Landscape Horticulturist Apprenticeship

Entrance Requirements

Please visit Alberta’s Apprenticeship & Industry Training website to Begin an Apprenticeship.

• You will need to meet eligibility and entrance requirements specific to your trade.
• Complete an online apprenticeship application through MyTradesecrets (MTS) online service.
• Find a Sponsor and Employer to earn on-the-job training hours.
• You can register as an apprentice and attend classroom instruction without having a sponsor or employer. However, to earn on-the-job hours toward your apprenticeship, you must have a sponsor and an employer (which may be the same company). You are encouraged to find a sponsor as soon as possible so you can learn from a qualified mentor and practice your skills. Most apprentices come to classroom instruction with on-the-job experience, so without this, you may find the classes challenging.
• Full payment of tuition and fees is required upon registration.

Tuition & Fees

• Tuition & Fees: $1,312 / Books & Supplies: $320

Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for complete details.

Curriculum Guide

Alberta Apprenticeship & Industry Training – Landscape Horticulturist Technician:  

• 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 site 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.

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

Admitted Students Information

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 $50.19 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 ILMs: 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