Jul 01, 2025  
2025-2026 Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Catalog

Horticultural Basic Certificate

Location(s): Gainesville Campus


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Danelle Wolf
Division Chair, Teacher Education, Child Development
dwolf@nctc.edu
940-668-7731 ext. 4423

The NCTC Horticulture Program is one of the few programs of its kind, providing a broad, technical education in the field of horticulture, emphasizing practical knowledge while preparing students to work in multiple facets of the industry, including landscaping, floristry, horticulture crop production, and greenhouse management. Students learn a variety of horticultural techniques such as plant propagation, organic gardening, soil preparation, plant identification, and pest management. Courses are taught using a range of teaching methods consisting of hands-on labs, one-on-one instruction, field trips, online classes, and lectures. A dynamic and diverse field, horticulture is among the few to bridge the gap between science, art, business, and technology. Horticulture is not only a multi-billion dollar industry that offers increasing job opportunities for students seeking careers in the area, but horticulture also offers countless opportunities for hobbyists.

The program is designed to equip students with knowledge and skills directly applicable to a career in horticulture, providing quality workforce education for those seeking to enter the field of horticulture. Classes focus on the specific needs of the student, whether that is to work for a large corporation or to manage a horticulture business as a sole proprietor.

The Landscape Design Occupational Skills Award, Horticulture Basic Certificate, and Sustainable Horticulture Level I Certificate are all available in this program.

Level I Basic Workforce Certificate

The Horticulture Basic Certificate is a 16-hour certificate that will give an introduction to the Horticulture industry.

Upon completion of the Horticulture Basic Certificate, students will be able to:

  • Manage horticultural crops.
  • Apply horticulture design.
  • Identify plants.

Gainful Employment Disclosure

This certificate is offered through a combination of hybrid, online and face-to-face classes. The program is designed to take 16 weeks to complete and is comprised of the following suggested pathway or course of study.

Certificate Requirements


Total Credit Hours: 16


Capstone Requirement: A capstone exam must be completed wtih a grade of 70% or greater before the Level I Certificate can be awarded. It should be taken at the end of the semester or completion of the coursework. Please contact Horticulture Faculty to register for capstone exam.

Financial Outlook Disclaimer


The salary information provided on this page is based on industry projections, publicly available data, and employer-reported trends. Actual salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, education or degree level, industry demand, and individual employer policies.
Students can meet with the college’s Career Services to learn more about specific career pathways and current labor market information. The college does not promise or imply any guaranteed salary levels upon graduation.

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