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Find a RSP

Registered Soil Practitioner – Soil Management Accreditation

Registered Soil Practitioner – Soil Management (RSP-SM) accreditation is suitable for soil practitioners who can implement fit for purpose soil sampling and interpretation.

They may be employed in any soils or soils adjacent industries, for example: agronomists, soil extensions officers, natural resource managers, CMA officers, landowners or members of grower groups.

All Registered Soil Practitioners maintain their skills and competencies through ongoing professional development that keeps them up to date with technological advances. In addition, they commit to uphold a Code of Ethics and Rules of Conduct as part of their accreditation.

Once successfully accredited, they may use the post nominals after their name. They will receive an e-certificate and e-seal and can use the seal with their signature in email and other correspondence, and on business cards and printed stationery.

Pathways to accreditation

Certified Professional Soil Scientists (CPSS) are deemed to have already met the standards for Soil Management and can be awarded RSP-SM on request.

Full completion SSA Soil Management Training course meets all the qualifications requirements.

Those who have completed Fertcare advisor training are deemed to have significant coverage of the qualifications.

Applying for accreditation

RSP accreditation is available to members and non-members. (Find out more about Soil Science Australia membership). 

All applications are confidential.

Information about accreditation fees can be found here.

  1. Read the RSP – Soil Management application guidelines
  2. Read the RSP – Soil Management Standards
  3. Complete the application and evidence form providing:
  • documentation showing a minimum of three years’ experience sampling and analysing soils
  • two or three examples of your recent work that address the Standards
  • contact details of three referees.
  1. Pay the accreditation application fee.
  2. Once all the above is satisfactory, take part in a panel interview.
  3. Receive notification of application outcome.

If successful, applicants will pay the annual accreditation fee and receive a welcome letter and your business details will be added to the “Find an RSP” page.

Maintaining accreditation

Certified Professional Soil Scientists need to regularly demonstrate that they have gained sufficient professional development hours to ensure their professional skills and competencies continue to develop in line with recent scientific and technological advances.   

RSPs are required to provide evidence of 40 hours of ongoing professional development every two years to ensure that they are keeping their skills and knowledge current.