Adult Education student making a floral arrangement.

Certificate Programs

ON A NEW PATH OR THINKING ABOUT A CAREER CHANGE?

Consider upgrading your professional profile and actively pursue a prestigious NYBG Certificate.
NYBG’s Certificate Programs in Botanical Art and Illustration, Botany, Floral Design, Gardening, Horticulture, Landscape Design, Therapeutic Horticulture, and Urban Naturalist, allow you to develop new skills, build your portfolio and network, gain cross-disciplinary experience, and stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends. A NYBG Certificate provides you with a serious credential that tells employers and clients that you’ve made a commitment to your professional development.

NYBG’s Horticulture and Landscape Design Certificate Programs are part of the School for Horticulture and Landscape Design, which is licensed by the New York State Department of Education. For more information about SHLD and the State license, please click here.

NYBG Certificate Programs Requirements

  • The Botanical Art & Illustration requirements provide a solid foundation in scientifically accurate drawing based on observation and fine art techniques.

    Certificate students must complete 221 total course hours (167 required + 54 elective). Students are also required to submit a portfolio showcasing class assignments and their own unique creations to the Program Coordinator at bilcoordinator@nybg.org.

    COURSES

    Botanical Drawing I: Methods and Materials

    Botanical Drawing II: Developing Your Skills

    The Basics of Visual Composition

    Botanical Drawing III: Focus on Flowers

    Plant Morphology for Botanical Artists

    Botanical Watercolor I

    Pen and Ink

    Colored Pencil

    Practical Aspects of Botanical Art

    Plus one of the following: 

    Internet Tools for Creatives, Part I: Social Media

    Internet Tools for Creatives, Part II: Website

    Elective courses

    LEARN MORE

  • During the NYBG Botany Certificate Program, students will come to know plants: how they function, grow, develop, and reproduce; and learn to identify a wide array of plants by stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits.

    Certificate students must complete 169 total course hours (111 required + 58 elective).

    COURSES

    Plant Structure

    Plant Physiology

    Plant Diversity

    Dendrology: Woody Plant Identification

    Herbaceous Plant Identification

    One of the four Native Flora courses:

    Native Flora in Autumn

    Native Flora in Winter

    Native Flora in Spring

    Native Flora in Summer

    Elective courses

    LEARN MORE

  • The NYBG Floral Design Certificate Program helps you develop your own aesthetic and master the mechanics for everything from simple bouquets to grand-scale arrangements, while giving you a practical, real-world, business foundation.

    Certificate students must complete 142 total course hours (116 required + 26 elective), plus an 80-hour internship.

    Students are also required to submit a portfolio showcasing photographs of class assignments and their own unique creations.

    COURSES

    Fundamentals of Form

    Fundamentals of Style

    Wedding Design I: Personals

    Color Theory for Floral Design

    Flower ID from A to Z

    Interior Plantscapes

    Shopping the New York Flower Market

    Modern Sympathy Design

    Wedding Design II: Ceremony & Reception

    Grand-Scale Arrangements

    Event Planning for the Floral Designer

    Elective courses

    LEARN MORE

  • The NYBG Gardening Certificate Program covers sustainable gardening techniques, soil science, plant propagation, and garden care and design.

    Certificate students must complete 187 total course hours (164 required + 23 elective).

    COURSES

    Fundamentals of Gardening

    Introduction to Plant Science

    Soil Science for Gardeners

    Gardening with Native Plants

    Insect Identification and Management

    Disease Identification and Management

    Fundamentals of Garden Design

    Vegetable Gardening

    Complete Garden Care and Maintenance

    Pruning Principles and Practices

    Plants for Landscaping

    Plant Propagation I: Basic Principles

    Elective GAR or HRT courses

    LEARN MORE

  • The NYBG Horticulture Program blends classroom theory with field studies in the Garden’s historic landscape, teaching students how to form and care for healthy, sustainable landscapes. Licensed by the New York State Department of Education, the Certificate Program is recognized as high quality and career oriented.

    This program offers a high standard of training in four areas of concentration:

    TRACK 1: PLANT PRODUCTION

    Gain the skills to propagate and produce an array of native and non-native plants for nurseries, garden centers, and landscape-restoration projects.

    Certificate students must complete 158 total course hours.

    COURSES

    Introduction to Plant Science

    Soil Science I: Physical Properties

    Soil Science II: Chemistry and Nutrition

    Horticultural Techniques: Greenhouse Practices

    Insect Pests of Landscape Plants

    Plant Propagation I: Basic Principles

    Plant Propagation II: Applications

    Disease Identification & Management

    Nursery and Greenhouse Management


    TRACK 2: SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT

    Understand landscape maintenance and management practices using the concept “right plant—right place” in residential and commercial landscapes.

    Certificate students must complete 201 total course hours.

    COURSES

    Introduction to Plant Science

    Soil Science I: Physical Properties

    Soil Science II: Chemistry and Nutrition

    Horticultural Techniques: Landscape Gardening

    Pruning Principles and Practices

    Basic Design and Installation of Irrigation Systems

    Business Practices for the Landscape Professional

    Insect Pests of Landscape Plants

    Tree Management

    Landscape Management

    Disease Identification & Management

    Invasive Weed Identification & Management

    Mathematics for Horticulturists


    TRACK 3: ARBORICULTURE

    Know how to grow, prune, care for, and manage trees in parks, residential sites, and urban environments.

    Certificate students must complete 194 total course hours.

    COURSES

    Introduction to Plant Science

    Soil Science I: Physical Properties

    Soil Science II: Chemistry and Nutrition

    Tree Climbing for Arborists

    Chainsaws: Use, Safety, and Maintenance

    Pruning Principles and Practices

    Landscape Plants: Fall Trees and Shrubs

    Landscape Plants: Conifers

    Landscape Plants: Spring Trees and Shrubs

    Insect Pests of Landscape Plants

    Tree Management

    Urban Tree Care

    Winter Tree Identification

    Disease Identification & Management


    TRACK 4: SUSTAINABLE GARDEN DESIGN

    Be able to design small-scale gardens for homes, communities, and private clients.

    Certificate students must complete 202 total course hours.

    COURSES

    Introduction to Plant Science

    Soil Science I: Physical Properties

    Landscape Plants: Broadleaved Evergreens

    Landscape Plants: Spring Trees and Shrubs

    Landscape Plants: Spring Perennials

    Landscape Plants: Late Season Perennials & Grasses

    Landscape Plants: Annuals

    Landscape Plants: Bulbs

    Annual and Perennial Garden Maintenance

    Plants for Landscaping

    Plant Communities

    Sustainable Garden Care

    Sustainable Garden Design

    Landscape Design History

    Graphics I

    LEARN MORE

  • The NYBG Landscape Design Certificate Program prepares students for creative careers as landscape designers. Licensed by the New York State Department of Education, the Certificate Program is recognized as high quality and career oriented.

    Certificate students must complete 349 total required course hours.

    COURSES

    TIER 1—INTRODUCTORY CLASSES

    Landscape Design History

    Graphics I

    Landscape Measurement

    Landscape Plants: Fall Trees and Shrubs

    Landscape Plants: Spring Trees and Shrubs

    Plants for Landscaping


    TIER 2

    Landscape Design I: Site Analysis & Schematic Design

    Landscape Design II: Design Development

    Estimating

    Graphics II

    Site Materials and Details


    TIER 3

    Graphics III

    Landscape Design III: Planting Design

    Landscape Design IV: Design and Construction

    Portfolio and Presentation Skills

    LEARN MORE

  • NYBG’s Therapeutic Horticulture Certificate Program emerges from a health and wellness model of human development, combined with research supporting nature as an effective therapeutic medium. Learn to create experiences that utilize plants, gardening, and nature to empower individuals and groups whose lives have been affected by illnesses, injuries, disabilities, and life circumstances in order to achieve improvements in their cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

    Certificate students must complete 176 course hours, 10 site visit hours, and 100 hours of field experience.

    COURSES

    Introductory & Service Community Classes

    Introduction to Therapeutic Horticulture

    Therapeutic Horticulture for Older Adults

    Therapeutic Horticulture for Youth with Disabilities

    Therapeutic Horticulture for Mental Health

    Therapeutic Horticulture for Neurological Conditions

    Therapeutic Horticulture for Chronic Health Conditions

    Foundations of Horticulture Classes

    Fundamentals of Gardening

    Introduction to Plant Science

    Plant Propagation I: Basic Principles

    Therapeutic Horticulture Techniques & Materials

    Accessibility in Therapeutic Horticulture Programming

    Indoor Plants for Therapeutic Programs

    Outdoor Plants for Therapeutic Programs

    Therapeutic Horticulture Activity Planning

    Therapeutic Horticulture Program Management

    Elective Courses

    Site Visits

    LEARN MORE

  • The NYBG Urban Naturalist Certificate Program equips you with the observation, identification, and documentation skills you need to become a citizen scientist and an effective environmental steward.

    Certificate students must complete 107 total course hours (77 required + 30 elective) and submit a field study project.

    COURSES

    Basic Plant ID

    Two of the four Native Flora courses:

    Native Flora in Autumn

    Native Flora in Winter

    Native Flora in Spring

    Native Flora in Summer

    Natural History of Birds

    Natural History of Insects

    Introduction of Urban Ecology

    The Ecosystems of New York City

    Urban Ecology Field Study Workshop

    Elective courses

    LEARN MORE

    FIELD STUDY PROJECT

    In order to receive a Certificate, you must complete an in-depth study of a natural site of your choosing based on observations made there over many months that includes a survey of the plants and animals found there and a plan for how the site can be improved to provide ecological and social benefits. For more information, see project description here.

    In order to receive a Certificate, you must submit a final project is an in-depth study of a natural site of your choosing, which should be done based on observations made over many months. Your study will include the geology and human history of your patch, a survey of the plants and animals found there, and a plan for how the site can be improved to provide ecological and social benefits. Guidelines can be obtained from the Registration Office.

    In order to be considered for graduation, you must submit a project proposal for approval to the Program Coordinator.

Adult Education Graduation

Certificate Graduation Ceremony

The annual Certificate Award Ceremony is held the first Sunday in June. If you expect to complete your Certificate requirements or enroll in all remaining classes by June, you must complete and submit this Application for Graduation.

Browse these FAQs to learn more about next steps.

Email the Registration Office at graduation@nybg.org with any questions.

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