Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist Apprenticeship

What is a Landscape Horticulturist?

Landscape Horticulturalists plan, construct, and maintain residential and commercial environments. Landscape Horticulturalists work in maintenance and/or construction & installation.

Landscape Maintenance and Lawn Care
- Maintains the landscape of residential homes and commercial properties
Landscape Construction & Installation
- Installs softscapes (plants and other organic materials) and hardscapes (using materials such as wood or stone, building retaining walls, water features and many other projects) based on a design.

Typical Duties

Landscape Maintenance and Lawn Care
- Identify plants
- Plant flowers, shrubs, trees, and grass
- Spread top soil
- Lay sod
- Prune small trees, shrubs and perennials
- Maintain a lawn (cut, rake, fertilize, aerate, and water lawns)
- Control and prevent weeds and diseases using Integrated Pest Management methods
- Operate equipment (mowers, string trimmers, edgers and back pack blowers)
Landscape Construction and Installation
- Identify plants
- Install walls, patios and water features
- Layout and install plants, trees, and sod to a specific design
- Operate equipment (chainsaws, skid steers, and excavators)

Apprenticeship Info

Training Standard

Effective September 1, 2018 the program standards and curriculum for the Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist Apprenticeship changed as a result of the Harmonization initiative to align training standards nationally for all Red Seal Trades.

If you are an apprentice who has completed at least one level of technical training in school under the 2015 training standard (before September 1, 2018) contact SkilledTradesBC for transition options.

All new Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist Apprentices and foundation program students beginning their technical training after September 1, 2018 will manage their apprenticeship under these new standards.

What is an apprenticeship in Landscape Horticulture?

Download a pdf copy of the Landscape Horticulturist Apprenticeship (HL) 2018.

SkilledTradesBC Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist program
The process can take up to 4 years to complete with technical training in school and on the job work experience training
There are two options for schooling
1. Complete Level 1 to 4 (block release); six weeks of school for each level over 4 years, or
2. Complete a Foundation Program (equivalent to Level 1 and 2) at a SkilledTradesBC approved college; then transfer to designated training institution to complete Level 3 and 4. Go to our Training Options page for a list of training institutions that offer the foundation and block release levels.
Technical training for levels 1-4 cover basic core horticulture and Landscape specific knowledge and skills.
Apprentices who begin level 1 technical training after September 2018, require 5,280 workplace hours, with confirmation of hours by your employer sponsor. (Apprentices who have completed at least one level of technical training before September 2018 require 6,480 workplace hours, unless they transition to the harmonized training standard).
Upon completion of all schooling and hours, you are awarded a Red Seal Certificate of Qualification and a Certificate of Apprenticeship as a Landscape Horticulturist.

Horticulture Technician Foundation Program

The Horticulture Technician Foundation program provides students with the core knowledge and skills required in horticulture.
The courses are conducted in a classroom and include some fieldwork on or off campus.
Horticulture Technician Foundation students do not require a sponsor to participate.
This program varies in length from 9-10 months depending upon the training provider.
Upon successful completion of the program, a student will receive;
- Horticulture Technician Certificate from the training institution.
- Letter of Completion from SkilledTradesBC.
- Credit for 500 work based hours towards the Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist apprenticeship.
- Credit for Level 1 and 2 of the Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist apprenticeship program. This allows the student to enter level 3 of the Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist apprenticeship program.
Visit the Training Options page for a list of Training Institutions that offer a Horticulture Technician program.
Visit the SkilledTradesBC’s website for more information on the Horticulture Technician Foundation program.

Steps to become a Landscape Horticulturist Apprentice

Step 1: Register the apprenticeship with SkilledTradesBC. You must have a Sponsor who is either a Certified Tradesperson or has Sign-Off Authority and has registered with SkilledTradesBC. Click here for Sponsor information. HortEducation.ca can be your sponsor for the school duration if you do not have employment in the field. Contact HortEducation.ca – [email protected]

1. Register as an apprentice online

- - - - You and your sponsor can register and manage your apprenticeship online, using the SkilledTradesBC Portal system. Follow the SkilledTradesBC Portal registration video and guide to create your account and registering with a sponsor.

2. Register as an apprentice using a paper-based system

- - - - If you prefer to use a paper-based system; or, this is the sponsor’s first apprentice registration since either completing their Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist Certificate of Qualification or receiving sign-off authority status, complete the Apprenticeship and Sponsor Registration Form with your sponsor and mail or fax it to SkilledTradesBC (contact info is on the form).
- Read the SkilledTradesBC Become an Apprentice page and the 6 Steps to Success.

Step 2: Register for Technical Training. Register with your chosen training institution for the in-school training portion of the apprenticeship.

Step 3: Track workplace training hours. Track your hours along with your employer using the online SkilledTradesBC Portal system or by filling out the paper-based system Work-Based Training Report form. Completion of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s national Landscape Horticulture Certification Program’s Certified Landscape Horticulturist Technician designation qualifies as 1,000 workplace hours credit towards the Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist CofQ.

Step 4: Apply for Certificate of Qualification. After completing Level 4 technical training, the IP Exam, and logging 5,280 workplace training hours, your ‘Recommend for Certification’ form must be signed by your sponsor. This form is provided by SkilledTradesBC upon completing of all training and work based hours. Note***(Apprentices who have completed at least one level of technical training before September 2018 require 6,480 workplace hours, unless they transition to the harmonized training standard.)

Contact ITA Customer Service for any assistance

- 1-778-328-8700
- 1-866-606-6011
- [email protected]

Tax Credits

- Remember that you may be eligible for tax credits starting at $1000 per completed level.

Sponsor Info

Click here to find out how to become a Sponsor
For information to apply for Sign-Off Authority, click here
For information to challenge the Red Seal Landscape Horticulture exam, click here

What does it cost?

For Training institution costs visit the webpages for each training provider. Visit training options for contact information and web links.

For a list of textbooks view the Program Outline, and go to page 204. Some training institutions include the cost of books in the tuition.
Additional costs can include: field trips, CSA safety footwear, rain gear, accommodations, basic school supplies and study materials.

Funding options

- Apprentices may be eligible to collect Employment Insurance benefits during school technical training sessions. Some apprentices qualify for additional benefits such as travel or lodging allowance. Contact your local WorkBC Apprentice Services Centre to enquire about EI and additional benefits.
- Apprentices qualify for tax credits and grants that can be used to help pay the costs of technical training.
- Canada Apprentice Loan – You can apply for up to $4,000 in interest-free loans per period of technical training. The money will be available to you to help pay for tuition, tools, equipment and living expenses, to cover forgone wages or to help support your family. For more information, visit the Government of Canada, Canada Apprentice Loan initiative.

Job Titles

Equipment Operator
Horticultural Technician – Parks Department
Landscape Technician
Landscape Installer
Landscape Construction Installer
Landscape Crew Leader/Supervisor/Foreman

What can I make?

Provincial Hourly Rate

High $29.52/hr
Median $21.00/hr
Low $17.00/hr

Additional Certifications

The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s national Landscape Horticulture Certification Program is operated in collaboration with provincial nursery and landscape associations. This new and improved certification program is structured to maintain high certification standards and streamlined to be more convenient and accessible.

The Landscape Horticulture Certification Program ensures that professionals from across Canada comply with current standards and industry best practices. Certification is available for Technicians, Designers, and Managers.

Completion of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s national Landscape Horticulture Certification Program’s Certified Landscape Horticulturist Technician designation qualifies as 1,000 workplace hours credit towards the Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist CofQ.

Apprentice Tax Credit	Completion Requirements	Regular	+Enhanced
Apprentice Incentive Grant	Level 1 & 1320* hours logged	$1000	$1500++
Apprentice Incentive Grant	Level 2 & 2640* hours logged	$1000	$1500++
Completion Tax Credit	Level 3	$2000	$3000+
Completion Tax Credit	CofQ (Level 4, 5,280** hours & RFC signed)	$2500	$3750+
Apprenticeship Completion Grant	CofQ & CofA (Level 4, 5,280** hours & RFC signed)	$2000	–