Landscape Horticulture Certificate Program

Grow your own career in horticulture!

Beginning in January and running until November, the Horticulture Certificate Program follows a full growing season to equip individuals to become professional gardeners.

Our program blends hands-on learning with classroom time so that students can grow their practical and theoretical knowledge.

With work experience throughout the Horticulture industry and highly knowledgeable instructors, we aim to equip students with practical knowledge to build their careers in horticulture.

Who Should Enroll?

The Landscape Horticulture Certificate Program welcomes students of many backgrounds.

Whether you are changing careers or just getting started, this program offers an opportunity for individuals interested in plants and cultivation to enjoy hands-on education.

Horticulture involves repetition, adaptability, and persistence. Students should be passionate about plants, physically fit, and ready to learn!Still not sure if that is you? Reach out!

Landscape Horticulture Certificate Program - Program Overview

This program provides students with the knowledge and skills to enter and succeed in the field of horticulture. The course is spent learning the theory in the classroom and applying in the gardens.

Throughout the program, students participate in the maintenance and development of the Gardens at HCP, performing a variety of tasks common to each season. This includes garden projects, garden maintenance, design proposals and installations and greenhouse work.

Students also take numerous field trips during the year to visit other local gardens and garden-related businesses, as well as offsite student work projects.

Program Key Facts:

• Program duration is 42 weeks from January to November
• Full-time Monday to Thursday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am -12:30 pm (28.5 hours/week)
• Two weeks of Work Experience in August and September with local industry hosts
• Two weeks of summer break in late June / early July

Graduation Requirements:

As this program is a trades program, the attendance and grade requirements are unique to meeting the SkilledTradesBC standards. All students are required to meet these standards.

Attendance:

• Maintain a minimum of 90% attendance for the entire program
• Maintain a minimum of 50% attendance for each individual course

Grades And Coursework:

• Pass all courses with a minimum of 70%
• Pass all Pass / Fail courses
• All courses in the program must be passed to graduate from the program
• Complete all coursework assigned
• Successfully complete Practical Skills and Safe Work Practices

After Graduation:

Upon completion of the program, students receive both a Pacific Horticulture College program completion certificate and a SkilledTradesBC Level 1 and 2 Landscape Horticulturist training levels.

Additionally, the Certificate provides credit for the first two apprenticeship levels and 500 work-based training hours for Red Seal Certification.PHC graduates go on to employment in landscaping companies, nurseries, garden centres, golf courses, municipalities and more.

Many PHC graduates even start their own horticulture business! Graduates who want to obtain their Red Seal certification can go on to attend Level 3 and 4 of their Landscape Horticulturist Apprenticeship training.

Landscape Horticulture Certificate Program - Program Fees

The cost of the 2025 Landscape Horticulture Certificate program is approximately $6,340.00* (not including the application fee), with additional costs for textbooks and personal work gear.

Program Fees:

$50.00 - Application Fee

$180.00 - Registration Fee (due with enrolment contract)

$5,060.00 - Tuition:

• $270.00 – Tuition (due with enrolment contract)
• $2,300 – Tuition (due in January)
• $100.00 – Level 1 Occupational First Aid (due in January)
• $2,300 – Tuition (due in June)
• $90.00 - Pesticide Applicator Exam Fee (due in June)

$800.00 – Required Course Materials (Level 1 and 2 Landscape Horticulture Apprenticeship Manuals, Landscape Design drafting kit)

$300.00 - Incidentals (college t-shirts, printing and photocopying etc.)

Application fee and registration fee are non-refundable.Students demonstrating current completion of these certifications may be exempt from these fees.

If a student misses a specialized course such as WHMIS, First Aid, or the Pesticide Applicator Certificate course, the missed course must be made up prior to the end of the program at their own expense. A weekly interest charge of 8% will be applied to late fee payments.

This includes all registration fees, tuition, required course materials (including a drafting kit for Landscape Design and the Level 1 and 2 Apprentice Manuals), and incidentals (college t-shirts, printing/photocopying, coffee/tea, etc.).

There are no additional costs for parking or field trips.Students are responsible for the purchase of five required textbooks prior to the program start date (approximately $150.00 total).

A list of required textbooks will be provided upon acceptance into the program.

Students are also responsible for the purchase of hand tools, protective clothing and safety gear including CSA-approved steel toed boots, secateurs, rain gear, and gloves.

The cost of these items will be approximately $250.00 to $300.00. Information on tools and gear needed, as well as available student discounts, will be provided in the first week of the program.

Additional Notes: 

The institution must pay the tuition or fee refund within 30 days after receiving notice of  withdrawal, providing a notice of dismissal, or the date on which the first 30% of the hours of  instruction are provided (no-show). 

Note that the terms of this refund policy also apply to the final tuition payment in the program in  June. In the event of a transition to online learning due to extenuating circumstances (e.g. COVID-19  restrictions), the above refund policy remains applicable. 

PHC reserves the right to cancel this program 4 weeks prior to the start date should there be  insufficient enrolment. In this event, a full refund, including the application fee and registration  fee, will be provided to those who have enrolled in the program.