Program delivery note
Program delivery note: Fanshawe will temporarily deliver this program as listed under "locations" to the right of your screen or in the "+ more details" menu on mobile.
Earn while you learn as a Horticulture Technician Apprentice - 2022/2023
The Horticulture Technician apprenticeship program will teach you to build and maintain landscapes, gardens and indoor spaces. You’ll also study arboriculture, landscape design, plant identification, plant production and business management.
Upon successful completion of this program and earning an Ontario College Certificate, you’ll be ready to find exciting job opportunities with design-build firms, nurseries and greenhouses, golf courses, garden centres, landscapers, parks and botanical gardens or even become self-employed.
If you’re ready to work and want to combine training with earning power, consider the Horticulture Technician apprenticeship program where you mix workplace training under the direction of experienced trainers and shorter lengths of school training. You’ll find meaningful employment in a job that you’ll - if ever - be asked to sit behind a desk!
Career Information
Fanshawe's Horticulture Technician Apprentice program is held in high regard throughout the industry. Demand for graduates of the program is very high in across all facets of the industry including landscape and garden construction and maintenance, plant production in greenhouses and nurseries, golf course development and construction, arboriculture and garden centre and horticulture sales.
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Horticultural Technician Apprentice (Block Release) [Apprenticeship] program:
Horticulturalist
Develop, grow and harvest fruits, vegetables and decorative plants.
Landscape Technician
Design and implement hardscape and softscape installations.
Horticulture Technician
Transplant, ship, pot, maintain, prune and diagnose problems to maximize yield in a people-oriented retail environment.
Discover more information for prospective students about apprenticeships
This is an apprenticeship program.
You cannot apply to this program through ontariocolleges.ca.
Applicants need a sponsor/employer.
Your sponsor/employer must register you with:
The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
Apprenticeship/Client Services
72-1200 Commissioners Road East
London, Ontario, N5Z 4R3
519-675-7788
MLTSD is responsible for scheduling your in-school training at Fanshawe College.
More information about Apprenticeships at Fanshawe.
This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada.
Courses
Horticultural Technician Apprentice-2022/2023
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| COMM-1099 | Workplace Communications | 2 | ||
| Describe and demonstrate oral, written communication skills required to function effectively as part of a crew/team in the workplace, using traditional and current technology. | ||||
| HORT-1043 | Plant Science | 3 | ||
| Describe plant biology, soil structure and quality, plant-media relationship, nutrient composition and the relationship to plant performance in its environment. | ||||
| HORT-1044 | Turf Management 1 | 2.5 | ||
| Describe and demonstrate turf grass mowing and fertilizing practices including monitoring turf grass quality, plant health care, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, according to federal, provincial and municipal legal requirements. | ||||
| HORT-1045 | Plant Identification 1 | 1.5 | ||
| Identify 120 ornamental landscape plants (See Ontario 2012 Plant List), using the required nomenclature and stating the cultural requirements for each and identifying pests and diseases as they relate to plant selection. | ||||
| HORT-1046 | Plant Materials 1 | 1.5 | ||
| Describe grounds maintenance practices and procedures including basic installation and transplanting processes for nursery stock, such as annuals, woody and herbaceous plants, according to respective federal, provincial, and municipal legal requirements. | ||||
| HORT-1048 | Integrated Pest Management Plant Health | 3.5 | ||
| Identify and describe management of pests and disorders of plant material (turf, trees, interior plants, greenhouse plants, perennial/annual), utilizing plant health care and integrated pest management principles. | ||||
| LAND-1025 | Landscape Construction 1 | 2.5 | ||
| Demonstrate a working knowledge of the handling and installation of modular precast landscape paving and wall units and landscape timber wall components according to pertinent legislation and safe workplace practices, municipal standards and codes. | ||||
| MATH-1177 | Trade Calculations | 2 | ||
| Identify, explain and demonstrate performance of calculations used in the horticulture industry, including the use of standard measuring devices. | ||||
| MTNC-1018 | Landscape Equipment Maintenance | 1.5 | ||
| Describe and demonstrate basic scheduled, preventative and on-going maintenance procedures for powered horticultural equipment, according to respective federal, provincial and municipal legal requirements. | ||||
| SFTY-1037 | Workplace Safety | 2 | ||
| Describe and demonstrate safe workplace practices including dealing with on-site conditions, emergencies and hazards, according to federal and provincial pertinent safety legislation and municipal legal requirements. | ||||
| SFTY-1040 | St. John's Ambulance First Aid | 1 | ||
| Describe the application of first aid and CPR techniques for emergencies in the workplace. This unit is comprised of the standard First Aid certification requirements. | ||||
| Level 2 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| HORT-3016 | Plant Propagation | 3 | ||
| Demonstrate a working knowledge of plant propagation by seeding, cutting, grafting, layering and division techniques. | ||||
| HORT-3017 | Plant Production | 3 | ||
| This course in plant production will discuss in detail aspects of field production of ornamental nursery stock, including planting, potting, maintenance, digging, storage and grading. | ||||
| HORT-3018 | Irrigation | 1.5 | ||
| Demonstrate a working knowledge of irrigation practices and systems including water quality and plant water requirements | ||||
| HORT-3019 | Turf Management 2 | 2.5 | ||
| Demonstrate a working knowledge of turfgrass establishment and cultivation practices typically used in landscape construction, and grounds/golf course maintenance operations. | ||||
| HORT-3020 | Plant Identification 2 | 3 | ||
| Demonstrate the ability to identify an additional 120 landscape plants, using the proper nomenclature and stating the cultural, and design/use requirements of each. | ||||
| HORT-3021 | Plant Materials 2 | 1.5 | ||
| Demonstrate a working knowledge of digging/transplanting techniques, including aftercare, and of pruning techniques for all type of plant materials | ||||
| SURV-3014 | Site Layout, Grading & Surveying | 1.5 | ||
| Demonstrate a working knowledge of construction plan layout processes, including the placement and use of grading control devices while considering drainage and environmental preservation. Demonstrate the ability to perform basic Survey procedures including the use of standard measuring devices and surveying equipment. | ||||
| LAND-3006 | Landscape Construction 2 | 4 | ||
| LAND-3007 | Plan Reading & Quantity Take-off | 1.5 | ||
| Describe reading and interpretation of plans, verification of plan accuracy, and determination of equipment, materials and labour requirements to prepare a quote. | ||||
| Program Residency | ||||
| Students Must Complete a Minimum of 12 credits in this program at Fanshawe College to meet the Program Residency requirement and graduate from this program | ||||
More Information - 2022/2023
Learning Outcomes
Program Details
More detailsProgram Details
Canadian Students
Program Coordinator:
Michael Pascoe NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)