About the Prairie Horticulture Certificate

The Prairie Horticulture Certificate (PHC) is an online horticulture program designed specifically for the prairies.

It was developed for professionals and is collaboratively offered through a consortium of three Western Canadian educational institutions: Assiniboine Community College (Manitoba), Olds College of Agriculture & Technology (Alberta) and the University of Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan).

PHC provides all the essential tools to work in the horticulture industry so you can start your own business or advance your career. It is designed as a part-time program with a flexible schedule to accommodate your school and work-life balance.

Courses are offered in three terms per year - fall, winter, spring. Classes are not offered during summer as this is typically the busy season for horticultural professionals and enthusiasts.

* All coursework, assignments, and exams are completed online. Students are required to have a personal computer equipped with internet access. Courses cannot be completed on a mobile device, such as a cell phone or tablet, alone. Common basic computer literacy skills, including word processing, email and file sharing/collaboration tools, internet and database navigation, are a must.

Quick facts
Length	Approximately 2 years, part-time with continuous registration; can be completed in up to 5 years.
Options	Pursue multiple certificates or complete classes for personal interest and/or professional development.
Delivery	Online independent study.
Requirements	9+ courses equivalent to 360 hours for completion. 3+ courses equivalent to 180 hours for additional certificate award.
Course fees	$520 to $740 per course (domestic rate).
Textbooks and materials	Approximately $500 (program total).
Application fee	$75 to $95 depending on home institution.
Pre-requisites	Grade 12 or equivalent. Necessary computer skills.*

Streams of study

To be awarded the Prairie Horticulture Certificate, you must complete all of the required core program courses, the courses specified for a particular stream, all of the necessary elective courses, and maintain an overall weighted average of 60%. Coursework must meet a minimum total of nine courses and be equal to a minimum 360 academic hours (36 credit weights). Note that additional coursework may be required depending on the individual streams and choices between 30 or 60-hour courses. You make also take individual courses for personal interest or professional upgrading if you wish to pursue individual courses rather than completing the certificate.

Choose your stream of study:

Foundational Requirements	Stream Requirements	Program Requirements (at least three of)	Stream Electives (at least two of)
Applied Botany (USask)	Postharvest Handling of Food Crops (ACC)	Basics of Horticulture Business Management (Olds)	Fruit Production (USask)
Soils for Horticulture (USask)		Basics of Horticulture Marketing (Olds)	Plant Propagation (Olds)
		Integrated Plant Management (Olds)	Vegetable Crop Production (USask)
		Safe Work/Pesticide Application (ACC)
Plus any Open Elective course(s) necessary to meet the minimum requirements. Open Electives can be any courses in the PHC Program not used to fulfill other requirements. For course descriptions and fees, click here.

Foundational Requirements	Stream Requirements	Program Requirements (at least three of)	Stream Electives (at least one of)
Applied Botany (USask)	Greenhouse Crop Production (Olds)	Basics of Horticulture Business Management (Olds)	Indoor Landscaping (USask)
Soils for Horticulture (USask)	Greenhouse Structures and Environments (Olds)	Basics of Horticulture Marketing (Olds)	Plant Propagation (Olds)
		Integrated Plant Management (Olds)
		Safe Work/Pesticide Application (ACC)
Plus any Open Elective course(s) necessary to meet the minimum requirements. Open Electives can be any courses in the PHC Program not used to fulfill other requirements. For course descriptions and fees, click here.

Foundational Requirements	Stream Requirements	Program Requirements (at least three of)	Stream Electives (at least two of)
Applied Botany (USask)	Arboriculture (Olds)	Basics of Horticulture Business Management (Olds)	Herbaceous Landscape Plants (Olds)
Soils for Horticulture (USask)	Woody Landscape Plants (USask)	Basics of Horticulture Marketing (Olds)	Indoor Landscaping (USask)
		Integrated Plant Management (Olds)	Landscape Construction (Olds)
		Safe Work/Pesticide Application (ACC)	Landscape Design (Olds)
			Turfgrass Production and Management (ACC)
Plus any Open Elective course(s) necessary to meet the minimum requirements. Open Electives can be any courses in the PHC Program not used to fulfill other requirements. For course descriptions and fees, click here.

Foundational Requirements	Stream Requirements	Program Requirements (at least three of)	Stream Electives (at least one of)
Applied Botany (USask)	Nursery Crop Production (ACC)	Basics of Horticulture Business Management (Olds)	Landscape Construction (Olds)
Soils for Horticulture (USask)	Plant Propagation (Olds)	Basics of Horticulture Marketing (Olds)	Landscape Design (Olds)
		Integrated Plant Management (Olds)	Woody Landscape Plants (USask)
		Safe Work/Pesticide Application (ACC)
Plus any Open Elective course(s) necessary to meet the minimum requirements. Open Electives can be any courses in the PHC Program not used to fulfill other requirements. For course descriptions and fees, click here.

Cannabis Crop Production (Olds)

Floral Design (USask)

Human Resource Management (ACC)

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (USask)

Open Electives are not limited to the above listed courses; they can be any courses in the PHC Program not used to fulfill other requirements.

For course descriptions and fees, click here.

Scholarships

Visit your chosen home institution to see any available scholarships.

How to apply

Step 1: Choose your home institution

Step 2: Review the admission guidelines of your chosen home institution
Each PHC consortium partner institution may have its own set of admission requirements and application processes.

Step 3: Ensure you meet the admission requirements
Grade 12 or equivalent; probationary admission options may also be available.

Step 4: Complete an application
Complete the application processes required by your chosen home institution and submit all supporting documentation. You should apply to only one institution.

Step 5: Arrange transcripts
Arrange to have your high school and/or post-secondary transcripts, as required, sent directly to your chosen home institution.

Step 6: Application fee
Submit any application fee payments required by your chosen home institution.

After you’ve applied

You will be able to register for PHC classes once you have been officially admitted to your chosen home institution. It is important to note that all activities such as registering for all classes, tuition payments, withdrawing from classes etc., will only be done through your selected home institution. Your home institution will coordinate any necessary items with other PHC consortium partner institutions.