Horticulture Business or Career Courses

Environmental Assessment Duration icon 100 hours Lessons icon 8 lessons

The most important knowledge for a career in environmental consultancy or as an environmental officer is the assessment of the environment and its resilience to changes. Work in this area has expanded greatly in recent decades, and when combined with a knowledge of plant or animal identification and ecology, this course develops an extremely valuable skill.
Learning methods available: This course can be studied via Correspondence Correspondence This course can be studied Online Online This course can be studied through E-Learning E-Learning Read more & enrol: Environmental Assessment

Foundation Certificate II in Horticulture Duration icon 150 hours Qualification icon Certificate Lessons icon 10 lessons

A Highly Prestigeous and Well Rounded Starting Point for anyone wanting to work in Horticulture

Student Comment: "I have found the course material to be comprehensive and informative and have learnt a lot and really enjoyed my year of study. The office staff at ACS have always been helpful and efficient and quick to respond to requests or queries. My tutor, Adriana, was encouraging and supportive, as well as being really thorough in the way she marked my assignments. I had not studied for 20 years before I started my RHS Certificate 2 in Horticulture and the feedback and reassurance I received from my tutor made all the difference." Katherine Parry, Australia - RHS Certificate II in Horticulture course (now referred to as Foundation Certificate in Horticulture).

This vocationally-oriented course comprises core studies in general horticulture plus specialised elective studies. The course is designed to lay a foundation for a long-term career in horticulture by developing the ability to identify a large range of plants, knowledge of essential horticultural principles and practices and practical skills in plant propagation, growth and care.

This course was developed and run as the RHS Certificate II  up until July 2010, when it was replaced by the RHS due to changes in the UK accreditation system. Due to popular demand from students, we continue to offer this as a "foundation certificate" examined and awarded by ACS Distance Education in Australia (It no longer holds any endorsement from the RHS).

Learning methods available: This course can be studied via Correspondence Correspondence This course can be studied Online Online This course can be studied through E-Learning E-Learning Read more & enrol: Foundation Certificate II in Horticulture

Horticulture I Duration icon 100 hours Qualification icon Statement of Attainment Lessons icon 13 lessons

Start your horticulture studies with this broad, practical course.


The ideal course for the beginner, this is a basic, yet thoroughly practical course which gives you a sound broad technical grounding in horticultural principles and practices. A section of each lesson involves plant identification.

YOU WILL LEARN:

  • To identify, propagate and care for 80 different types of plants.
  • The systematic way plants are classified.
  • Structure and parts of a flower.
  • To identify different leaf shapes.
  • Different ways to control weeds.
  • Simple soil tests.
  • Making propagating and potting mixes.
  • Identifying pest and disease problems.
  • How and why to prune different plants.
  • Drawing a simple garden sketch plan.
  • To plant or repair a lawn; and lots more.
Learning methods available: This course can be studied via Correspondence Correspondence This course can be studied Online Online This course can be studied through E-Learning E-Learning Read more & enrol: Horticulture I

Managing Notable Gardens Duration icon 100 hours Qualification icon Statement of Attainment Lessons icon 9 lessons

Learn to... 

  • Discuss appropriate management strategies to ensure the long term survival of plants and garden features.
  • Identify and evaluate sources of funding and associated issues.
  • Identify and discuss the issues concerned with the presentation of a site to visitors.
Learning methods available: This course can be studied via Correspondence Correspondence This course can be studied Online Online This course can be studied through E-Learning E-Learning Read more & enrol: Managing Notable Gardens

Nursery Growers Course Duration icon 100 hours Qualification icon Statement of Attainment Lessons icon 6 lessons

An introductory course which shows the beginner how to get started in the nursery business. You learn how to propagate plants, decide what to propagate, how to start a small inexpensive operation, and to go about selling what you grow. Part of every lesson is devoted to the important area of building up your knowledge of plants. Through six lessons you will learn how many established nurseries have started out slowly as a small part time operation, and how you can follow the same path. (If you intend studying propagation and wholesale nursery management, do not do this course!).
Learning methods available: This course can be studied via Correspondence Correspondence Read more & enrol: Nursery Growers Course

Operational Business Management I (Horticulture) Duration icon 100 hours Qualification icon Statement of Attainment Lessons icon 9 lessons

Develop an ability to formulate and evaluate strategy as well as to ensure effective business performance in today's fast changing social, political and economic environment, for horticultural enterprises within one sector of the horticulture
Learning methods available: This course can be studied via Correspondence Correspondence This course can be studied Online Online This course can be studied through E-Learning E-Learning Read more & enrol: Operational Business Management I (Horticulture)

Operational Business Management II (Horticulture) Duration icon 100 hours Qualification icon Statement of Attainment Lessons icon 7 lessons

Develop a capacity to apply legal, contractual and staff management considerations to demonstrate informed interpretation and analysis, critical thought processes and an understanding of complex issues in relation to the management of a range of different sectors of the horticulture industry.
Learning methods available: This course can be studied via Correspondence Correspondence This course can be studied Online Online This course can be studied through E-Learning E-Learning Read more & enrol: Operational Business Management II (Horticulture)

Professional Practice for Consultants Duration icon 100 hours Qualification icon Statement of Attainment Lessons icon 8 lessons

Distance Learning -Train as a Consultant

Sell Your Expertise to the World

This course is a valuable guide to setting up and operating a consulting business in any profession. Experts are always in demand by business, government bodies, public organisations and private individuals.

Everyone needs help from time to time from someone who has greater expertise than themself. If you have training, and/or significant experience in just about anything;  you may have the potential to become a consultant in your field of expertise.

This course has been developed to complement studies in the various disciplines taught by ACS, including Psychology, Horticulture, Agriculture, Leisure Studies, Businesss Management and Environmental Management.

Learning methods available: This course can be studied via Correspondence Correspondence This course can be studied Online Online This course can be studied through E-Learning E-Learning Read more & enrol: Professional Practice for Consultants

Project Management Duration icon 100 hours Qualification icon Statement of Attainment Lessons icon 9 lessons

Learn to Manage Horticultural Projects

Gain a competitive edge in project management with this flexible, informative course.
Developing project management skills is valuable; these skills can be applied to all industries, and in all sorts of situations.
This course is just as relevant to a construction project as it is to managing a new product launch. It is best suited to someone who has some prior experience or training in management, but is also useful as an adjunct to management studies.

Learning methods available: This course can be studied via Correspondence Correspondence This course can be studied Online Online This course can be studied through E-Learning E-Learning Read more & enrol: Project Management

Qualification -Associate Diploma Horticulture Duration icon 1500 hours Qualification icon Statement of Attainment

Become a Professional Horticulturist with Technical Skills highly sought after in Industry

This course provides a broad based foundation to allow you to adapt to and work in different sectors of the industry, as a technician, business owner, consultant, etc.

Use our free Career Advisory Service to gain insights into the vast opportunities and possibilities in this fascinating career.

Learning methods available: This course can be studied via Correspondence Correspondence This course can be studied Online Online This course can be studied through E-Learning E-Learning Read more & enrol: Qualification -Associate Diploma Horticulture

Qualification -Certificate in Horticulture Duration icon 700 hours Qualification icon Certificate

AN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD PLACE TO START.
If you want a career in horticulture, this is one of the best starting points. This Certificate was developed with a great deal of industry input throughout the 1990's then revised by staff in Australia and the UK in 2004 to ensure international relevance. Graduates from this 600-700 hour certificate have a history of outstanding career success. The course provides a very strong foundation in general horticulture (up to 350 hours) as well as specialised training in a chosen area such as propagation, landscaping or organics. Whilst other certificates have degraded over the years and have less emphasis (particularly on science and plant knowledge), this has remained at a similar standard to training of the 1970's and 80's, but with up to date content.
Learning methods available: This course can be studied via Correspondence Correspondence This course can be studied Online Online This course can be studied through E-Learning E-Learning Read more & enrol: Qualification -Certificate in Horticulture

Qualification -Diploma in Horticulture Duration icon 2100 hours Qualification icon Diploma Modules icon 14 modules

If you have the time, this course is the ultimate, as a foundation for a successful career or business in horticulture.

It equips you with exceptional skills to work as a professional; and to adapt to changes in the industry as they occur throughout a long career.

Student Comment: "I have found the course to be interesting and challenging, with great learning materials that really make you research the industry and get involved. It has been a great way to study because it has allowed me to work in the industry and study at the same time. I have found the online resources to be fantastic, the tutors feedback constructive and the fact that assignments can be submitted online makes the process so easy." Tom Wood, Australia - Diploma in Horticultural Science course.

Learning methods available: This course can be studied via Correspondence Correspondence This course can be studied Online Online This course can be studied through E-Learning E-Learning Read more & enrol: Qualification -Diploma in Horticulture

Starting a Small Business Duration icon 100 hours Qualification icon Statement of Attainment Lessons icon 12 lessons

Learn how to start a gardening, landscaping or horticultural business under the guidance of a professional business expert, and plan and initiate development of a business venture. A large percentage of small businesses fail within the first two years. Make sure your business isn't one of them! This course will be one of the reasons it won't be. There are two parts to the course. In the first part, you learn about how to run a business. The second part involves either you starting a business (this may be very small, or larger), or reviewing the running of an established business. Over several lessons, your tutor will guide you through several stages which assess, analyze and improve operations in this "real life situation".

Twelve lessons cover marketing, planning, budgeting, reviewing progress, improving profit and more. Give yourself the best chance to succeed in a new business.

Learning methods available: This course can be studied via Correspondence Correspondence This course can be studied Online Online This course can be studied through E-Learning E-Learning Read more & enrol: Starting a Small Business


Splashing Water

Splashing Water

Splashing water is one of the most sensual ways of bringing movement and sound to a garden.

Read more

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