Landscape Horticulture: Apprenticeship
Description
Horticulture Apprenticeship links learning and employment by providing apprentices the opportunity to further their education, while at the same time maintaining full-time employment in the horticulture industry.
Apprentices traditionally sign a registered indentureship agreement with a horticulture employer who is committed to practical on-the-job industry training. Students may indenture through a signed and registered Apprenticeship Agreement between the Provincial Government, the apprentice and their horticulture industry employer. Documents are available online at www.itabc.ca.
During the apprenticeship, students attend technical training sessions for theoretical and practical instruction at Kwantlen in Langley. Technical training sessions are six weeks long. Credit for previous work experience and/or vocational training may be negotiated with the Industry Training Authority (ITA) when the apprenticeship agreement is signed and the student is registered.
The first two levels of the program include fundamental horticulture knowledge and skills. The instruction in levels three and four focuses on Landscape Horticulture. The curriculum used for technical training has been developed and approved by the horticulture industry. It provides relevant, up-to-date information, and is based on recent technological advances in the horticulture field. Typically one level is completed each year but the opportunity exists to complete multiple levels in a single year depending on apprentice/student interest and the technical training schedule.
The proposed technical training schedule can be found on the School of Horticulture website at kwantlen.ca/registration/timetables/trades/hort-sched. The schedule beyond the current year is subject to change.
Journeypersons in landscape horticulture are in demand. Municipal parks departments, golf courses, landscape contractors, and cemeteries often list a journeyperson certification as a minimum requirement when hiring horticulturists.
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
Apprentices may be granted prior credit for a portion of the required workplace hours or technical training based on their employment. The employer, the apprentice, and ITA determine this jointly, at the time of indentureship. Graduates of Horticulture Certificate programs (Foundation programs or formerly Entry Level Training programs) are eligible to receive credit for Levels 1 and 2 of the technical training. Application for advanced standing in the apprenticeship program must be made to the ITA, not to Kwantlen.
Costs
In addition to applicable tuition fees, students require the following:
- textbooks (purchased at the beginning of Level 1 and 3)
- school supplies
- safety footwear
- rain gear
- field trips
- travel
- accommodation and food
Employment Insurance (EI) Eligibility
(for Indentured Apprentices only)
The Horticulture Apprenticeship program is an approved Technical Training Program. Apprentices may be eligible to collect Employment Insurance Benefits during their in-school sessions, as well as additional benefits such as travel and lodging allowances. These details can be verified by contacting your local Service Canada Centre.
Transfer to a Diploma Program
Horticulture journeypersons (Certificate of Qualification) can continue their education in a Horticulture diploma program. Depending on the diploma specialty selected, journeypersons would receive advanced standing for between 25.5 and 29.5 credits. Journeypersons will have to meet Kwantlen's English entrance requirements to enter the diploma programs.
Student Profile
Students interested in the apprenticeship should have a strong desire for hands-on outdoor work, enjoy nature and living things, be concerned about the environment, and have entrepreneurial talents. Individuals with allergies to dust, pollen or plant products, or specific chemicals should be aware of the potential impact on their health. Physical fitness and a healthy back are generally required for a successful career in horticulture. Apprentices will work with plant protection products.
Apprentices in the practical Horticulture Apprenticeship program come from a number of horticulture enterprises. For example, they may be working for greenhouse owners, tree removal and maintenance companies, nurseries, golf courses, municipal parks, school boards or landscape maintenance/installation companies.
Program Admission Requirements
In addition to Kwantlen's General university admission requirements including the vocational-level English Proficiency Requirement, the following program admission requirements apply.
- An ITA Individual ID number (ITA-ID) is required. If you do not have a ITA-ID, you will need to complete an apprenticeship registration form through the ITA (www.itabc.ca) prior to admission (Level 1 through to 4).
Technical training is open to any interested person. A minimum of Grade 10 completion is preferred. We strongly recommend that applicants for technical training be presently employed and indentured in the horticulture industry. HortEducationBC (www.horteducationbc.com), the horticulture industry training organization, will indenture individuals in horticulture for one year.
Content
This program is designed to produce journeypersons with good theoretical and practical training, and experience in the horticulture industry.
Level 1 and Level 2 have the same requirements for both the Landscape Horticulture Apprentice and the Production Horticulture Apprentice. Level 3 and 4 are specialized to each apprenticeship.
Horticulture Apprentice Level 1 (AHCC 1010)
- AHCC 1011 - Plant Materials I - A1
- AHCC 1012 - Supervisory Skills - B1
- AHCC 1013 - Equipment Maintenance - C1
- AHCC 1014 - Plant Science - Morphology D1
- AHCC 1015 - Plant Health - Signs/Symptoms - E1
- AHCC 1016 - Soil Physical Properties - F1
- AHCC 1017 - Horticulture Practices I - H1
- AHCC 1000 - Level I Final Exam
Horticulture Apprentice Level 2 (AHCC 1020)
- AHCC 1021 - Plant Materials II - A2
- AHCC 1022 - Supervisory Skills - B2
- AHCC 1023 - Equipment Maintenance II - C2
- AHCC 1024 - Plant Science - Physiology - D2
- AHCC 1025 - Plant Health - Pests, Diseases - E2
- AHCC 1026 - Soil Chemical Properties - F2
- AHCC 1027 - Horticulture Practices II - H2
- AHCC 1028 - Level II Final Exam
Landscape Horticulture Apprentice Level 3 (AHLN 1030)
- AHLN 1031 - Plant Maintenance III - A3
- AHLN 1032 - Plant Health - Pest Management - E3
- AHLN 1033 - Soil Management in the Landscape - F3
- AHLN 1034 - Plant Care - Pruning - G1
- AHLN 1035 - Irrigation & Drainage Maintenance - I1
- AHLN 1036 - Landscape Estimating - J1
- AHLN 1037 - Turf Maintenance Techniques - L1
- AHLN 1038 - Level III Final Exam
Landscape Horticulture Apprentice Level 4 (AHLN 1040)
- AHLN 1041 - Plant Materials IV - A4
- AHLN 1042 - Plant Health - IPM programs - E4
- AHLN 1043 - Plant Care - Cultural Operations - G2
- AHLN 1044 - Landscape Installation - H3
- AHLN 1045 - Irrigation & Drainage - Design - I2
- AHLN 1046 - Garden Design Principles - K1
- AHLN 1047 - Turf Maintenance Scheduling - L2
- AHLN 1048 - Level IV Final Exam
Graduation
Upon successful completion of an apprentice level, Kwantlen will report your technical training completion information to the Industry Trade Authority (ITA) in order for the ITA to determine credit towards your designated apprenticeship.
