Embedded Files
Who are the AZ Master Naturalists and what do they do?
The AZMN Certification Journey
Education vs. Activism: Your Role as an AZMN
The Nuts and Bolts of Being an AZMN
The AZMN 2026 Member Handbook is your main reference for information.
Enter your Volunteer Hours on **VicNet** by logging in here.
*** Click here for your Chapter Google Group Information ***
See below for specific topics and dropdowns for quick links and additional help.
First Year Cohort Overview and Reference
First Year Cohort Overview and Reference
*** Some Quick Links and information here are also contained in other sections on this website. ***
First Year Certification Overview (Video)
The AZMN Certification Journey (PDF)
2026 First Year Cohorts Reference (all info here in a document)
Year 1 Certification Requirements (40 hours Total: 20 Hours VS *AND* 20 Hours AT)
Minimum 20 hours of Volunteer Service, of which a minimum 5 hours must include Association or Chapter Service: ACH Misc. Service, ACH Committee Service, and/or ACH Curriculum Service.
Hours spent attending in-person and Zoom/virtual classes, working on capstone projects, and completing homework should NOT be counted and posted as volunteer service.
Minimum 20 hours Advanced Training, of which a minimum of 5 hours (of the required 20) must be skills-based (SB): AT SB).
At least 25% of your required 60 hours of coursework will be skills-based training. Those hours DO NOT COUNT TOWARDS ADVANCED TRAINING HOURS FOR YOUR INITIAL CERTIFICATION and are required for course completion. Advanced training hours offered during the course beyond those hours may be counted toward certification.
Attendance in at least 5 field labs is required to meet this course requirement. Any additional field labs attended could be counted as AT SB hours; check with your course coordinator, as each chapter’s course field lab offerings will vary and may require attendance at more than 5 field labs.
Quick Links
* AZMN Timekeeping Online eCourse (Mandatory Completion)
VicNet Instructions: How to Post Hours & Update Your Profile
Submit this form to record completion of the eCourse and Profile Update
How to Get Involved
How to Get Involved
How to Get Involved or Volunteering 101
Events and Activities for Master Naturalists
AZMNA Approved Volunteer Service Listing
AZMNA and Chapter Job Descriptions Folder
Steps to Request an Approved Job Be Added to your Volgistics Service Profile for posting of hours (includes form link)
Request Form (link only) to add Approved Job to your Volgistics Service Profile
3 Steps for Volunteers to Request a New Job Be Added to Volgistics (How to create a Job Description)
Need to create a Job Description - Fill out this form
Process Flowchart
What's the Difference Between Partners and Associate Organizations
Timekeeping - Time is VERY important for our members to track!
Timekeeping - Time is VERY important for our members to track!
An Overview of the AZMN Certification Journey (Video)
AZMN Certification Journey (PDF)
What is Volgistics and VicNet?
Why Do We Ask Volunteers to Record Hours?
*** AZMN Timekeeping eCourse Training (START HERE) ***
Vicnet Procedures with Screenshots (Where and How Do I Post my Hours?)
Overview of Timekeeping (Zoom Recording Voiceover with Slides / Slides Only)
New Cohort Timekeeping Reference
What Counts As Volunteer Service
What Counts as Advanced Training
What Counts as Association or Chapter (ACH) Service
What Is and Counts as Association or Chapter (ACH) Service?
AZMNA Approved Volunteer Service Listing
2026 AZMNA Certification Tiers
Steps to Request an Approved Job Be Added to your Volgistics Service Profile (includes form link)
Request Form (link only) to add Approved Job to your Volgistics Service Profile
3 Steps to Create a Job Description to have new Job added to Volgistics for posting of hours
Need to create a Job Description - Fill out this form
Vicnet Login Page Link to Post Hours
Sample Personal Monthly Hours Tracking Spreadsheet (Make a copy or download)
Certification and Awards
Certification and Awards
An Overview of the AZMN Certification Journey (Video)
AZMN Certification Journey (PDF)
CERTIFICATION
In order to be certified or recertified, each member is required to participate in a minimum number of volunteer service and advanced training hours according to their Chapter, Cohort and Certification Tier listed below. If you'd like more detailed information, see the 2026 AZMN Handbook pages 16-21.
Certification Year 1 Requirements (Borderlands Cohort 4, Maricopa Cohort 8, Pima Cohort 10):
Course work - 60 hours with Graduation from Course ...AND...
Volunteer Service - 20 hours - 5 hours of the 20 must be in service to AZMN or your Chapter (ACH hours) ...AND...
Advanced Training - 20 hours - 5 hours of the 20 must be skills-based
Certification Year 2 Requirements (Borderlands Cohort 3, Central Highlands Cohort 4, Maricopa Cohort 7, Pima Cohort 9):
Volunteer Service - 40 hours - 5 hours of the 40 must be in service to AZMN or your Chapter (ACH hours) ...AND...
Advanced Training - 20 hours - 5 hours must be skills-based
Certification Year 3+ Requirements (Borderlands Cohort 1-2, Central Highlands Cohorts 1-3, Maricopa Cohorts 1-6, Pima Cohorts1-8):
Volunteer Service - 60 hours - 5 hours of the 60 must be in service to AZMN or your Chapter (ACH hours) ...AND...
Advanced Training - 20 hours - 5 hours of the 20 must be skills-based
IMPORTANT NOTES:
In any given year after you are certified, if you do not meet the recertification requirements, you still will remain an active member and accrue hours counting towards your lifetime volunteer service. You are welcome to try again in the following year. If a certification lapses, however, members must refrain from calling themselves "certified" in that year.
If you are in a new cohort and graduate the course but cannot meet the first year certification requirements, you can ask for an exception to extend your time to complete your hours for certification (i.e., health-related issue) or change your status to become 'A Friend of'. Please see below for more information.
'A FRIEND OF' AZMN
If you no longer wish to obtain yearly certification but want to remain engaged, your Chapter can designate you as 'A Friend of ' the Arizona Master Naturalists (FPCMN).
FPCMN are required to pay annual dues or make a one-time donation. In return, Friends are invited to attend Chapter-sponsored advanced training events open only to Master Naturalists (if space is available). Friends are also invited to attend any Chapter meetings as a ‘guest’ and are eligible to order a Friend of Master Naturalist name tag upon receipt of their dues payment. Friends may also wish to give back a limited service to the chapter either through assisting with publicity such as tabling events, or committee work under the supervision of a Certified Member of the Chapter. FPCMN will remain active in Volgistics and can still post any volunteer service hours in VicNet. We strongly encourage members to post their hours for tracking and funding purposes. If you have any questions or would like to become a FPCMN, please contact your Chapter Leadership. See pages 13-14 of the 2026 AZMN Handbook for more detailed information.
Exceptions, Resignations and Reinstatement
See page 26 of the 2026 AZMN Handbook for more detailed information.
NAME BADGES AND AWARDS
The Association Timekeeper will run Volgistics service reports in July, October, and end of December to determine certification status for all cohorts. The Association Timekeeper and Chapter Leadership will notify new interns of their certification and existing members of their recertification. New interns who certify will also receive an attached certificate of recognition via email. After you are newly certified, you will receive your Chapter Master Naturalist official name badge. The AZMN Timekeeper will provide you with a Permanent Name Tag Order form link to order your name badge. See Page 27 of the 2026 AZMN Handbook for more detailed information.
If a member needs a replacement or wants a second name badge, there will be a $25 reorder fee to cover the cost of the badge and shipping. Please contact the AZMN Timekeeping Team to order a second or replacement badge.
Your certified status will receive special mention at any monthly or quarterly Chapter meetings in addition to our AZMNA Annual Conference. At the Annual Conference, all members and interns that receive new certification or recertification for the year will receive a special avatar pin to mark this achievement. In the past, yearly certification pins have included a ringtail cat, Saguaro cactus, gila monster, and dragonfly. For those members who reach Milestone Hours for volunteer service of 250, 500, 1,000 or 2,500 hours, your achievement will be awarded with a separate Milestone pin.
If you have any questions about any of this information, please reach out to your Chapter Leadership or Timekeeper.
Communications and Contact Information
Communications and Contact Information
Please review our AZMNA Communications Tools Worksheet here and read on for more information.
Each Chapter and the Association utilizes Google Groups for communications with our Chapter Master Naturalist members, specific cohorts, committees, and working teams. Your personal email account is added to your Chapter Google Group when you take the course. You don’t need to login and use Google Groups to view emails.
In addition, each Chapter and the Association uses a combination of Google Drive, Google Sites help or quick links webpages and Chapter websites to store and share relevant Chapter information and documents to its members. Here is a tip sheet for using Google Drive and Google Groups.
You can set your Google Group Preferences to receive an email digest or no email at all.
If you do not wish to be on a specific Google Group to receive email or no longer want to serve on a Committee, please notify your Committee Chair, Class Coordinator or Timekeeper.
Chapter Contact Information:
Central Highlands Chapter Website
Chapter Sponsor - Open
Chapter Advisor Email
Maricopa County Chapter Website
Chapter Sponsor - Maricopa County Parks and Arizona State University, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
Chapter Advisor's Email (Juanita Armstrong, MCP; Molina Walters, ASU)
Check with your Chapter President or Communications Team on how specific Chapter information may be shared differently with your Chapter members.
Reimbursements for Chapter or Association Expenses
Reimbursements for Chapter or Association Expenses
If you incur expenses on behalf of your Chapter or the Association, you can get reimbursed for your expense! Please save all of your receipts. We cannot reimburse you without a copy of your receipt and a proof of payment. This includes copies of store receipts with an itemized list of what was purchased or an invoice, indicating the total amount paid by credit card or that it was paid in full.
Complete the appropriate form based on whether the expense was for your Chapter or the Association:
Expenses for the Association: https://forms.gle/MseRRnuh3C5tdk7r5
Email recipts to: treasurer-azmn@azmasternaturalist.org
Expenses for Borderlands Chapter: https://forms.gle/nd25pkMH3g97pswz5
Email receipts to treasurer-bmn@azmasternaturalist.org
Expenses for Central Highlands Chapter: https://forms.gle/J5EJLET5cjvZzt3s7
Email receipts to treasurer-chmn@azmasternaturalist.org
Expenses for Maricopa Chapter: https://forms.gle/vMtTX4NsjRPVnGp48
Email receipts to treasurer-mcmn@azmasternaturalist.org
Expenses for Pima Chapter: https://forms.gle/bvZDF4KPFwoALhkh8
Email receipts to treasurer-pcmn@azmasternaturalist.org
Your reimbursement will be processed by your Chapter or Association treasurer within TWO WEEKS of submitting the form with the correct receipts for the purchase. If the treasurer has follow up questions, it may take a bit longer.
Please review our Association Accounting Policies and Procedures document for more details.
Risk Management - AZMN Accident Reporting Form
Risk Management - AZMN Accident Reporting Form
If you are involved in, or witness, an accident while volunteering as a Master Naturalist (for our organization or one of our Partners), you MUST complete this form. You may also need to complete a similar form for the Partner Organization if you are working on behalf of a partner.
Shared Content and Media
Shared Content and Media
AZMN Websites:
Association
Central Highlands
Cochise County & Borderlands
Maricopa
Pima
AZMN Social Media Sites:
Association: Facebook Instagram YouTube
Central Highlands: None at this time
Cochise County & Borderlands: Facebook
Maricopa: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube
Pima: Facebook Instagram YouTube
Chapter Blogs:
Central Highlands
Maricopa
Pima
Chapter Newsletters:
Maricopa
Pima
Other Shared Content (coming soon)
If you'd like to add a Social Media link in this section for your Chapter, please contact Deb Petrich at info@azmasternaturalist.org.
Logos and AZMN Merchandise
Logos and AZMN Merchandise
All approved AZMN and Chapter Logos are contained in this folder. Feel free to download whatever you need.
NOTE: There are logos for both the Chapters AND the Association in that folder.
You can order AZMN Branded Gear from our Lands End Business Shop! Click here for more details!
Association Social Media Links
Association Social Media Links
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