[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 6]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR652.21]

[Page 533]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
   CHAPTER VI--NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 652_TECHNICAL SERVICE PROVIDER ASSISTANCE--Table of Contents
 
                         Subpart B_Certification
 
Sec. 652.21  Certification criteria and requirements.


    (a) To qualify for certification an individual must:
    (1) Have the required technical training, education, and experience 
to perform the level of technical assistance for which certification is 
sought;
    (2) Meet any applicable professional or business licensing or 
similar qualification standards established by State or Tribal law;
    (3) Demonstrate, through documentation of training or experience, 
familiarity with NRCS guidelines, criteria, standards, and 
specifications as set forth in the applicable NRCS manuals, handbooks, 
field office technical guides, and supplements thereto for the planning 
and applying of specific conservation practices and management systems 
for which certification is sought; and
    (4) Not be decertified in any State under subpart C of this part at 
the time of application for certification.
    (b) To qualify for certification an entity or public agency must be 
authorized to provide such services in the jurisdiction and have a 
certified individual providing, in accordance with this part, technical 
services on its behalf.
    (c) A technical service provider, as part of the certification by 
NRCS, must enter into a Certification Agreement with NRCS specifying the 
terms and conditions of the certification, including adherence to the 
requirements of this part, and acknowledging that failure to meet these 
requirements may result in ineligibility to receive payments from the 
Department, either directly or through the participant, for the 
technical services provided or may result in decertification.
    (d) NRCS will certify Technical Service Providers for a time period 
specified by NRCS in the Certification Agreement, not to exceed 3 years. 
Decertification and Renewal of Certification is administered in 
accordance with Sec. 652.26.
    (e) NRCS may, pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 9701, establish and collect fees 
for the certification of technical service providers.