You might be interested in training to become a florist. There may be a few options to choose from in your particular region. If this is the case for you, we have some free advice to offer on how to choose the best course from the best educator for you.
Frankly, cost is understandably a big factor for most people. Remember that a good education does come at a price, however a high price tag doesn't always mean a good education is being offered. Our best suggestion is to do some investigating before you commit.
Firstly, check how many contact hours the course is made up of along with how frequently it is held. Why? Because floristry skills are gained through cumulative learning - simply put, getting your base knowledge down then building on it one step at a time until you have created a mental database of all the things that are needed to perform your job. Too few hours or long gaps between lessons has a noticeable effect on our ability to retain and accumulate the knowledge that enables us to function as florists. For example, let's say you might sign up for an 8 week course thinking that it's good value and extensive, however if in that 8 weeks you are only offered one 2 hour session per week it can then seem a long and halted way to cover only 16 hours of learning.
An extra tip for you on this is that 2 hours is enough time to watch a product being made then make it yourself, just be aware that it is unlikely to be enough time to learn essential theory on top of the practical component.
Secondly, watch out for additional costs. It's good to know what the end price actually is before you sign up to avoid overspending. Additional costs can include things like flowers, foliage, tools, application fees, gst (fine, we have to pay it but if it's not clearly stated as an included or additional cost then the price you actually pay ends up higher than you first thought) and/or extra courses that suddenly become necessary to complete your education. If the total cost to you is not outlined in a easy to understand way, it is fair for you to question the credibility of the education provider.
The third thing it helps to know is that floristry is, by no means, just arranging flowers. Functional systems have been developed over time in order to make money and to be able to do the job effectively. Don't be shy to enquire about how much theoretical learning is involved along with how many subjects are covered in the duration of a course. This part of your education will have a significant impact on how well you are able to do your job as well as your earning capacity.
Lastly, it pays to be mindful of the unfortunate fact that advertising can be, at times, slightly misleading. Don't be afraid to fact check and dig a bit for the sake of verifying the information you've been given. You should be welcome to ask as many questions as you want before signing up, for example: What does your educator have to offer you and how has their knowledge been gained? Do they have a broad range of experience to draw on? What level should you expect to be at by the end of your course?
Our top tip on this is to question anyone who offers you certification or qualification. Whilst most private schools will provide a certificate to show that you've done their course, formal government certification is not currently offered by any private floristry schools in SA.
While you absolutely do not need a certification to work as a florist it would be a pity to believe that you were gaining that, only to discover by the end of your course that it's not what you've ended up with.
We hope that this guide is helpful in enabling you to choose the best floristry course for yourself and are always happy for you to contact us to help with any questions you might have about becoming a florist. You can find our contact info at the bottom of this page.