Course info please

Last post 27-04-2012 1:36 PM by Hortaddict. 15 replies.

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19/04/2012 01:47 PM
Guinness Location: West Midlands Joined on: 19 Apr 2012 Posts: 8	Reply \| Contact Hi everyone, I have looked around and have seen a lot of topics relating to changing careers and aiming towards working in the ourdoors. I'm in the same situation, I am 28 and a design engineer and need a change of scenery, sitting at a computer all day everyday is mind-numbing especially when I think about how long I might be doing this for. I would love to work in the outdoors and landscaping and horticulture have a real appeal. What I would like to know is regarding the RHS courses: Do I need to do the level 1 before moving onto level 2? The level 2 seems to consist of a number of different courses and i'm trying to understand how they fit together... RHS Level 2 Practical-based qualificationv (1 part) RHS Level 2 theory-based qualifications (2 parts) - Completing these two will give me a RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture? Completing all three will give me a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles and Practices of Horticulture? Have I got this right? Also, I have seen Learning Curve mentioned a lot on here as somewhere to take the courses online or by post. Does anyone have a link to the courses and how much they cost? I'm trying to do some research at the moment to make a decision before commiting. Thank you for your time, Steve.

19/04/2012 01:47 PM

Guinness
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West Midlands
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Hi everyone, I have looked around and have seen a lot of topics relating to changing careers and aiming towards working in the ourdoors.

I'm in the same situation, I am 28 and a design engineer and need a change of scenery, sitting at a computer all day everyday is mind-numbing especially when I think about how long I might be doing this for.

I would love to work in the outdoors and landscaping and horticulture have a real appeal.

What I would like to know is regarding the RHS courses:

Do I need to do the level 1 before moving onto level 2?

The level 2 seems to consist of a number of different courses and i'm trying to understand how they fit together...

RHS Level 2 Practical-based qualificationv (1 part)

RHS Level 2 theory-based qualifications (2 parts) - Completing these two will give me a RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture?

Completing all three will give me a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles and Practices of Horticulture?

Have I got this right?

Also, I have seen Learning Curve mentioned a lot on here as somewhere to take the courses online or by post. Does anyone have a link to the courses and how much they cost?

I'm trying to do some research at the moment to make a decision before commiting.

Thank you for your time, Steve. Big Smile

19/04/2012 02:04 PM	In reply to
Guinness Location: West Midlands Joined on: 19 Apr 2012 Posts: 8	Reply \| Contact Hello again, following a little more 'digging' I have found the answers to my questions Now all I have to do is decide if I want to do the level 2 and level 3 seperately or enroll for both at the same time and save some money. hmmm

19/04/2012 02:04 PM

In reply to

Guinness
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West Midlands
Joined on:
19 Apr 2012
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Hello again, following a little more 'digging' I have found the answers to my questions Big Smile

Now all I have to do is decide if I want to do the level 2 and level 3 seperately or enroll for both at the same time and save some money. hmmm

19/04/2012 02:33 PM	In reply to
spade monkey Location: earth Joined on: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 151	Reply \| Contact Hi, RHS Distance Learning Providers: http://www.rhs.org.uk/Courses/Qualifications/PDFs/CorrespondenceCollegeList RHS Approved Centres List: http://www.rhs.org.uk/Courses/Qualifications/PDFs/Approved-Centre-List "I'm trying to do some research at the moment to make a decision before commiting." I know just what you mean! Prices are variable. One thing I'd probably say based on what I've been told is that whilst working on your own is convenient, there is a lot to be said for attending with a group because of the different range of experience and questions that people bring. Online distance providers will talk about their student support, and I know that some people set up a closed facebook group for a higher level - quite why the RHS don't encourage students studying their courses by encouraging/providing resources through these forums is puzzling until you consider the need for moderation of posting to prevent spam etc - still.... If you know your learning style it can help you identify the best approach to take. If you are actually wanting to work in gardening, the practical side of things is absolutely essential - the range and depth of knowledge required to pass the RHS courses means you need to apply the knowledge practically, just doing a correspondence course will not make you a gardener! My partner did a lot of gardening before doing the Level 2 - there is a lot to learn and apply. The course centre also made a difference as did the lecture/tutor - if you are thinking of attending a centre, see if you can get to speak to some people who have done the course. Of course you may do a lot of gardening already - apologies if I am stating the obvious!

19/04/2012 02:33 PM

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spade monkey
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earth
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Hi,

RHS Distance Learning Providers:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Courses/Qualifications/PDFs/CorrespondenceCollegeList

RHS Approved Centres List:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Courses/Qualifications/PDFs/Approved-Centre-List

"I'm trying to do some research at the moment to make a decision before commiting."

I know just what you mean!

Prices are variable.

One thing I'd probably say based on what I've been told is that whilst working on your own is convenient, there is a lot to be said for attending with a group because of the different range of experience and questions that people bring.

Online distance providers will talk about their student support, and I know that some people set up a closed facebook group for a higher level - quite why the RHS don't encourage students studying their courses by encouraging/providing resources through these forums is puzzling until you consider the need for moderation of posting to prevent spam etc - still....

If you know your learning style it can help you identify the best approach to take.

If you are actually wanting to work in gardening, the practical side of things is absolutely essential - the range and depth of knowledge required to pass the RHS courses means you need to apply the knowledge practically, just doing a correspondence course will not make you a gardener!

My partner did a lot of gardening before doing the Level 2 - there is a lot to learn and apply.

The course centre also made a difference as did the lecture/tutor - if you are thinking of attending a centre, see if you can get to speak to some people who have done the course.

Of course you may do a lot of gardening already - apologies if I am stating the obvious!

19/04/2012 02:44 PM	In reply to
Guinness Location: West Midlands Joined on: 19 Apr 2012 Posts: 8	Reply \| Contact Thank you for you reply. I don't curently do any gardening other than little bits at home. There is an approved centre a few miles from home, I still need to give them a call but I have read that taking the course through them costs upwards of c.£2200 - that's labelled a HNC & HND in horticulture.

19/04/2012 02:44 PM

In reply to

Guinness
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West Midlands
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Thank you for you reply. I don't curently do any gardening other than little bits at home.

There is an approved centre a few miles from home, I still need to give them a call but I have read that taking the course through them costs upwards of c.£2200 - that's labelled a HNC & HND in horticulture.

19/04/2012 02:53 PM	In reply to
spade monkey Location: earth Joined on: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 151	Reply \| Contact At that price I'd guess it is a full time course? Don't know about HNC or HND - I'm having enough trouble trying to work out what's what with the RHS stuff! Maybe someone else with more knowledge can help.

19/04/2012 02:53 PM

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spade monkey
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At that price I'd guess it is a full time course?

Don't know about HNC or HND - I'm having enough trouble trying to work out what's what with the RHS stuff! Smile

Maybe someone else with more knowledge can help.

19/04/2012 03:15 PM	In reply to
Guinness Location: West Midlands Joined on: 19 Apr 2012 Posts: 8	Reply \| Contact I believe one either HNC or HND is part time and the other is full time. But the price does state "from £2250 per year, full-time and part-time courses". It's Wolverhampton college higher education centre. Regarding the RHS courses, I found the following pdf's helpful... http://www.rhs.org.uk/Courses/Qualifications/PDFs/RHS-Qualifications-v4 http://www.rhs.org.uk/Courses/Qualifications/PDFs/RHS-Qualifications-Level-2-v4 and the list of courses at Learning Curve helpful too in peicing it all together... http://www.learning-curve.org/garden-school/horticulture-qualifications/

19/04/2012 03:15 PM

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Guinness
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West Midlands
Joined on:
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I believe one either HNC or HND is part time and the other is full time. But the price does state "from £2250 per year, full-time and part-time courses".

It's Wolverhampton college higher education centre.

Regarding the RHS courses, I found the following pdf's helpful...

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Courses/Qualifications/PDFs/RHS-Qualifications-v4

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Courses/Qualifications/PDFs/RHS-Qualifications-Level-2-v4

and the list of courses at Learning Curve helpful too in peicing it all together...

http://www.learning-curve.org/garden-school/horticulture-qualifications/

22/04/2012 08:53 PM	In reply to
Elspeth Location: Oxfordshire Joined on: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 8	Reply \| Contact Hi there, You might also want to consider a four week online course at MyGardenSchool.. It's different from most 'distance learning' courses, as you get access to a 'virtual classroom', (so lots of interaction) and also personal tuition from some of the greatest horticultural authors in the world (eg John Brookes, Garden Design, David Austin Roses, Hilary Thomas, Head of Garden Design, Capel Manor, Andy McIndoe, Managing Director Hilliers). This might be a good taster before going into a more full time course. Hope this is helpful. Kind regards Elspeth Elspeth Managing Director http://www.my-garden-school.com

22/04/2012 08:53 PM

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Elspeth
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Oxfordshire
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Hi there, You might also want to consider a four week online course at MyGardenSchool.. It's different from most 'distance learning' courses, as you get access to a 'virtual classroom', (so lots of interaction) and also personal tuition from some of the greatest horticultural authors in the world (eg John Brookes, Garden Design, David Austin Roses, Hilary Thomas, Head of Garden Design, Capel Manor, Andy McIndoe, Managing Director Hilliers). This might be a good taster before going into a more full time course. Hope this is helpful. Kind regards Elspeth

Elspeth
Managing Director
http://www.my-garden-school.com

24/04/2012 02:22 PM	In reply to
Guinness Location: West Midlands Joined on: 19 Apr 2012 Posts: 8	Reply \| Contact Can anyone tell me if the RHS courses are equivalent to any NVQ based qualifications please? I have just seen a job advertisement and an NVQ 2 in Amenity Horticulture or equivalent was required.

24/04/2012 02:22 PM

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Guinness
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West Midlands
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Can anyone tell me if the RHS courses are equivalent to any NVQ based qualifications please?

I have just seen a job advertisement and an NVQ 2 in Amenity Horticulture or equivalent was required.

24/04/2012 03:36 PM	In reply to
Hortaddict Location: Oxon/Warks/Worcs Joined on: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 38	Reply \| Contact Not sure if I can make it clear but I'll have a go - RHS level 2 qualifications are theoretically at the same level of study ( going into topics in the same depth) as NVQs at level 2 - which is generally thought of as the O-level/GSCE equivalent, Level 3 as A-level. The reason all the RHS courses changed their structure a couple of years ago was so that they fitted into the same framework ( the QCF) as all these other qualifications. The old National Certificate and Diploma in horticultural colleges made the same changes, and are now'Level 2 cert/dip', 'Level 3 cert/dip', where the difference in the qualification title relates to the length not the depth of study; and NVQs are work-based qualifications at level 2, level 3 or even level 4 following the same structure. The difference between an RHS course, which is part time, and a college full time course will be the number of hours you put in, not the depth of your knowledge. However the RHS does pack an awful lot into the hours for you to study. A level 2 NVQ is essentially a much more hands-on qualification, proof that someone can dig and prune and plant, and the closest equivalent with the RHS would be the RHS level 2 practical - though I think that demands wider plant knowledge. ( I'm not a work-based learning specialist.) But many employers like RHS theory qualifications, because they show a willingness to study off, as well as on, the job.They are also harder to achieve than assessment- or coursework-based qualifications! Your earlier question about HNC/HND qualifications - these are level 4 or 5 courses, full and part-time equivalent to foundation degrees and with fees to match because they are "HE". The expectation from next year is that you have to get a student loan to fund even part-time HE, it will be so expensive. New high fees are going to hit a lot of colleges where HNC/HND garden design was a good option for mature career changers thinking of changing to horticulture. There's nothing to stop anyone from a non-horticultural background starting in at HNC level if they have the right qualifications for a college to accept them, but these courses don't fill in all the level 2 and 3 skills and plant knowledge you still need - at one college where I worked we used to recommend Foundation degree designers did level 2 RHS as well, so thatb they knew what they were talking about. Does that help at all? J

24/04/2012 03:36 PM

In reply to

Hortaddict
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Oxon/Warks/Worcs
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Not sure if I can make it clear but I'll have a go -

RHS level 2 qualifications are theoretically at the same level of study ( going into topics in the same depth) as NVQs at level 2 - which is generally thought of as the O-level/GSCE equivalent, Level 3 as A-level.

The reason all the RHS courses changed their structure a couple of years ago was so that they fitted into the same framework ( the QCF) as all these other qualifications. The old National Certificate and Diploma in horticultural colleges made the same changes, and are now'Level 2 cert/dip', 'Level 3 cert/dip', where the difference in the qualification title relates to the length not the depth of study; and NVQs are work-based qualifications at level 2, level 3 or even level 4 following the same structure.

The difference between an RHS course, which is part time, and a college full time course will be the number of hours you put in, not the depth of your knowledge. However the RHS does pack an awful lot into the hours for you to study.

A level 2 NVQ is essentially a much more hands-on qualification, proof that someone can dig and prune and plant, and the closest equivalent with the RHS would be the RHS level 2 practical - though I think that demands wider plant knowledge. ( I'm not a work-based learning specialist.) But many employers like RHS theory qualifications, because they show a willingness to study off, as well as on, the job.They are also harder to achieve than assessment- or coursework-based qualifications!

Your earlier question about HNC/HND qualifications - these are level 4 or 5 courses, full and part-time equivalent to foundation degrees and with fees to match because they are "HE". The expectation from next year is that you have to get a student loan to fund even part-time HE, it will be so expensive. New high fees are going to hit a lot of colleges where HNC/HND garden design was a good option for mature career changers thinking of changing to horticulture.

There's nothing to stop anyone from a non-horticultural background starting in at HNC level if they have the right qualifications for a college to accept them, but these courses don't fill in all the level 2 and 3 skills and plant knowledge you still need - at one college where I worked we used to recommend Foundation degree designers did level 2 RHS as well, so thatb they knew what they were talking about.

Does that help at all?

24/04/2012 04:10 PM	In reply to
Guinness Location: West Midlands Joined on: 19 Apr 2012 Posts: 8	Reply \| Contact Thank you very much for that excellent response. Very detailed and explained very well. I have just been in touch with my local horticultural centre which is part of the college. I am waiting for them to call me back so I can discuss what courses they offer, which ones I would like to take and what the costs are.

24/04/2012 04:10 PM

In reply to

Guinness
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West Midlands
Joined on:
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Thank you very much for that excellent response. Very detailed and explained very well. Smile

I have just been in touch with my local horticultural centre which is part of the college. I am waiting for them to call me back so I can discuss what courses they offer, which ones I would like to take and what the costs are.

24/04/2012 09:38 PM	In reply to
Anthony Location: Ireland Joined on: 21 Sep 2011 Posts: 5	Reply \| Contact In response to your original question I would definitely recommend getting some hands on experience if you're new to gardening and intend to make a career out of Horticulture. I passed L2 in the 1990's and have spent many years running a successful business in Horticultural Maintenance and "minor" design projects. Initially, I worked with a friend that has a whole lifetime of experience (to share) in the landscape/garden maintenance business. The practical exposure was very important to my success. In contrast ( and this is why I'm posting a response) I decided to study L3 Garden Design this year with very little exposure to actually creating and implementing larger garden design projects and guess what?........I failed both exam papers. It proves a point ( to me at least) that practical exposure is crucial to success even for someone that has much experience in other areas of the vast subject of Horticulture. BTW,I'm not bitter towards the RHS for failing me in way, shape or form, in order to succeed you really need to know your stuff. Of course you know this as you already have a college education and worked in another field ( ie Engineering). As a side note I also have a Degree in Chemistry/Physics and never failed a Science exam in my life. I just learned, regurgitated and passed. I got the hands-on experience when I got a job but it doesn't work like that in Horticulture. I would also urge you to consider the fact that Horticulture doesn't reward you with the same level of pay as Chemistry and Engineering ( in my experience at least). What it will provide you with is an occupation with "Meaning and Soul" which in many ways will make up for a high salary but you still have to pay the bills. I wish you the best of luck...................................I apologize for the rambling nature of my post but I don't seem to be able to create paragraphs on my Tablet PC. Anthony

24/04/2012 09:38 PM

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Anthony
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Ireland
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In response to your original question I would definitely recommend getting some hands on experience if you're new to gardening and intend to make a career out of Horticulture. I passed L2 in the 1990's and have spent many years running a successful business in Horticultural Maintenance and "minor" design projects. Initially, I worked with a friend that has a whole lifetime of experience (to share) in the landscape/garden maintenance business. The practical exposure was very important to my success. In contrast ( and this is why I'm posting a response) I decided to study L3 Garden Design this year with very little exposure to actually creating and implementing larger garden design projects and guess what?........I failed both exam papers. It proves a point ( to me at least) that practical exposure is crucial to success even for someone that has much experience in other areas of the vast subject of Horticulture. BTW,I'm not bitter towards the RHS for failing me in way, shape or form, in order to succeed you really need to know your stuff. Of course you know this as you already have a college education and worked in another field ( ie Engineering). As a side note I also have a Degree in Chemistry/Physics and never failed a Science exam in my life. I just learned, regurgitated and passed. I got the hands-on experience when I got a job but it doesn't work like that in Horticulture. I would also urge you to consider the fact that Horticulture doesn't reward you with the same level of pay as Chemistry and Engineering ( in my experience at least). What it will provide you with is an occupation with "Meaning and Soul" which in many ways will make up for a high salary but you still have to pay the bills. I wish you the best of luck...................................I apologize for the rambling nature of my post but I don't seem to be able to create paragraphs on my Tablet PC.

Anthony

25/04/2012 09:46 AM	In reply to
Guinness Location: West Midlands Joined on: 19 Apr 2012 Posts: 8	Reply \| Contact Thanks for that Anthony. I will try to get on a course with the horticulture centre so I can have the hands on experience too, if it proves to be outside of my budget though I will have to go with the distance learning course and try some volunteering and some bits of work through family and friends locally. With regards to my current role, I have spent years working my way up and getting the pay rises only to face the truth that I don't like it and I don't want to spend the rest of my working days staring at this computer - I guess i've had a realization. I know i'll take a pay cut initially and may never earn as muh as I could if I had stuck it out, but the unhappiness, lack of interest, stress will all hopefully dissolve as I make the change and i'll be a better person for it, for me and my family. I love being outdoors, I walk regularly and really appreciate the wildlife and nature, in contrast I also love the way man has made his mark on the land and built/created something, I dont mean cities, I mean actually sculped a landscape and made something of it.

25/04/2012 09:46 AM

In reply to

Guinness
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Thanks for that Anthony. I will try to get on a course with the horticulture centre so I can have the hands on experience too, if it proves to be outside of my budget though I will have to go with the distance learning course and try some volunteering and some bits of work through family and friends locally.

With regards to my current role, I have spent years working my way up and getting the pay rises only to face the truth that I don't like it and I don't want to spend the rest of my working days staring at this computer - I guess i've had a realization. I know i'll take a pay cut initially and may never earn as muh as I could if I had stuck it out, but the unhappiness, lack of interest, stress will all hopefully dissolve as I make the change and i'll be a better person for it, for me and my family.

I love being outdoors, I walk regularly and really appreciate the wildlife and nature, in contrast I also love the way man has made his mark on the land and built/created something, I dont mean cities, I mean actually sculped a landscape and made something of it.

25/04/2012 04:00 PM	In reply to
Anthony Location: Ireland Joined on: 21 Sep 2011 Posts: 5	Reply \| Contact Sounds good. Maybe you should do some reading on Garden History. Given that you are interested in how we shape the landscape it would give you an insight into the progression of garden design through the ages. Anthony

27/04/2012 10:08 AM	In reply to
Guinness Location: West Midlands Joined on: 19 Apr 2012 Posts: 8	Reply \| Contact Well, I've spoken to the horticulture centre that's local to me and they offer a RHS level 2 practical course which when completed along with the two theory courses (as above) will provide a Diploma qualification, has anyone done this and would it be recommended to do it along side the theory courses or is it best to take the practical after taking the theory courses? The Cedars Horticulture Centre is part of Wolverhampton College, they offer all of the RHS theory and practical courses I need so I may take all of them through the college rather than distance learning if I can takke all of the level 2 courses at the same time.

27/04/2012 10:08 AM

In reply to

Guinness
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West Midlands
Joined on:
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Well, I've spoken to the horticulture centre that's local to me and they offer a RHS level 2 practical course which when completed along with the two theory courses (as above) will provide a Diploma qualification, has anyone done this and would it be recommended to do it along side the theory courses or is it best to take the practical after taking the theory courses?

The Cedars Horticulture Centre is part of Wolverhampton College, they offer all of the RHS theory and practical courses I need so I may take all of them through the college rather than distance learning if I can takke all of the level 2 courses at the same time.

27/04/2012 12:45 PM	In reply to
Anthony Location: Ireland Joined on: 21 Sep 2011 Posts: 5	Reply \| Contact If you can I suggest taking the practical "alongside" the theoretical. Being able to practice what you are learning will give you a deeper understanding of the subject especially as you are new to Horticulture. It's a very "hands-on" subject as I've already mentioned. For example pruning is something that I just could never come to terms with until I actually went out and did it ( a lot). Given that there are many different ways to prune many different species of trees/shrubs etc it is not a topic I could commit to memory and then go off and successfully practice without guidance. Of course this is my personal experience, I'm sure there are other opinions. Anthony

27/04/2012 12:45 PM

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Anthony
Location:
Ireland
Joined on:
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If you can I suggest taking the practical "alongside" the theoretical. Being able to practice what you are learning will give you a deeper understanding of the subject especially as you are new to Horticulture. It's a very "hands-on" subject as I've already mentioned. For example pruning is something that I just could never come to terms with until I actually went out and did it ( a lot). Given that there are many different ways to prune many different species of trees/shrubs etc it is not a topic I could commit to memory and then go off and successfully practice without guidance. Of course this is my personal experience, I'm sure there are other opinions.

Anthony

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