Horticulturist Transition Pathways

Information for Existing Horticulturist Certificate and Diploma Students

Effective September 1, 2019, the Horticulturist Certificate and Horticulturist Diploma will be phased out to make way for the new Horticulture Certificate and Diploma programs. The Horticulturist Certificate and Horticulturist Diploma will officially be discontinued December 31, 2024.

If you have successfully completed courses within the Horticulturist Certificate and/or Horticulturist Diploma prior to September 1, 2019, the following options are available to you:

Continue your studies towards your intended certificate/diploma and apply for the certificate prior to December 31, 2021 and your diploma prior to December 31, 2024
Students Who Have Successfully Completed All Seven Courses Within the Horticulturist Certificate as of September 1, 2019

Option A: Apply for Your Horticulturist Certificate

If you have successfully completed all seven required courses within the Horticulturist Certificate as of September 1, 2019, you are eligible to apply to receive your parchment and graduate with a Horticulturist Certificate. Your last date to apply is December 31, 2021.  

Option B: Begin or Continue Your Studies Towards the Horticulturist Diploma

If you have graduated with a Horticulturist Certificate and would like to begin or continue your studies towards the Horticulturist Diploma, you may do so. Upon successful completion of all 10 required courses, you are eligible to apply to receive your parchment. Your last date to apply for the Horticulturist Diploma is December 31, 2024.

Table 1 will help you to identify and register in the courses you need to complete the Horticulturist Diploma. The first column indicates the current required course and the second column indicates the new required course pathway. If you have not completed the required course indicated in the first column, look for the replacement or alternate course in the second column.

Table 1: Horticulturalist Diploma Student Transition Pathway

Horticulturist Diploma Required Courses
(prior to September 2019)

New Student Pathway: New Courses
(available after September 2019)
If you have not successfully completed the following course… …you must register for and successfully complete the following course:

Theory and Principles of Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Sustainable Urban Horticulture

Theory and Principles of Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Sustainable Urban Horticulture

Advanced Plant Identification Techniques

Horticulture Capstone Project

Treating Pests and Disease in Horticulture with Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management
Students Who Have Successfully Completed One to Six Horticulturist Certificate Courses as of September 1, 2019

Option A:  Continue Working Towards the Horticulturist Certificate

If you have successfully completed three to six Horticulturist Certificate courses as of September 1, 2019, you can continue working towards the Horticulturist Certificate. Upon successful completion of the seven required courses, you are eligible to apply to receive your parchment. Your last date to apply for the Horticulturist Certificate is December 31, 2021.

Option B: Continue Your Studies Towards the Horticulturist Diploma

If you have completed three to six courses prior to September 1, 2019, you can continue to complete the Horticulturist Diploma. Upon successful completion of all 10 required courses, you are eligible to apply to receive your parchment. Your last date to apply for the Horticulturist Diploma is December 31, 2024.

Table 2 will help you to identify and register in the courses you need to complete the Horticulturist Certificate and Horticulturist Diploma. The first column indicates the current required course and the second column indicates the new required course pathway. If you have not completed the required course indicated in the first column, look for the replacement or alternate course in the second column.

Table 2: Horticulturist Certificate and Diploma Student Pathway for Students Who Have Successfully Completed Three to Six Courses

Horticulturist Certificate and Diploma Required Courses (prior to September 2019)

New Student Pathway: New Courses
(available after September 2019)
If you have not successfully completed the following course... ...you must register for and successfully complete the following course:

Cultural Practices for Plants

Nursery Production

Introduction to Plant Identification

Plant Identification

Introduction to Soils and Plant Growth

Soil and Plant Growth

Weed Management in Horticulture

Weed Management

Growing Plants

Plant Propagation

Designing the Landscape

Landscape Design I

Ornamental Plant Protection

Integrated Pest Management

Continue to the diploma by completing the following courses:

Theory and Principles of Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Sustainable Urban Horticulture

Theory and Principles of Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Sustainable Urban Horticulture

Advanced Plant Identification Techniques

Horticulture Capstone Project

Treating Pests and Disease in Horticulture with Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management.

(If you have completed this course, you must select the Horticulture Capstone Project or the Business Management in Horticulture.)*

 *Remember that you will need 10 different courses to complete the Horticulturist Diploma.

OR

Apply your successfully completed courses towards the new Horticulture Certificate and Horticulture Diploma launching Fall 2019 

Transition to the new Horticulture Certificate and Horticulture Diploma

If you have successfully completed one to six Horticulturist Certificate course as of September 1, 2019, you can apply those courses to the new Horticulture Certificate and Horticulture Diploma programs launching in September 2019. 

The new Horticulture Certificate will require you to complete three required courses, and two electives from an area of focus or general interest. If you complete an area of focus, it will be indicated on your parchment.

Table 3 will help you to identify and register in the courses you need to complete the transition to the new Horticulture Certificate and Horticulture Diploma. The first column indicates the current required courses and the second column indicates the new required course pathway. If you have not completed the required course indicated in the first column, look for the replacement or alternate course in the second column.

Table 3: Transition to the new Horticulture Certificate and Horticulture Diploma for Students Who Have Completed One to Six Courses

Horticulturist Certificate and Diploma Required Courses (prior to September 2019)

 New Horticulture Certificate Courses (available after September 1, 2019)

 

 
If you have successfully completed the following course... ...you will be given advanced standing (or credit) for the following course: New Student Pathway  Type of Course and Area of Focus 

Introduction to Plant Identification

Plant Identification

Complete either Plant Identification or Introduction to Plant Identification

Required foundational course

Introduction to Soils and Plant Growth

Soils and Plant Growth

Complete either Soils and Plant Growth or Introduction to Soils and Plant Growth

Required foundational course

Treating Pests and Diseases in Horticulture with Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management

Complete either Integrated Pest Management or Treating Pests and Diseases in Horticulture with IPM

Required foundational course

Choose two electives

You can choose to complete an area of focus or two general electives.

Cultural Practices for Plants

 

If you have completed this course use it as an elective.

No area of focus

Ornamental Plant Protection

 

If you have completed this course use it as an elective.

No area of focus

Weed Management in Horticulture

Weed Management

Use this course as an elective course associated with Turf Management area of focus.

Area of Focus: Turf Management

 

 

Turf Management

Use this course as an elective course associated with Turf Management area of focus.

Area of Focus: Turf Management

Growing Plants  

Plant Propagation

Use this course as an elective course associated with Nursery Production area of focus.

Area of Focus: Nursery Production

 

Nursery Production

Use this course as an elective course associated with Nursery Production area of focus.

Area of Focus: Nursery Production

Designing the Landscape

Landscape Design I

Use this course as an elective course associated with a Landscape Design area of focus.

Area of Focus: Landscape Design

 

Ecological Design

Use this course as an elective course associated with a Landscape Design area of focus.

Area of Focus: Landscape Design

 

Greenhouse Crop Production

Use this course as an elective course associated with a Greenhouse Production area of focus.

Area of Focus: Greenhouse Production

 

 

Greenhouse Management

Use this course as an elective course associated with a Greenhouse Production area of focus.

Area of Focus: Greenhouse Production

The Naturalized Landscape

Naturalizing and Restoring Landscapes

Use this course as an elective course associated with a Natural Landscape Management area of focus.

Area of Focus: Natural Landscape Management
Arboriculture Arboriculture Use this course as an elective course associated with a Natural Landscape Management area of focus. Area of Focus: Natural Landscape Management

 

Issues in Urban Agriculture

Use this course as an elective course associated with an Urban Agriculture area of focus.

Area of Focus: Urban Agriculture

 

 

Vegetable Production

Use this course as an elective course associated with an Urban Agriculture area of focus.

Area of Focus: Urban Agriculture

 

Cannabis Production

Use this course as an elective course associated with a Cannabis Production area of focus.

Area of Focus: Cannabis Production

 

Cannabis Regulations and Quality Assurance

Use this course as an elective course associated with a Cannabis Production area of focus.

Area of Focus: Cannabis Production

Continue to the Horticulture Diploma

Choose three additional electives from the new course areas of study.

If you have completed any of the required courses in the Horticulturist Diploma you may use them in the following way:

Theory and Principles of Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Sustainable Urban Horticulture

 

If you have completed this course, you can use it as one of the three electives needed to complete the diploma.

This course will count as one of the three additional electives.

Advanced Plant Identification Techniques

 

If you have completed this course, you can use it as one of the three electives needed to complete the diploma course.

This course will count as one of the three additional electives.

Treating Pests and Diseases in Horticulture with Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management

You will use this course to meet the foundational course requirements.

Required foundational course

You must complete the following required courses:

 

Business Management in Horticulture

You will be required to complete this course.

Required advanced course in the new Horticulture Diploma

 

Horticulture Capstone

You will be required to complete this course.

Required advanced course in the new Horticulture Diploma

If you have not successfully completed any required courses within the Horticulturist Certificate and/or Diploma prior to September 1, 2019, you will not be able to initiate studies in this program. You will begin your studies in the new Horticulture Certificate or Diploma program, beginning September 1, 2019.

Important Dates

  • Transition Period Start Date: September 1, 2019
  • Horticulturist Certificate Application Deadline: December 31, 2021
  • Horticulturist Diploma Application Deadline: December 31, 2024