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Horticulture Technician Pre-Apprenticeship

A close-up image of a person's hands wearing gloves and planting a plant into dirt.

Our free Horticultural Technician Pre-Apprenticeship program combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Funded by the Ministry and delivered by Landscape Ontario, it offers hands-on experience and technical skills to kickstart your horticulture career.

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Home / Learn / Programs List / Horticulture Technician Pre-Apprenticeship
Duration
Two semesters
Start Date(s)
Other
Locations
Belleville
Open to
International Students
Domestic Students

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Technicians are a non­-restricted certified trade regulated by the Apprenticeship and Certification Act.

A Horticultural Technician is a person who: 

  • Communicates effectively to achieve results. 
  • Controls plant pests and diseases using various methods, including integrated pest management. 
  • Transplants and installs plants. 
  • Maintains and manages horticultural properties. 
  • Recycles waste materials. 
  • Identifies nutrient requirements of plants, applies fertilizers, and monitors the plants and maintains records of results of applications. 
  • Analyses plant watering requirements, installs irrigation systems, and monitors and records results. 
  • Grows plants using different propagation techniques and maintains records of results. 
  • Prunes plants, considering timing and tools. 
  • Establishes and maintains turf-grass. 
  • Constructs landscapes according to drawings, using plants and other materials such as wood, stone, soil, and concrete. 
  • Maintains and stores tools and equipment. 
  • Works in compliance with workplace safety legislation. 

Experiential learning

‘Earn while you learn’ with in-school training and on-the-job training.  

  • Pre-Employment and Health & Safety Training: July 15 – August 2, 2024
  • Paid Work Placements: August 5 – November 1, 2024
  • Level 1 Horticulture Technician Apprenticeship Training: November 4, 2024 – February 7, 2025
  • Secondary Trade Exposure (Carpentry): February 10 – February 21, 2025
  • Job Readiness and Job Matching: February 24 – March 7, 2025

Courses

HPAP1002 Communication Skills

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can demonstrate effective communication practices, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing required to function effectively as part of a crew/team in the workplace.

HPAP1004 Environmental Principles-Soil, Water, Environmental Stewardship

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can describe the principles of environmental stewardship as it relates to soil and water.

HPAP1009 First Aid-CPR

On successful completion of the reportable subject, the apprentice can demonstrate first aid and CPR techniques to respond to emergencies in the workplace.

HPAP1006 Hardscape Installation and Maintenance

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can demonstrate the installation and maintenance of landscape paving, steps, and retaining walls (natural and precast materials) according to jurisdictional codes and regulations.

HPAP1003 Horticultural Principles

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can describe plant morphology and characteristics, environmental factors, and soil characteristics that affect plant growth and development; identify 80 ornamental landscape plants common to Ontario using the required nomenclature (Refer to Appendix D -Ontario Horticultural Technician Plant List), the cultural requirements and pests and diseases as they relate to each plant; describe procedures to prune landscape plants and demonstrate sexual and asexual plant propagation methods.

HPAP1005 Pre-Construction Activities

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can interpret information from landscape drawings and documentation related to site preparation and identify the requirements for preparing construction sites, including performing calculations used in the horticulture industry and use of standard measuring devices.

HPAP1008 Softscape Installation and Maintenance

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can describe the procedures to install and maintain exterior softscape - plants (woody, herbaceous, and annual plants) and materials (growing media and mulch) and demonstrate pruning techniques for young and established shrubs, groundcovers and vines based on the Canadian Landscape Standard (CLS) and jurisdictional regulations.

HPAP1000 Trade Practices-Safety, Tools and Equipment

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can describe jurisdictional regulations relevant to the trade, safe work practices for responding to on-site conditions, hazards, and emergencies and the operation and maintenance of safety equipment; maintain safety records, driving logs, and work records and use and maintain hand tools, power tools and vehicles/motorized equipment, trailers, and attachments used in the landscape and horticultural trade.

HPAP1007 Turf Installation and Maintenance

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can describe the procedures to install sod and turf from seed and maintain grass/turf grass, including monitoring turf grass quality, mowing, applying amendments, and identifying and correcting grass/turf-grass problems according to industry standards and jurisdictional requirements.

HPAP1001 Work and Project Organization

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can describe the use of trade-related documentation and reference material and identify processes to conduct site assessments and procedures for receiving, organizing, storing, and transporting plants, materials, tools, and equipment.

HPAP2004 Environmental Practices

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can describe landscaping practices that support environmental stewardship to develop, conserve, preserve, protect, and reclaim natural habitats and ecosystems to sustain a healthy environment.

HPAP2008 Green Infrastructure Installation and Maintenance

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can describe procedures to install and maintain green infrastructure, including applications for maximizing green space and permeable surfaces, installation of erosion control materials, green roofs and walls, and rainwater and storm-water management systems.

HPAP2005 Hardscape Structures Installation and Maintenance

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can demonstrate the installation of landscape structures, irrigation systems, and low-voltage lighting water features and describe the procedures for repairing hardscapes and maintaining irrigation systems according to industry standards and jurisdictional regulations.

HPAP2007 Interior Landscape Installation and Maintenance

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can describe the procedures for installing and maintaining interior landscapes.

HPAP2002 Marketing and Sales

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can describe procedures for controlling inventory, selling services, and methods for developing and maintaining customer relations

HPAP2009 Mentoring and Training Techniques

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can describe communication and mentoring techniques and strategies for enhancing personal and team development.

HPAP2006 Plant Health Care–Pests, Diseases and Invasive Species Management

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can identify nutrient deficiencies, pests, diseases, and disorders, explain the care and treatment of plants, describe Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles, and interpret relevant legislation and jurisdictional requirements.

HPAP2003 Plant Identification and Management

Upon successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can identify 120 ornamental landscape plants using the required nomenclature and stating the cultural requirements for each (Refer to Appendix D -Ontario Horticultural Technician Plant List) and understand pests and diseases as they relate to plant selection and demonstrate tree pruning techniques.

HPAP2001 Project Preparation

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can explain the planning activities required to prepare for landscape horticultural projects, including the use of documentation and reference material, interpretation of plans and specifications, the purpose for maintaining records, and describe procedures for ordering and organizing plants, materials and equipment.

HPAP2000 Site Preparation and Protection

On successful completion of this reportable subject, the apprentice can demonstrate procedures used to perform site assessment, which includes interpretation of documentation about site assessment, assessment of site conditions for protection, identification of existing and proposed grading and drainage patterns, and inspection of site-specific environmental conditions and the evaluation of soil erosion.

*Courses subject to change.

Costs

This program is funded by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

This program is funded by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

A close up image of a pair of hands wearing gloves and trimming a plant outside. Fourteen light green graphic circles are along the bottom left of the image.

Admission Requirements

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Completed grade 12 or equivalent
  • Be legally allowed to work in Canada
  • Be unemployed or employed less than 20 hours per week

For more information or to apply, please visit the Landscape Ontario website.

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