Becoming a florist requires a person to become an expert in both floral design and customer service. In the past, all florists learned their art by working in a flower shop, getting on the job training and advancing their way slowly up the career ladder until one day they started their own floral design business. While many careers have moved away from apprenticeship style training, florists still learn most of their trade through hands on experience and work performed in a retail flower shop setting.But this is not the only way to become a florist. Certification programs, private licenses, and even two and four year degrees from colleges and universities are now acceptable paths into a career as a florist. Gone are the days when becoming a florist meant starting out as a cashier or some other low level employee at a flower shop and eventually picking up the skills needed to become a florist. Having said that, there are very few flower design jobs that require participation in one of these training programs.
What types of florist training are available?
Private floral schools -- There are dozens of private "floral design" schools around the country. Most of them are certified by some governing body or another, usually the state board of education or the state florist association for the state in which the school does business. Attending a floral school that is not certified by some outside board or association just doesn't make sense, as there are plenty of certified and accredited floral design training programs to choose from.These private schools teaching florist skills operate differently depending on the school. Most use some sort of intensive training program, requiring students to work long hours over the course of a few weeks. Still other programs last from a few months up to a year -- the classroom and training time is less intense but the education is basically the same. At any of these private floral schools, wannabe florists get practical instruction and training in everything from the basics of floral design to modern trends in flowers. These schools go through huge numbers of fresh flowers and other foliage -- most of the training is hands on, taught by people with experience as florists.
Before you scoff at the idea of getting all the florist training you need in a few short weeks, remember that a good florist will constantly learn new techniques, possibly even taking courses to bolster their flower design abilities. Those "three weeks" of private floral design school are usually intensive. Private floral schools tend to be set up much like the workrooms of professional flower shops, so those three weeks of concentrated training perfectly prepare them for a job as a floral designer.
Private floral schools run the gamut from relatively cheap to fairly expensive. The cost depends on the length of the course, the "prestige" of the school, and the specific program a student chooses. Expect to spend at least $500 on your private floral design school, though you can spend a little bit less and a whole lot more depending on the school.
Flower design certification -- For people who got their florist training "on the job" and want to legitimize their apprenticeship, or for florists who want to advertise that they are nationally accredited, The American Institute of Floral Designers gives an accreditation exam. Put simply, passing this intense florist exam means you are a professional floral designer.
During this test, students of floral design will complete a written exam, covering florist terminology and basic biology, before moving on to a hands on flower arranging exam. For the "hands on" part of the test, florists have four hours to create five floral arrangements of different types -- funeral tributes, table settings, wedding arrangements, a wearable flower arrangement, and a "freestyle" category where the exam taker gets to choose what they create. This grueling four hour part of the test is judged live by officials from the American Institute of Floral Designers.
Though passing this test does not guarantee you a job in a flower shop, it does legitimize the skills you learned in a retail setting, and looks great on the resume of a flower shop owner.
Associates degree programs -- Many community colleges or trade schools (and even some four year universities) offer an Associates degree in Applied Science aimed at people who want to become florists. These programs usually have "flower" or "florist" somewhere in the name, and are focused on the business of arranging and selling flowers. A program such as this goes far beyond the certification offered by national organizations -- students getting an associates degree in Applied Science will learn the horticultural side of the business as well as the knowledge of business necessary to succeeding as a small business owner.
Because so many florists work in a small business setting, an associates degree in a business field is the perfect supplement to on the job florist training or a certification program. It is difficult to teach the creative part of the floral design business, but you can learn how to run a smart business. Getting upper level training in business management, marketing, and even accounting will serve the prospective florist well. Most community colleges and universities offer these business degree programs, and because they stop short of full four year degrees, the time required to earn the degree is anywhere from just two semesters up to two years.
How you prepare yourself for a career as a florist is not as important as becoming prepared. It is just as easy to learn the necessary florist skills working as an apprentice to a florist as it is taking classes at a private floral design school or community college. How you learn your trade is not important -- getting a good education is. You can be the world's greatest floral designer, but without business acumen your flower shop may never get off the ground. Similarly, you could be a shrewd businessperson, but without the creative skills of a good designer, you won't have many customers to practice those business skills on. The world of floral design is wide open. There aren't many fields that offer this many in roads to success.
Article Source: How to Become a Florist
