The Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist (PCH) Associate program is for horticultural students or green industry employees who have not yet gained the experience to pass the professional PCH exam but want to pursue certification which tests his/her knowledge of plant health care practices, basic botany, soils and climate and plant identification. This is the "core" module of the professional PCH exam. A PCH Associate must maintain certification through a program of continuing education credits to ensure his/her ongoing knowledge and expertise as a professional in the horticultural industry.

An application form must be submitted either online or by mail, and the application fee must be paid to complete the application process.

The PCH Study Manual, designed to serve as a comprehensive study guide for those preparing for the PCH Associate exam, is sold separately from the PCH Associate application fee as a PDF on a USB drive and can be purchased prior to applying.