New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (General) (Level 3)

NMIT is part of Te Pūkenga

This means that you will now graduate with a Te Pūkenga qualification. Read more
Locations and dates
No start dates are currently available. Register to be informed when new dates are added.
Study options

2 full-time intakes per year. Part-time option dependent on enrolments.
Length

Full time: 17 teaching weeks plus 2 weeks of study break
Total credits

60
Fees

2025: $270 plus $130 Student Services Levy

A Compulsory Student Services Levy applies (2025; $2.17 per credit).

Fees listed are for each year of the programme, indicative only and may vary with course selection.

View course details for individual fees.
National qualification code

NZ2677

Love plants and science? Dig deep into your passion and cultivate a rewarding career with our Horticulture programme.

If you thrive outdoors, enjoy variety, and prefer not to work behind a desk, this programme is tailor-made for you. Gain practical skills and a sense of achievement as you nurture plants to flourish.

What you'll learn

Understand soils and how to optimise them for better growing outcomes.
Identify pests and diseases, and master their management.
Develop hands-on skills in pruning fruit trees, maintaining plant health, managing water and irrigation, and much more.

Our programme blends practical experience with real-world learning. You'll have access to our on-site gardens, propagation houses, and amenity plantings. Plus, enjoy field trips to local growers to apply your skills in dynamic, real-world environments.

Your future in horticulture

Graduates are well-prepared to enter the horticulture industry, continue their studies at Level 4, or apply their skills to their own land or business.

Customised for groups

Are you part of a business, iwi, or community group? Let’s work together to deliver this programme tailored to your needs.

➜ Email us at horticulture@nmit.ac.nz

Online study options

This programme consists of five modules, and all five modules are learnt online with practical components for you to do at home.

Plant Health
Plant Science
Growing Environment (Soils)
Propagation and Cultivation
Growing Systems

Online delivery

Each of these modules is delivered online in 6-week blocks consecutively with weekly zoom tutorials and instructive and interactive online content.

Physical component

To complete this qualification you will also be required to carry out 145 work-place hours at a horticultural workplace in your region.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

No minimum academic requirements.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you may also be required to provide evidence of your English language skills as listed below. If you have no evidence of your English language skills and are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, contact us for an assessment.
• IELTS 5.0 Academic (no lower than 5 in any subtest). For acceptable alternatives refer to the English Proficiency Outcomes Chart.
Note: Students who have achieved NCEA Level 3 University Entrance requirements are not required to provide evidence of English Language Skills.

Special entry

Skills for tertiary study (including literacy and numeracy) may be acquired through study, work and/or life experience. Students who can demonstrate these skills may be approved for alternative entry. Literacy and numeracy assessments are available.

Structure and timetable

Full-time study class times

Study two days a week for six months.

In Nelson

Classes are held on the Richmond Campus on Lower Queen Street, where the horticulture facilities are provided.

You will have class on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9.15 am-2.45 pm and will also apply your learning 8.5hrs per week at work placement on a horticultural property.

The rest of the week is self-directed learning.

In Marlborough

Classes are held on the Marlborough Campus on Budge Street where the horticulture facilities are provided.

You will have class on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9.15 am-2.45 pm and will also apply your learning 8.5hrs per week at work placement on a horticultural property.

The rest of the week is self-directed learning.

Part-time study class times

Study part-time with one day of study and one day of work placement for one year.

Career opportunities and pathways

This qualification can lead onto Level 4 study in horticulture or employment in a range of horticultural enterprises.

Work can be at a wide range of levels and in different areas such as the amenity, orchard, vegetable and flower industries or nursery sector.

Positions can be seasonal to permanent. They can include nursery propagator, horticultural consultant, crop manager, cool store manager or science technician.

You could be supervising workers or leading teams or self employed growing your own crops.

The programme is also suitable for small block owners and learners wishing to gain knowledge in horticultural science in a range of general horticulture growing systems and practices for their own businesses.

The horticultural industry is growing and exciting, with a lot of potential to match your passion and enthusiasm.

An example of the type of career path you can have in horticulture is beginning as a nursery assistant, moving up to seed source propagator, becoming production coordinator and then a manager.

Additional information

Physical requirements

Horticulture requires a certain level of physical strength and fitness especially in the initial stages of working in the horticulture industry. There are some jobs that are physically less strenuous such as Nursery work, but even this still requires a certain level of fitness and physical ability.

Workplace requirements

There are 145 hours of workplace hours embedded in the programme. You are required to find a place or places to complete your hours of work placement during the programme. We can assist you with this, but it is your responsibility to set up and complete this work placement.

Horticultural workplaces have strict health and safety protocols including zero drugs and alcohol tolerance. Pre-employment drugs testing and random within employment testing may be required by an employer.