Landscape horticulturist apprenticeship
Facts checked 7 September 2026
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Part of the route toLandscape Horticulturist·Certificate
An accredited 4-level apprenticeship program combining paid workplace landscaping experience with 6-week technical training blocks in plant botany, soils, and hardscaping.
Ways to get this paid for
Government money that can cover this course. Check who qualifies before you pay.
Free adult upgrading
FreeGrade 11 and 12 courses and English classes are free at public colleges and school districts. This covers the Grade 11 and 12 prerequisite courses, not the program itself.
WorkBC training funding
Up to $7,500 tuitionIf you are out of work or underemployed, a WorkBC case manager can approve and pay for this training. Get approval before you pay.
Canada Training Credit
Half your tuition back, up to $5,000 in your lifeFederal tax credit. $250 a year builds up from age 26. Claim it on your tax return.
BC Access Grant
Up to $4,000 a yearFor low and middle income students in full-time programs under two years at public schools. Assessed when you apply through StudentAid BC.
Money for apprentices
EI, a $4,000 loan per level and a tax creditWhile you are at school for each level. The old federal grants ended in 2025.
THE ROUTE
How this program works, step by step
Grade 11 to the job. Open any step to see what is inside.
The route (8 steps)
For the best view, open the map full screen.
STEP BY STEP
Step by step
The same route as the map, as a list.
Step 1 of 8
Grade 11
⏱ 1 school year- General BC secondary school curriculum and coursework at the Grade 11 level.
Step 2 of 8
Grade 12
⏱ 1 school year- Grade 10 completion (Grade 12 graduation recommended)
- Grade 10 English and Math (Grade 12 graduation recommended)
Step 3 of 8
What you need to get in
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC and an employer sponsor
- Valid BC Class 5 driver licence recommended by employers
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC and employer sponsor
- Valid BC Class 5 driver licence recommended
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC or landscape industry experience
Step 4 of 8
How to apply
- Secure employment with a registered landscaping contractor or municipal parks department
- Register your apprenticeship agreement in the SkilledTradesBC portal
- Apply to Kwantlen Polytechnic University or Pacific Horticulture College for technical training blocks
- Apply for federal apprentice training grants and Employment Insurance (EI) support
Step 5 of 8
Landscape horticulturist apprenticeship
⏱ 6 weeks per Level (4 Levels)- 4 levels of training with 6 weeks of full-time schooling per level
- Botany and woody plant identification of hundreds of Pacific Northwest species
- Soil science, nutrient management, composting, and drainage calculation
- Hardscape construction: paving stones, segmental retaining walls, and timber work
- Integrated pest management (IPM), irrigation design, and turfgrass maintenance
Step 6 of 8
Where to take it
⏱ 3 schools in BC- Kwantlen Polytechnic University — 6 weeks per level, 4 levels (About $900 per level)
- Thompson Rivers University — 6 weeks per level, 4 levels (Tuition not yet verified)
- Pacific Horticulture College — 10 months (About $4,900 for the whole program)
Step 7 of 8
Exams and registration after
- SkilledTradesBC Level modular exams following each school block
- Interprovincial Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist examination upon reaching 4,920 work hours
Step 8 of 8
Leads to: Landscape Horticulturist
- Explore Landscape Horticulturist wages, job outlook, and career pathways
SCHOOLS
Where you can take this(3 schools)
Compare tuitions, campus locations, and delivery formats across approved institutions in British Columbia.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
We have not checked this school's tuition yet. See the school's page.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.