Certified Livestock Manager Training

According to the Livestock Management Facilities Act, livestock facilities in Illinois that house 300 or more animal units (for example, 750 finishing hogs, 214 dairy cows, or 300 beef cattle) are required to have at least one person certified in the environmental protection aspects of manure management. The certificate is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and is valid for three years. 

The Certified Livestock Manager is expected to be a full-time employee who is familiar with the manure management system of the farm, accessible by phone, and located within a one-hour driving distance to the farm. Young family members (<18 years old) are welcome to take the training, but they cannot be the only certified manager at their facilities. 

To become a certified livestock manager:

• 300-999 animal units: attend a workshop or complete online training
• ≥1,000 animal units: attend a workshop and pass IDoA's paper-based test offered immediately following each workshop or complete online training and pass the online test. 

For the 2025 season, there will be 50 questions on both paper-based and online tests. The pass rate is 70% (35 questions). A Spanish version of the test is now available. Ahora ya está disponible una versión en español del examen para CLMT. 

CLM Exam Options

In-person Exams:
The exam is offered in-person immediately following each training workshop or by appointment in the Department's Springfield or DeKalb offices.  Please call 217-785-2427 for additional information or to schedule an in-person exam.  

Online Exams:
Online exams are available year round through the University of Illinois Extension Service.  For additional information about online training and testing or to sign up for an online exam, please click on the following link.  Online Training and Online Exam Link

In-Person Training Workshops

The 2025 workshop dates and locations are:

• Feb.4, Effingham
  Effingham County Farm Bureau Building, 1102 W. Evergreen Ave., Effingham
• Feb. 5, Breese
  University of Illinois Extension Clinton County Office, 1163 North 4th St., Breese
• Feb. 6, Pittsfield
  University of Illinois Extension Pike County Office, Pike County Farm Bureau Bldg., 1301 E Washington, Pittsfield
• Feb. 10, Monmouth
  University of Illinois Extension Warren County Office, Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau Bldg., 1000 N Main St., Monmouth
• Feb. 11, Springfield
  Bank of Springfield (BOS) Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield
• Feb. 18, Freeport
  Stephenson County Farm Bureau Bldg., 210 W. Spring St., Freeport
• Feb. 19, Sycamore
  University of Illinois Extension DeKalb Count Office, 1350 W. Prairie Dr., Sycamore

On the day of the workshop, check-in will open at 8:30 a.m., with the training program starting promptly at 9:00 a.m.  IDOA staff will administer the exam, for those needing certification above 1000 animal units, following the training. 

For additional information regarding 2025 Certified Livestock Manager Training workshops or to sign up for a workshop, please click on the following link.
CLM Home Page

Certified Livestock Manager Lookup