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

The King County Noxious Weed Control Program’s May Workshop Series is open for registration: The King County Noxious Weed Control Program is holding two online seminars on May 4 and May 11 packed with great information for anyone working on managing invasive plants and noxious weeds. Topics include weed maps and apps, weed identification, control techniques, applicator and environmental safety, pesticide regulations, and Indigenous approaches to invasive plant management. For full agendas, visit the Eventbrite pages linked below where you can also register for your free tickets. 

The two half-day webinars together will be worth 8 total Washington state pesticide applicator recertification credits. This is a great opportunity for landscape management professionals, seasonal crews and anyone interested in weeds to deepen their knowledge of how to control tough weeds in King County.

Please register separately for each day. 

King County Noxious Weed Control Webinar – Part 1
May 4, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
Registration and agenda – Part 1

King County Noxious Weed Control Webinar – Part 2
May 11, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. PST
Registration and agenda – Part 2

Cost: Free (pre-registration required)

Credits: Two half-day webinars together will be worth 8 total Washington State Pesticide Applicator Recertification credits.

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