High School
Take agriculture, shop, and other courses that will help you gain familiarity with the machinery, fertilizers, and chemicals used in lawn maintenance. Agriculture courses will also teach you about different grasses and plants, and how to care for them. Business and accounting courses are also useful to learn about record keeping, budgeting, and finances.
Postsecondary Training
After high school, you can learn about lawn maintenance on the job, either by assisting someone with an established lawn care business, or by taking on a few residential customers yourself. Though a college degree is not necessary, lawn and gardening service owners benefit from advanced courses such as small business management and finance to help run their business.
Certification
The Professional Grounds Management Society offers the School of Grounds Management Certificate Program to students who complete coursework in the following areas: People, Leadership and Culture; Financial and Program Management; and Technical Management. Visit https://pgms.org/page/SchoolofGroundsManagement for more information. The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) offers two certificate programs: landscape technician and principles of turfgrass management. Visit https://www.landscapeprofessionals.org/LP/LP/Certification/Certification-NALP.aspx for more information. Colleges and universities offer certificate programs in horticulture, business management, and related fields. Contact schools in your area for information about available programs.
Other Education or Training
The International Franchise Association offers continuing education (CE) classes, webinars, and workshops such as Marketplace Fundamentals, Knowledge-Driven Financial Performance, and Cash Flow: How to Prevent Your Cash Flow From Going South. The National Association of Landscape Professionals and Professional Grounds Management Society offer a variety of horticulture-related CE opportunities, some of which are available only to members. Contact these organizations for more information.
- Animal Caretakers
- Animal Trainers
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- App Services Workers
- Arborists
- Aromatherapists
- Artists
- Auctioneers
- Automotive Dealership Owners
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- Barbers
- Bed and Breakfast Owners
- Bloggers
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- Chief Executive Officers
- Child Care Service Owners
- Cleaning Service Owners
- Computer Support Service Owners
- Construction Managers
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- Cosmetologists
- Digital Identity Managers
- Driving School Owners and Instructors
- Dry Cleaning and Laundry Workers
- Edupreneurs
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- Export-Import Specialists
- Farmers
- Film and Television Producers
- Financial Planners
- Financial Services Brokers
- Franchise Owners
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- Genealogical Researchers
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Grounds Managers
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- Health Club Owners and Managers
- Home Health Care Aides
- Home Stagers
- Hospital-at-Home Managers
- Household Workers
- Housekeepers and Maids
- Illustrators
- Information Brokers
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- Internet Consultants
- Internet Marketing and Advertising Consultants
- Internet Store Managers and Entrepreneurs
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- Life Coaches
- Life Insurance Agents and Brokers
- Literary Agents
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- Motivational Speakers
- Nail Technicians
- Painters and Paperhangers
- Personal Care Aides
- Personal Chefs
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- Photographers
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- Songwriters
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- Tattoo Artists
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- Wedding and Party Consultants
- Writers