Master Gardeners Certification Training

Master Gardeners in Training (MGiTs) must successfully complete an educational component and also complete the required annual volunteer hours before they become certified as Master Gardeners. There are three paths towards completing the educational component for certification in Ontario.

University of Guelph Courses

You may take three courses from the University of Guelph. You must register on your own as would any other student. The fee for each course is $495. I believe much of the work is online. Not all courses are offered in all semesters, so you should check with the university or on the website for availability of courses. More information about the courses is available at www.horticulturecertificates.com

The three courses required by Master Gardeners of Ontario,Inc. are:

• Cultural Practice for Plants
• Introduction to Plant Identification
• Growing Plants

When you have completed the three required courses, your official transcript will be your proof of completion. Your transcript along with a statement that you have completed your required volunteer hours will be sent by your coordinator to the administrative office of Master Gardeners of Ontario, Inc. (MGOI): 113 Mill St., Creemore, ON, L0M 1G0 in order to establish your qualifications for certification.

Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Master Gardener Program

Another path towards certification as a Master Gardener in Ontario is to complete the Master Gardener Program offered by the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. There are four courses to take in this program and each course is $250. For information about the courses, go the the NSAC web page nsac.ca/cde. Choose the Master Gardener Training Program from the courses/programs menu on the left.

The NSAC courses are:

• The Science of Gardening
• Maintaining the Garden
• Plant ID
• The Art of Gardening

Note: There is no requirement at this time for Ontario Master Gardeners to complete a summer course in Nova Scotia in order to meet certification requirements for Ontario.

Once again, your transcript is proof that you have completed the required training. When requesting certification, your transcript and a statement that you have completed the required volunteer hours will be forwarded by your coordinator to the administrative office of Master Gardeners of Ontario, Inc., 113 Mill St., Creemore, ON L0M 1G0.

Self-Directed Study

You may choose to prepare on your own (self-directed study) and take the Certification Exam. You will be given a list of the required knowledge for the exam and may take up to three years to prepare for the exam. You are required to inform your coordinator of your decision to choose the self-directed route and may also be required to give progress reports to your group.

The Certification Exam

If you have recently completed a diploma or degree in horticulture or comparable education, have completed self-directed study, or have extensive horticultural knowledge, you may choose to sit a Certification Exam.

The Certification exam is an open-book exam that is to be completed in 2 1/2 hours under the supervision of an invigilator chosen by your local coordinator. The cost of the exam is $100. You are required to pass the exam with a mark of 70% or more.

The Certification Exam may be written within a week of these dates: December 1, March 1, May 1 and September 1.

These are the three paths to completing the educational component for certification as a Master Gardener in Ontario. When you have chosen your path, register your choice with your coordinator. Whichever path you choose, you will have 3 years to complete your training. Training time starts from the time you register your choice with your coordinator.