Landscape Horticulturist

"It’s refreshing to learn from instructors who have first-hand knowledge of the material we are studying. The knowledge I gained through studying at Olds College, combined with my on-the-job training, gave me the confidence to start my own landscape construction /maintenance company after the third year of my apprenticeship program."

Bruce Malmstrom, A Step Above Landscaping, 4th Year Landscape Gardener

What can you expect from our program?

Does the idea of earning while you learn sound good to you? As an Apprentice Landscape Horticulturist you will be on target for a rewarding career as a Journeyman Landscape Horticulturist. Blend your learning in the classroom with on the job training. Our accomplished and qualified faculty will show you the skills you need to be a successful professional.

Earn your certificate while working in parks or golf course maintenance, horticulture marketing and nursery or greenhouse production.

With impressive state-of-the-art facilities such as computer controlled greenhouses, botanic gardens and wetlands, research labs and the Landscape Construction Pavilion, you will surpass your expectations with the talent and ability top employers are looking for. Areas covered in the program include key items such as plant identification, landscape construction, landscape design, nursery production and pest identification.

The term of apprenticeship for a landscape horticulturist technician is 4 years (four 12-month periods) includes a minimum of 1260 hours of on-the-job training and 8 weeks of technical training (in-school) each year.

Alberta Apprenticeship & Industry Training – Landscape Horticulturist Technician:

Program Page Course Outline

What will you learn?

Students will enjoy a hands-on learning experience ranging from botany, operating machinery and basic surveying, irrigation and greenhouse production.

Golf course maintenance
Horticulture marketing
Nursery or greenhouse production

Irrigation
Surveying
Landscape construction

First Period Training Topics include: workplace safety and occupational skills; tools, equipment, and vehicles; site assessment, grading, and drainage; plant properties, grassland, and parkals; soil and water; and turfgrass and exterior softscape maintenance.

Second Period Training Topics include: surveying and sites assessment; conservation; hardscape installation and maintenance; physiology, boreal, montane, and wetland plans; landscape pests; and softscape installation and pruning.

Third Period Training Topics include: project management; landscape construction and irrigation; softscape maintenance; sustainable horticultural practices; urban forestry and arboriculture; and growing facilities.

Fourth Period Training Topics include: business administration; contract management; landscape design; sustainable landscape technologies; specialty crops; and nursery production and greenhouse crops.

The term of apprenticeship for a landscape horticulturist technician is 4 years (four 12-month periods); this includes a minimum of 1260 hours of on-the-job training and 8 weeks of technical training (in-school) each year. This is an optional certification trade.

This is a Red Seal trade. Apprentices who have obtained Journeyperson certification are encouraged to write the national standard exam. The Red Seal, when affixed to a provincial or territorial trade certificate, indicates that a tradesperson has demonstrated the knowledge required for the national standard in that trade. The Red Seal endorsement promotes excellence to employers, instills pride in skilled workers, and facilitates labour mobility.

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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Landscape Horticulturists can find employment in a variety of industries that will take advantage of their expertise in ground and plant maintenance and landscape construction, including:

Landscaping and landscape construction
Urban yard maintenance
Installation and maintenance
Parks/golf course maintenance
Urban tree care
Pest control
Nursery production
Greenhouse production

Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!

ALIS Occupational Profiles

Credential: Apprenticeship

Length of Program: Eight (8) weeks of technical training for each period

Method of Delivery: On Campus Delivery for Technical Training

Technical Training Intakes:

Period 1: October 4, 2021 and February 7, 2022
Period 2: October 4, 2021 and February 7, 2022
Period 3: October 25, 2021 and January 10, 2022
Period 4: October 25, 2021 and January 10, 2022

Program Dates: Please visit our Dates & Schedules page to confirm start and end dates of your desired program and confirm campus closures.

Technical Training Enrolment:

2021-22 Technical training online enrolment opens June 1, 2021 at 8:00 AM. Please visit your MyTradesecrets account to enrol in 2021-22 technical training.

Selection Process for Enrolment: First Qualified, First Accepted

Tuition, Mandatory Fees, Books, and Supplies: Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for details

Tuition & Fees: $1,225 / Books & Supplies: $300

These fees are provided as estimates only for the purposes of budgeting. All students should refer to the Fee Schedule for the most accurate information and all fees are subject to change.*

What materials and supplies will I need?

Program Dates: Find out when your term start and end dates are, so that you know when you are expected to be in attendance. For more information, please review the Program Dates & Fee Schedule.

Class Registration: You will be registered into your classes automatically. This will happen approximately 1 month prior to the start-date for your program. You will be notified once you have been timetabled into your courses. You will be able to see your class schedule in your My Olds College account. If you need to make any changes to your class registration, please contact the Office of the Registrar.

Technology Recommendation: It is strongly recommended that you come to Olds College with the following technology:

A device capable of running Microsoft Office, preferably a laptop

As part of your student accounts, all students have access to Office 365 for the duration of their time with Olds College. To access this you just need to follow these steps:

Go to portal.office.com
Enter your Olds College email address and password
Once logged in there is a button on the right that says "Install Office Apps"

This will give you access to the full Office suite on your computer, for both Windows and Mac based platforms.

Materials & Supplies:

ALL APPRENTICES are required to purchase the following items prior to the start of your program:

Warm outdoor work clothes
Work gloves
CSA approved boots (steel toe)

PERIOD SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT

Period 1: No extra equipment required.
Period 2: Within the first few days of class, apprentices will be required to pay $40 at the Tool Room in the WJE Trades Building. **Please save your receipt**. Bring the receipt to your next class to receive your two circle templates and scale ruler; without the receipt you will not be issued your tools.
Period 3: Please bring your circle templates and scale ruler from Period 2. There is no equipment to borrow and you will have to repurchase if your templates and ruler are lost or damaged.
Period 4: (1) Apprentices are required to pay $150 for their Design Kit Tool Tags. You will receive a refund when you return the kit at the end of your training; and (2) Please bring your circle templates and scale ruler from Period 2.

Information on other required textbooks and any further supplies will be provided as you attend each class. All books and supplies will be available during the first few weeks of classes in the College Campus Store.

Other Important Information:

Safety Regulations: Wearing safety equipment and abiding by industry safety standards is mandatory within our program.
Apprenticeship ILM: We use the Apprenticeship ILMs (Individual Learning Modules) as our reference material. These modules take the place of textbooks and are available at the Olds College Campus Store at 1.800.661.6537 or 403.556.4630. They are packaged by technical training period.
Employment Insurance: Information on applying for Employment Insurance benefits is provided in your MyTradesecrets account