This two-year program will provide you with a deep understanding of horticulture, including the production and management of plants, pests, landscapes, soils and water systems to achieve productive and sustainable systems.
Hone your skills through immersive hands-on learning accessing our unique campus that acts as a living lab, consisting of a 15 acre constructed wetland, botanic gardens, greenhouses and 12,000 square foot Landscape Pavilion. Learn how to design specialty landscapes, start a horticulture business and create an entrepreneurial approach to processing plants. You will also learn how to manage production of horticulture crops in response to market demands, as well as recognize the ecological, economic and social implications of horticulture decisions and processes.
Students enrolled in the Horticulture Technologist diploma program will be required to participate in a Field School, where students will work with a company earning a wage while putting their studies into practice.
Graduates are eligible to pursue certification through the Horticulture Certification Program by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association.
Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will receive a diploma in Horticulture Technologist.
Academic Upgrading and High School Applicants: Applicants currently in high school or who are completing academic upgrading must submit proof of enrollment and any available interim/midterm marks. Final marks must be submitted within one month following the completion of the course(s) and no later than one month prior to the program start date.
Alternate Admission Option: Alternate Admission status may be offered to applicants who have not or will not complete one of the academic admission requirements. To be considered under Alternate Admission Status, applicants will be asked to provide the following:
*Submitting Alternate Admission material does not guarantee admission*
Transfer Options: Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has developed agreements with other educational institutions to allow for transition to Olds College, or to another institution to continue your education. Articulations & Agreements
Out of Province Applicants: Please refer to the Provincial Equivalency Chart for course equivalencies.
International Applicants: Olds College welcomes applications from International Applicants and those who have completed their high school education outside of Canada. Please note, it is still necessary to meet all of the noted admission requirements, including English Language Proficiency.
Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for complete details.
Olds College of Agriculture & Technology offers over 450 awards, valued at $500,000+ in scholarships, bursaries and prizes. Thanks to our industry partners, alumni, and friends of Olds College we are fortunate to offer a generous student awards program to students.
For additional information on scholarships, bursaries and prizes at Olds College, visit Scholarships & Awards.
Entrance awards range from $250 - $1,500 for students applying for the upcoming academic year and have paid the tuition deposit by the deadline.
For information on how to apply for government student loans, financial aid or for help with financial planning, visit our Student Funding page.
For course descriptions and requisites, view the Academic Calendar.
Academic Calendar: Horticulture Technologist Diploma
Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has a solid reputation working with employers in the industry! This directly translates into jobs for our graduates. Opportunities include, but are not limited to entry and mid-level roles in:
Landscape design construction and maintenance
Greenhouse, garden centre and controlled environment production
Organic and field crop production
Orchard production
Sod farm
Tree nursery
Urban agriculture
Sustainable horticulture
Green roofs
Living Walls
Community Gardens
Horticulture Therapy
Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!
Find out when your term start and end dates are, so that you know when you are expected to be in attendance. For more information, please review the Program Dates & Fee Schedule.
You will be registered into your classes automatically. This will happen approximately 1 month prior to the start-date for your program. You will be notified once you have been timetabled into your courses. You will be able to see your class schedule in your My Olds College account. If you need to make any changes to your class registration, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
It is strongly recommended that you come to Olds College of Agriculture & Technology with the following technology:
As part of your student accounts, all students have access to Office 365 for the duration of their time with Olds College. To access this you just need to follow these steps:
The following items are required to be purchased before the program starts:
Information on required textbooks and any further supplies will be provided as you attend each class. All books and supplies will be available during the first few weeks of classes in the College Campus Store.
Time Requirements: This program is delivered using a modified schedule. Most courses are scheduled over a 7.5 week block. Within each course you will be attending class for 3 hours per day, Monday to Friday during these blocks. Classes are normally scheduled between 9 am and noon with some labs scheduled in the afternoons. In addition, you should anticipate several hours of additional study each afternoon and evening and on weekends, which may require the use of on-campus resources like the Herbarium, Greenhouses, or the Botanic Gardens.
Some courses may require or provide additional opportunities that involve evening/weekend classes or overnight field trips. You must be prepared to make the personal arrangements necessary to allow you to participate in the full range of classroom activities if you are to gain all the competencies required in each course. Notice of field trips will be given well in advance and it is your responsibility to participate. Off-campus events make up a valuable part of your training and further the development of essential skills. Times and duration of each off-campus event will vary but typically involve leaving and returning at times that are outside of normal class hours.
Student Clubs: The Horticulture Club is a group that offers an additional dimension to your Olds College of Agriculture & Technology experience. There are also a number of college sports teams, some of which participate at the inter-collegiate level while others are purely recreational.
Additional Skills: Basic computer skills are recommended for all and it is certainly beneficial to have some prior experience with computers before you arrive at the College. A familiarity and comfort in the use of Google products, word processing, spreadsheet and e-mailing software will be a definite asset. Students have the ability to take notes directly into their devices as the class proceeds. You will be schooled in other systems once you arrive and as need dictates. For example, the learning management system ‘Moodle’ is commonly used in the School of Life Science & Business and you will be introduced to its use and application in your very first classes.
Lockers: All you need to do during your first few days at Olds College is to select one without a lock and it’s yours for the duration. I strongly recommend that you select a locker in the first week of classes because of high demand. You are required to provide your own lock.
"The program at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology tells you what you need to know and is a stepping stone to a successful horticulture career. It gave me the insight into the horticulture industry I needed to start planning my own business."
Tim Moreland, Class of 1998
