Training & Certification for Landscape Professionals
Sustainable landscaping is a growing market. Green Gardening training puts you in the lead. Check this page regularly for upcoming professional trainings, or view Past Workshop Presentations. For training materials in other languages see Translations.
Upcoming training opportunities
City of Seattle 2020/2021 IPM Continuing Education and Recertification Webinar Series: To accommodate the changes brought about this year by COVID-19, the 2020 Seminar is now planned as a series of 4 webinars. To offer participants the same number of credits as our traditional 2-day event, we will offer 2 webinars in Fall 2020 and 2 webinars in Winter 2021. Registration will open in late September.
Part One: October 28, 8:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Register for Part One
You must register online through this link to attend.
- Pesticides and Pollinators
- Managing Trees in NW Cities
- IPM Strategies using Eco-Turf
Part Two: November 18, 8:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Register for Part Two
- After RoundUp: alternative weed management products and strategies
- Urban Forest Pest Readiness
- Asian Giant Hornet
Parts Three and Four coming in early 2021.
Cost: Free (pre-registration required)
Credits: 3 WSDA credits per webinar; ISA, Eco-PRO, and CPH credits to be determined.
Training and certification resources:
Landscape professionals can learn more and be recognized through:
- ecoPRO WA Sustainable Landscape Professional Certification – offers advanced training and certification for working professionals, including online presentations from previous courses. Also see the Sustainable Landscapes reading & resource list (pdf).
- EnviroStars – certification for many types of businesses in the region, including landscape companies
- Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) – national guidelines and certification for sustainable landscapes, similar to the LEED green building rating system. See webinars at SITES/Education.
- WA Dept. of Ecology LID Training lists upcoming courses for professionals on Low Impact Development practices to manage stormwater. See a webinar from that series Soil Protection and Compost-Amended Soils - Meeting WA Stormwater Requirements (64 min.), for landscape designers and stormwater planners.
- Seattle's RainWise offers rain garden & cistern training for contractors, contact rainwise@seattle.gov
- WSDA Pesticide Certification is required for professionals who apply pesticides
- Garden Hotline professional training links to many programs, including Plant Amnesty Education Events
- WSNLA Event Calendar shows many upcoming trainings at a glance
Community college horticulture, landscape, and urban agriculture professional training:
- South Seattle College
- Seattle Central College
- Lake Washington Institute of Technology
- Edmonds Community College
- UWBG ProHort professional continuing education
Professional organizations offering training:
- Washington Association of Landscape Professionals
- Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association
- Pacific NW Chapter, International Society of Arboriculture
- Washington Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects
- Washington Chapter, Association of Professional Landscape Designers
- Washington Council, American Institute of Architects
- Irrigation Association
- Plant Amnesty Education Events
- WSU Urban IPM and Pesticide Recertification
- King County Noxious Weed Program