(1) The program requires that candidates have one year (minimum 500 hours) of practical farm or agricultural-related experience within five years prior to completion of the program and that successful candidates:

(a) demonstrate essential skills and knowledge including the scientific/technical, safety, and career information in the areas of:

(i) agricultural, natural, and environmental resource science;

(ii) agricultural business management and entrepreneurship;

(iii) horticultural science;

(iv) animal science;

(v) crop science;

(vi) soil science;

(vii) food science;

(viii) agriculture mechanical technology;

(ix) biotechnology; and

(x) technology applications in agriculture;

(b) demonstrate a philosophy of career and technical education, which reflects the unique student/community and industry interaction and includes the biological, physical, and applied sciences, personal leadership, and school-to-career components of a comprehensive agricultural education program;

(c) demonstrate competence in the development of a comprehensive instructional program based on identified agriculture industry demographic and technological advances, including current and evolving issues and ongoing practices of Montana American Indian agricultural contributions, while recognizing the social, economic, and demographic diversity of the community in conjunction with a partnership of students, community, business, industry, tribes, families, and an appointed advisory committee;

(d) demonstrate the development of personal and leadership competencies including, but not limited to, citizenship, personal development, goal setting, parliamentary procedure, and teamwork;

(e) demonstrate the skills and abilities to implement and manage student supervised agricultural experience programs including:

(i) accounting practices;

(ii) career experiences;

(iii) entrepreneurial activities;

(iv) student portfolio development;

(v) on-site instruction; and

(vi) job-related skills;

(f) demonstrates the skills and abilities to develop, utilize, and manage dedicated educational facilities with current and emerging equipment, resources, library, media, and electronic technology; maintain a safe environment; and create a culture of safety during classroom, laboratory, leadership, and supervised agricultural experiences;

(g) demonstrate the scientific process of critical thinking and problem-solving in the preparation of research experiences in the classroom, laboratory, greenhouse, leadership, and supervised agricultural experiences; and

(h) demonstrate research-based strategies to meet the diverse learning needs of all students by applying and integrating the state's learning goals, agricultural workplace competencies, and essential academic learning requirements in program implementation and assessment, including American Indians and tribes in Montana.