considered for cost share reimbursement.

Eligible courses are determined by program.
Certificate must be completed by the approved applicant.
Certificates completed 2021 or after will be accepted.

2024-2025 Eligible Master Courses by TAEP Program

Master Certification

The University of Tennessee offers several educational programs for the agricultural industry. These programs are designed to provide hands-on experience in current management practices that are important to the profitability and sustainability of the industry.

Contact your local UT/TSU Extension office to inquire about educational course offerings.

• University of Tennessee | utextension.tennessee.edu
• Tennessee State University | tnstate.edu/extension

Master Recertification

The following chart indicates master producer certificate eligibility by TAEP program year. Recertification is required if certificate was issued prior to 2021. If you are unsure when you earned your master course certification, please contact your local UT/TSU Extension Agent for assistance.

Approved applicants are required to have a current eligible master certification or special requirement equivalent for Producer Diversification at time of reimbursement – not at time of application – to be considered for cost share reimbursement.

Eligible courses are determined by approved sector.
Special requirements/master certification must be completed by the approved applicant.
Special requirements/master certification completed 2021 or after will be accepted.

2024-2025 Special Requirements List

This list features eligible courses and events from 2021-2025 for the Agritourism (Agri-T), Fruit & Vegetable (F&V), and Value-Added Products (VAP) sectors. Eligible master certifications are not included in this list. The list will be updated as new eligible courses become available.

2024-2025 Eligible Master Courses by TAEP Program

Special Requirements

Producer Diversification special requirements focus on education and include conferences, courses, events, master courses, workshops, and specific certifications. Attendance/certification is verified and the registered name must match the approved applicant to be eligible for 50% cost share.

How to register for special requirement courses?

The University of Tennessee Institute for Agriculture’s Center for Profitable Agriculture (CPA) administers most of the courses offered. Visit cpa.utk.edu and click on workshops under the educational events tab.

Cornell University offer GAPs Online Produce Safety Training course. Visit gaps.cornell.edu for more information.

The Pick Tennessee Conference is an annual agricultural event providing educational and networking opportunities for producers from across Tennessee. will be held February 13-15, 2025 at the Cool Springs Marriott, Franklin, TN. Registration opens in December 2024. Visit picktnconference.com for more information.

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Workshops are held yearly. Visit https://vegetables.tennessee.edu/announcements-news-and-events/ for more information.

Contact your local UT/TSU Extension office to inquire about master certification courses (UT Master Beekeeping, UT Master Farm Manager, UT Master Farm Family Health & Wellness, UT Master Nursery Producer, or TSU New Farmer Academy) offerings. Visit utextension.tennessee.edu or www.tnstate.edu/extension/.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure courses are eligible for TAEP special requirements.

The following table offers a quick overview of eligible educational requirements by program. Please note educational requirements are considered current if issued in 2021 or after for the 2024-2025 TAEP program cycle. GAP certification and USDA Organic certification require a certificate and current letter of compliance at time of reimbursement.