The Department’s significant increase in the number of agriculture certifications that qualify for CTE Incentive Grants means more opportunities for districts, schools, and students across the state
Madison, WI – April 6, 2026 – The Wisconsin Association of Agriculture Educators and iCEV, a leading provider of Career and Technical Education (CTE) solutions, commends the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development for adding 11 agricultural science certifications that qualify for CTE Incentive Grants to the Department’s 2026-27 list of certifications. Of the newly-added agricultural certifications, 10 are hosted on the iCEV testing platform.
The increase in agricultural science certifications for this year highlights the Department’s focus on improving CTE credentialing for the students of Wisconsin. The Department also removed long-standing barriers—especially age restrictions and limited eligibility—that previously kept many agriculture students from participating. This expansion opens the door for more learners to engage in meaningful, career-connected credentialing.
“For years, teachers have been asking for more certifications our students could take and schools could get credit for through the grant program,” said Mary Handrich, executive director of the Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators. “The addition of so many agricultural science certifications for the upcoming school year levels the playing field for our students. And, the revenue received from the grant program will allow us to strengthen our programs across Wisconsin by investing in more equipment such as hydroponics systems, veterinary training materials, and large-scale farming equipment—the possibilities are endless.”
The 10 agricultural science certifications approved by the Department and hosted on the iCEV testing platform are:
- BASF Plant Science Certificate
- USDA Fundamentals of Conservation and Sustainability in Agriculture Certificate
- Elanco Veterinary Medical Applications Certification
- Elanco Fundamentals of Animal Science Certificate
- NCLCA Principles of Livestock Selection and Evaluation Certificate
- NHJTCA Equine Management and Evaluation Certificate
- AMSA Culinary Meat Selection and Cookery Certificate
- AMSA Food Safety and Science Certificate
- AMSA Meat Evaluation Certificate
- SFMA Turfgrass Science Certification
“These certifications help schools and districts prioritize agricultural science education,” added Handrich. “We could not have accomplished this without the collaboration of our partner iCEV. They respond to workforce needs by continuing to expand their certification offerings thus providing an avenue for students to more easily get jobs within our state and meet the needs of Wisconsin businesses.”
The complete list of qualifying certifications includes 63 new ones. Additional certifications hosted on the iCEV testing platform include the Ducks Unlimited Conservation and Management Certification, which is under Wisconsin’s Energy and Natural Resources Career Cluster and the Express Employment – Business Office Technology Certificate, and the Southwest Airlines Professional Communication Certificate, which is under Wisconsin’s Management and Entrepreneurship Career Cluster.
iCEV offers the opportunity for educators to take a certification for free. This helps them better understand what is expected of their students as they work to earn an industry certification of their own.
To learn more about iCEV’s solutions and how they are supporting CTE programs across the country, visit www.icevonline.com.
About Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators
The Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators (WAAE) is the professional association for agricultural educators in Wisconsin. Members include 410 middle school, high school, technical college and university educators. The focus of the association is to provide professional development, legislative support and educational resources for teachers to enhance their local agriculture education programs. For more information about your local agriculture education program and to find out how you can support agriculture in your community, please contact your local agriculture education instructor or visit www.waae.com
About iCEV
Since 1984, iCEV has been a leader in Career and Technical Education (CTE), delivering comprehensive curriculum, industry-aligned certifications, and innovative digital tools that prepare students for college and careers. Serving educators nationwide across key subject areas, iCEV connects classroom learning to real-world workforce needs.
Through its certification platform and Eduthings data management solution, iCEV supports measurable outcomes in certification attainment, work-based learning, and student engagement. As demand for a skilled workforce accelerates, iCEV is committed to advancing CTE and expanding access to high-quality career pathways nationwide.
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