3 Paths to Certification
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 two paths towards completing the educational component for certification in Ontario.
As a Master Gardener in Training (MGiT), you must declare the mode of training you are choosing. Your coordinator or someone designated to record training progress will record the date you start and your preferred mode of training.
Nova Scotia Agricultural College
One path towards certification as a Master Gardener in Ontario is to complete the Master Gardener Program offered by the Nova Scotia Agicultural College. There are four courses to take in this program and each course is $250. For information about the courses, go the the NSAC Master Gardener web page here.
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.
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.
University of Guelph
You may also 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 admission@registrar.uoguelph.ca or check the university web site https://admission.uoguelph.ca/home.aspx
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.
Certification Exam
If an applicant has recently completed a diploma or degree in horticulture or has extensive horticultural knowledge, he/she may choose to sit a Certification Exam. Likewise, an MGiT may choose to prepare for certification on his/her own and sit the Certification Exam.
A MGOI document, Basic Knowledge Requirements (see Self-study at the right), is available from the coordinator of a Master Gardener group or from the Provincial Administrator. An MGiT choosing this path must declare the decision to the coordinator and may take up to three years to prepare for the exam.
The Certification Exam is an open-book exam that is to be completed in 2½ hours under the supervision of an invigilator chosen by the local coordinator. The exam may be taken during the weeks of March 1, June 1, September 1 or November 1. The cost of the exam is $100.
Applicants are required to pass this exam with a mark of 70 per cent or more.
Join Our Group
If you wish to be considered for membership in Simcoe County Master Gardeners, please contact John Craw, 705-436-5292 or email him.