Master Pond Manager

Pond owners, pond management professionals, community staff, stormwater managers, landscapers, contractors, property managers, parks staff, planners, and developers. View our current list of Certified Master Pond Managers.

Course curriculum is offered through three tracks, the full Master Pond Manager certificate or a letter of completion in management.

Full Certificate Track ($500): Participants can choose to complete the full, nine-week online, two in-person field day curriculum and exam to obtain the marketable Master Pond Manager recognition. Master Pond Managers will be recognized through this program for their achievement and increase in knowledge in both recreational and stormwater pond management. Participants who complete the full Master Pond Manager curriculum will also be eligible to receive three hours of recertification credits toward their Category 5 pesticide license. To maintain certification, participants must complete continuing education requirements. View the Full Certificate course syllabus.

Letter of Completion in Management ($250): Alternatively, participants can complete an abbreviated five-week online and one in-person field curriculum to gain a “Letter of Completion” in:

• Recreational Pond Management, or
• Stormwater Pond Management

This abbreviated course option is designed to allow private pond owners, such as a homeowner association member, the opportunity to gain content knowledge in one of the pond management areas without the rigor of the full achievement program. There is no exam or continuing education requirements associated with the Letter of Completion track. View the Letter of Completion syllabus.

NEW! Letter of Online Completion in Management ($200): This course includes the traditional online course content of the traditional Letter of Completion for recreational or stormwater pond owners but does not have an associated field day component. View the Letter of Online Completion syllabus.

To be recognized as a Master Pond Manager, participants must maintain a commercial or non-commercial pesticide license in Category 5, Aquatic Pest Control, or a non-commercial or private license. There are no prerequisites to participate in the “Letter of Completion” track.

The course will be offered through Clemson Extension and includes online and in-person curriculum.

The online classroom will feature:

• Learn from home or work using computer or tablet/iPad
• Complete coursework on your schedule and at your pace
• Earn certification and professional development hours
• Learn from local experts with material specific to South Carolina’s conditions, soils, regulations, experiences and practices

Each track of the course will also include a field day component to get hands-on tracking with experts.

• Since this course delivers lecture, video, and interaction material via the internet, the participant must have access to a desktop computer, a laptop, or a tablet (iPad, Android). A computer that is 5 years old or newer is strongly recommended. At least 1GB of RAM is required. More details here.
• To use an iPad, it must be able to run iOS 8 or newer. An Android device must be able to Android 4.0.3 or newer. More details here. There is a free app you can download for either platform.
• A broadband (DSL, Cable, etc) internet service is required to access learning content.
• The course content is accessed via your web browser, so no special software is required. Adobe Flash is NOT required, though it may enhance your experience on a computer.
• On a tablet (iPad and Android), a free mobile application is offered for ease of use.
• Don't hesitate to give us a call (see login below) if you have any questions about your technical access to the course.

• If you're a current course participant, please log in to the online classroom. Unless you have a clemson.edu account, you will click the sign-in link for "Continuing & Professional Education".
• If you're a certified Master Pond Manager, log in to our Certified Master Pond Manager Virtual Hub.