How long does the Certificate in Horticulture take?

It's self-paced. The two core modules add up to about 200 study hours, and most students finish in 10–15 weeks studying part-time. You have 12 months' access, and you can apply for an extension of up to 12 months if life gets in the way (an extension fee may apply).

Will this certificate help me get a job in horticulture?

It can help, but it isn't a trade qualification. Our certificates are non-accredited short courses focused on practical, job-relevant knowledge. They're not nationally accredited VET qualifications (such as a Certificate III). Gardening roles don't require a formal qualification, and practical plant knowledge is useful in many garden and nursery roles, but if a role legally requires a specific accredited qualification, check with the employer first. Our course consultants will be upfront about what this course can and can't do for you.

What does a horticulturist do?

A horticulturist grows, manages and cares for plants, usually in a commercial or public setting. Depending on the job, that can mean producing plants in a nursery, maintaining parks and gardens, managing irrigation and pests, advising on plant selection, or overseeing fruit, vegetable or ornamental production. Employers usually want an accredited qualification for horticulturist roles, such as the Certificate III in Horticulture (AHC30722), which this certificate is not; it covers the plant knowledge those roles build on.

How is this different from the Advanced Certificate in Horticulture?

The Advanced Certificate adds a third module, Horticulture 3 – Health & Welfare of Plants, which covers diagnosing plant problems and integrated pest management in depth. Start here if you want the foundations. Choose the Advanced Certificate if keeping plants healthy will be a big part of your work. You can also add Horticulture 3 to this course as an add-on module.

What will I receive when I finish?

A Certificate of Completion, a Certificate of Attainment and a transcript listing every unit you've completed. They're issued electronically, and you can request a hard copy for a fee.

Horticulture & Landscaping Courses

Certificate in Horticulture (Online)

Learn to name, choose and grow plants with confidence.

Start with the foundations every gardener and horticulture worker needs: identifying plants, choosing them for your site, managing soil and water, and propagating new stock, all online and at your own pace with a tutor on hand.

100% online
2 core modules
approx. 200 study hours
12 months' access
Tutor support 6 days a week
Certificate + transcript

Download the brochure Speak to a course consultant

Hands handling potted seedlings in a greenhouse

What is the Certificate in Horticulture?

The Certificate in Horticulture is a self-paced online course in the foundations of horticulture. Across two modules (Horticulture 1 – Introduction to Horticulture and Horticulture 2 – Plant Data) you'll learn to identify and name plants, choose them for your site, and manage soil, water, pests and propagation. It suits keen gardeners and people new to nursery or garden work.

Course overview

Build real plant knowledge from the ground up

Ever stood in a nursery aisle unsure which plant would survive your frost, your clay soil or your summer? This course gives you a structured way to answer that question. You'll learn how plants are classified and named, what they need from soil and water, and how to keep them growing, so your choices rest on knowledge rather than guesswork.

Name plants properly – Use taxonomic ranks and botanical names to identify plants and see how families and groups relate.
Choose the right plant for the site – Match plants to climate, frost, rainfall, wind and soil, and understand the value of native vegetation.
Grow and care for plants – Water, feed and propagate plants, maintain lawns and gardens, and spot common pest, disease and nutrient problems.
See how commercial horticulture works – Learn the regulations and processes behind commercial growing, and how plants are produced in natural and controlled environments.

Ready to understand what's really happening in your garden? Your horticulture course starts the day you enrol.

Who this course is for

Home gardeners and tree-changers who want to know why some plants thrive and others fail, and how to plan a garden that suits their block.
People starting out in horticulture who want a grounding before applying for nursery, garden centre or garden maintenance roles.
Small-acreage and hobby farm owners planting windbreaks, shelter belts, orchards or a productive veggie patch.
Career changers who want to test their interest in horticulture before committing to further study.

What you'll study

You'll start with a short Student Induction module that sets you up on the learning platform and introduces your tutor. Then you'll work through two core modules.

Module 1: Horticulture 1 – Introduction to Horticulture (approx. 100 hours)

Your foundation. You'll learn how plants are classified, chosen and cared for, and how soil, water and pests shape everything you grow.

Technical Classifications and Identification of Plants – classify plants, use common and botanical names, and read leaf and flower structure.
Plant Types - Selection Criteria – match plants to local climate, frost, rainfall and wind, and understand the value of native vegetation.
Creating a Plant Landscape – the design, construction and planting steps behind a planted landscape.
Water Management – how the environment shapes water needs, and how irrigation and sprinkler systems work.
Soils – soil structure and classification, soil testing, nutrients and natural soil supplements.
Pests and Diseases – common plant problems, nutrient deficiencies, water-related issues and safe chemical handling.
Growing, Managing and Maintaining Plants and Gardens – propagation from seed, plant and lawn maintenance, and general garden care.
Plant Uses and Plant Conservation – plants for food, windbreaks, stock shelter, habitat and commercial use.
Impact on the Natural Plant Environment – climate extremes, urbanisation, rural land management, soil degradation and waterways.

Module 2: Horticulture 2 – Plant Data (approx. 100 hours)

This module adds the technical detail: botanical naming, the main edible and ornamental plant groups, propagation, and how commercial horticulture is regulated.

Introduction to Taxonomy – the taxonomic ranks and how plants are classified.
Scientific / Botanical Names – botanical naming conventions and plant families.
Plant Types: Non-Edible – ornamental and other non-food plant groups.
Plant Types: Edible – food-producing plant groups.
Plant Disease and Pest Management – recognising and managing common pest and disease problems.
Plant Care and Maintenance – the everyday care practices that keep plants healthy.
Commercial Horticulture Regulations and Processes – the rules and processes behind commercial horticulture.
Natural and Artificial Environments – growing in natural settings compared with controlled ones such as greenhouses.
Plant Propagation and Care – propagation methods and aftercare.
Applications of Horticulture – how horticulture is applied, including relationships between plants and fauna.

How you'll learn and be assessed

Online, in your own time – study materials, quizzes and assignments are on the learning platform 24/7, on any device.
Quizzes and written assignments – each unit ends with a short online quiz, and each module has about five assignments marked by your tutor with personalised feedback, some with short checkpoint tasks.
Practical plant work – assignments include a plant identification sheet and tasks on environmental conditions, water and soil, and pests and gardens, using real plants and sites around you.
Competency-based – if an assignment isn't quite there yet, your tutor tells you what to improve and you resubmit. There are no exams to sit in a centre.

Tailor your course with add-on modules

Make the course fit your garden, property or career plans. Any certificate can be tailored with add-on modules from our catalogue, so you can pick up extra skills alongside your horticulture studies.

Horticulture 3 – Health & Welfare of Plants

Diagnose and manage plant health: pests, diseases and weeds, natural and chemical controls, integrated pest management, environmental impacts and safe work practices. Want Horticulture 3 from the start? The Advanced Certificate in Horticulture includes it, alongside the two modules in this course.

Landscaping I

Design-led landscaping: design procedure, garden history, drafting, basic construction, surfaces and features, and designing home gardens and public parks. A natural next step if you want to design gardens as well as plant them.

Organic Farming

Organic production that works with natural systems: soil fertility, non-chemical weed, pest and disease control, organic livestock, pasture and crops. Useful if you grow food and want to manage soil, pests and weeds without relying on chemicals.

Soil Management

Get to know your soil: classification, properties and plant nutrition, soil testing, degradation problems like erosion and salinity, and practical soil management, finishing with your own soil investigation. Takes the Soils unit in Horticulture 1 much further.

Horticulture Resource Management

The business side of horticulture: researching and starting or buying a horticulture business, decision-making, managing people and physical resources, and professional obligations. Worth adding if you're thinking about turning your plant skills into a nursery or garden business.

Ask a course consultant about adding modules when you enrol.

Career pathways and earning potential

Horticulture knowledge is used in nurseries, garden centres, garden maintenance and landscaping businesses, councils and production horticulture. Roles graduates often explore include:

Gardener or garden maintenance worker – planting, pruning, mowing, watering and keeping private or public gardens in good shape. Median advertised salary $70,000 (SEEK).
Nursery or garden centre assistant – propagating, potting up and caring for stock, and helping customers choose what to plant. Average advertised salary $72,040 (Jora).
Horticultural assistant – supporting growers, landscapers or parks teams with plant care, irrigation and pest monitoring. Median advertised salary $76,000 (SEEK).

Figures are advertised salaries (SEEK, Jora) or median full-time earnings (Jobs and Skills Australia), accessed October 2026. Pay varies with experience, location and employer. Figures are a guide only.

With experience and further study, some people move on to horticulturist or horticulture technician roles.

Course details

Study mode: 100% online, self-paced
Core modules: 2 (plus Student Induction)
Study time: approx. 200 hours at your own pace (most students finish in 10–15 weeks part-time)
Access: 12 months
Support: tutor support 6 days a week, by phone, email or video call
You'll receive: Certificate of Completion, Certificate of Attainment and transcript
Payment: upfront or interest-free payment plan

Download the brochure Speak to a course consultant

Download your Certificate in Horticulture brochure

See the full unit list, how assessment works and payment options in one place.

Hear from our students

“The courses are easy to navigate and work through online, and the feedback I received was always timely and helpful.”

Jucela · Horticulture

Frequently asked questions

No. You don't need any experience or a garden of your own to enrol. The course starts with how plants are classified and grown. Where an assignment asks you to identify plants or look at soil and growing conditions, you can use any site you have access to: a courtyard, a friend's garden, a local park or a community garden.