LANDSCAPE & HORTICULTURE TECHNICIAN

 

There is ample opportunity for advancement as a landscape and horticulture technician in Ontario. As a provincially regulated but voluntary trade, horticulture technicians can advance their skills and expertise through additional training through further education as well as through on-the-job training. With enough experience, horticulture technicians may advance to supervisory or management positions at landscaping companies or garden centres. Some start their own companies or work as consultants.

 

Future employment prospects for horticulture technicians in Ontario are positive. In 2020, there were over 500 job postings for horticulture and other specialized landscape technicians across Ontario.

 

There is no singular path to becoming a horticulture technician. In Ontario, some people will begin as nursery or garden centre labourers and later acquire additional training and experience to become a certified horticulture technician. Although there are university and college programs to learn about horticulture, it is not required to obtain educational certification to perform the work; many horticulture technicians have gained knowledge and experience on the job. Many employers look to hire new people who are interested in horticulture, regardless of their experience, so long as they are hard working, eager to learn, and have an interest in plants and floriculture.

 

Horticulture technician is a regulated but voluntary trade in Ontario. Upon completing the necessary apprenticeship training program, individuals are issued a Certificate of Apprenticeship, which confirms that someone has the skills, knowledge and experience that meet industry standards. The apprenticeship takes approximately three to five years to complete and consists of on-the-job and in-school training.

Many Ontario colleges and universities offer horticulture programs, which will give you a solid foundation in horticulture knowledge and expertise. This is an asset that many employers value.