Cannabis Training Advice: Do You Need A Cannabis Certification?
Now supporting over 420,000 jobs, the cannabis industry is becoming a realistic home for blossoming careers. So, if you’re hoping to join the hundreds of thousands who get to promote legalization and interact with the cannabis plant regularly in dispensaries, cultivation sites, healthcare, and more – then expect to face competition.
Maybe you’ve considered getting some cannabis certification to help your resume stand out from others in the pile. At this point, you’re likely asking a common question: “Should I enroll in a cannabis certificate program?”
For this reason, this post explains why cannabis certifications are important for everyone in (or hoping to be in) the industry. Without proper education, you’ll be left in the dust.
What is a cannabis certification?
Earning a certification in cannabis means you have completed coursework from a reputable cannabis certificate program. Indeed, you’re well on your way to becoming a cannabis expert. Overall, think of certifications from these providers as mini degrees, each with a different area of emphasis.
Here are the most common types of cannabis certifications, with brief course descriptions:
- Budtender training – You’ll learn all things cannabis, medical & recreational marijuana effects, dosing, customer service, sanitation, and proper cannabis use. Specifically, budtenders are the face of dispensaries and must learn to be personable and highly knowledgeable about cannabis.
- Cannabis cultivation training – These courses teach you indoor/outdoor growing for bulk or personal use, compliance requirements, and the fundamentals of working in a cannabis cultivation facility.
- Manufacturing training – Teaching you the foundational skills for cannabis production, such as drying, processing, compounding, or converting usable cannabis into cannabis products or cannabis resins.
- State requirement training – Cannabis laws, compliance, and regulations for cannabis businesses and employees.
- Business certification – Training to help you open a cannabis business such as a dispensary, get your business off the ground, and thrive in the competitive industry.
Who needs a cannabis certification?
If you plan to or are currently working in cannabis, you will benefit from additional education. In effect, cannabis certifications help everyone in the industry to maintain a strong foundational knowledge, plus consumers will benefit from more experienced industry professionals who grow, manufacture, distribute, and sell cannabis.
Here’s who benefits from cannabis training:
- Aspiring cannabis employees – If you’re looking for a job in cannabis, then you need to stand out to succeed. Adding cannabis certifications to your resume and fluently speaking about the cannabis plant with potential employers will help you land a job.
- Current cannabis employees – If you’re already working a job in cannabis, congrats! The next step is to earn that promotion or raise. With additional training, you prove to your employer that you’re serious about the job and crave further education.
- Cannabis business owners – If you own a cannabis business, your employees’ education should be a top priority. Because the cannabis industry is intensely competitive, customer service is often a differentiator. Everyone from your receptionist to budtender to security guard to dispensary manager should be highly knowledgeable of both the cannabis plant and all applicable compliance requirements for your business.
How can I get a cannabis certification?
There are a number of cannabis training courses out there today. Some state and local universities have even started to offer recreational and medical cannabis classes. Luckily, you can pick where you’re trained based on things like:
- Budget – Class pricing can range anywhere from $100 to $5,000 depending where you enroll. Pick an option that fits your budget and keep an eye out for financial aid opportunities.
- Desired career – The types of course and number of classes will depend on what job you want now and what career you want next.
- State requirements – Some states require a certain number of hours in training, with certain course objectives and material.
- Availability – Classes can range from hours to weeks to months of work. Don’t overcommit to something unnecessarily time-consuming. If you only have a few hours per week, look for asynchronous, online classes so you can complete them at your own pace.
- Employer requirements – Your boss may ask you for a certain number of hours in training.
It’s important to do your research and find the best cannabis certification program for you.
THC University is an affordable, comprehensive cannabis training school that gives cannabis professionals the fundamentals they need for this industry. Courses are designed so you can work at your own pace, with final exams to test your comprehension. We help transform cannabis enthusiasts to cannabis professionals with the most affordable cannabis training.
Graduates of THC University, have access to a curated job board, receive a certificate of completion, a complimentary resume check, and the confidence to excel in any area of the cannabis industry they choose.