Nursery Technician Program Map

This Nursery Technician certificate provides students with the practical, hands-on experience they need to pursue employment in the areas of plant production, maintenance, or sales of ornamental and/or food crops in California. This program prepares students to advance to management positions in greenhouse and nursery businesses that propagate, grow and market plants for use in the home, business or the landscape. The program provides a solid foundation in plant knowledge and nursery and garden center environments, as well as computer applications and management skills.

Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP

Community of interest: ITAG Industrial Technologies & Agriculture
Award: Certificate of Achievement
Program code: 07257.01CA
Department: Environmental Hort
CIP code: 01.0608: Floriculture/Floristry Operations and Management.
TOP code: 0109.20 - Floriculture / Floristry*

Map Class Schedule

Program Schedule Report Meet with a counselor

Nursery Technician

Certificate of Achievement

A career-aligned credential built around a specific field of study or area of emphasis. Faster to complete than a degree, and the coursework typically stacks into a related AS or AA later if you choose to continue.

See the 2026-27 Catalog for official program details

Semester-by-Semester Map

Term 1

Class Schedules

12 units

EH 20

Introduction to Environmental Horticulture

3 units

This course is an introduction to environmental horticulture including nursery operations, landscaping, turf management and arboriculture. Topics include basic botany, cultural practices, propagation, structures and layout, pest management, planting, transplanting, container gardening, houseplants, plant identification, turfgrass installation and care, and a broad survey of the 'Green Industry' and other career opportunities.

View full course outline for EH 20

EH 30

Irrigation Practices and Materials

3 units

This course is an introduction to the materials, equipment, installation procedures, operation and maintenance of landscape irrigation systems and their components.

View full course outline for EH 30

EH 70

Plant Propagation and Nursery Practices

3 units

This course is an introduction to plant propagation and production practices with emphasis on nursery operations including sexual and asexual reproduction, planting, transplanting, fertilizing, plant pest and disease control; structures and site layout; preparation and use of propagating and planting mediums; use and maintenance of common tools and equipment; regulations pertaining to plant production. (C-ID AG-EH 116L).

View full course outline for EH 70

Select one:

Required

3 units

Choose one of 2 choices

EH 23
Fall Plant Identification
3 units
course details
This course is a study of identification, growth habits, culture and ornamental use of fall landscape and indoor plants adapted to climates of California. Plants emphasized will come from the current California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers (CANGC) and California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) Certification Test Plant Lists. This course covers those plants best observed and studied in the fall of the year. (C-ID AG-EH 108L).
View full course outline for EH 23
+−
EH 24
Spring Plant Identification
3 units
course details
This course is a study of identification, growth habits, culture and ornamental use of spring landscape and indoor plants adapted to climates of California. Plants emphasized will come from the current California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers (CANGC) and California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) Certification Test Plant Lists. This course covers those plants best observed and studied in the spring of the year. (C-ID AG-EH 112L).
View full course outline for EH 24
+−

Term 2

Class Schedules

6 units

EH 38

Greenhouse Production

3 units

This course is a survey of the greenhouse industry. Emphasis will be placed on analysis, description, and operation of greenhouses and other forcing structures. The relationship of light, temperature, moisture, aeration, and humidity to plant growth will be described. Emphasis will be placed on potted plants grown for foliage or flowers, cut flowers and bedding plant production.

View full course outline for EH 38

Select one:

Required

3 units

Choose one of 4 choices

EH 26
Landscape Planning and Design
3 units
course details
This course is a study of the principles utilized in planning and designing residential, commercial, and public landscaped areas. Topics include the fundamentals of design, the design process, and client relations. Emphasis will be placed upon the selection and utilization of plants and non-plant materials included in landscape areas.
View full course outline for EH 26
+−
EH 60
Principles of Integrated Pest Management
3 units
course details
Examines the origin, history, and management of insect, plant pathogen, weed, and other pests of agricultural, horticultural, and landscape crops. Consideration of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles and practices in conventional, organic, residue-free, and sustainable agriculture. Pest biology and ecology is studied to demonstrate the various IPM technologies used for economic crop production. Pesticide regulations, toxicity, application, and materials for specific uses are examined.
View full course outline for EH 60
+−
EH 61
Plant Protection Materials
3 units
course details
Introduces the safe and responsible use of horticultural and agricultural chemicals including pesticides and plant growth regulators. Topics include the history of pesticide use along with laws and regulations plus mode of action, toxicology, and the benefits and risks of use. Pesticide application equipment and calibration are covered. Emphasis is on sustainable practices using commercial examples to generate discussion and support the formulation of integrated agrichemical management programs.
View full course outline for EH 61
+−
EH 62
Weed Science and Invasive Plants
3 units
course details
This course is an introduction to the classification, identification, and life cycles of common poisonous and invasive weeds. Topics include the biological, chemical, cultural, and physical control of weeds. Characteristics of weeds and their identification, and herbicide application will be examined.
View full course outline for EH 62
+−

Career Connections

2-Year Degree Paths

Entry points students may pursue after associate-level study, technical preparation, or licensure pathways.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset point cleanly to an immediate 2-year outcome for this program.

4-Year Degree Paths

Roles that more often open up after transfer and a bachelor's degree.

Example roles: 1

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers

Graduate School Paths

Advanced roles commonly associated with graduate, professional, or post-baccalaureate study.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the graduate-school pathway for this program.

Local Job Market

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersSOC 41-1011no nearby openings indexed

No nearby openings matched any of: first-line supervisors of retail sales worker. Browse this occupation on Adzuna for postings outside the mapped keyword set.

Posting counts come from Adzuna's index of US job boards, covering the last up to 90 days within up to 100 miles of ZIP 95965. Coverage and salary visibility vary by employer. Empty searches expand the radius and posting window before the section gives up.

Source Notes

Course sequencing is generated from the Acadia Program Mapper cache. Career groupings use local CIP-to-SOC mappings and BLS occupation data when available. Confirm education plans with Counseling and Advising.

Live wage data was not available from the BLS helper for the mapped occupations, so some pay fields may be blank.

Last generated 2026-07-05T17:07+00:00

Program Snapshot

Next Steps

2-Year Degree Paths

4-Year Degree Paths

Graduate School Paths

Source Notes