Choosing the best school for florists is usually a factor of two things: what sort of education you are after and how much time you have to devote to the task. Floral schools run the gamut from intensive training courses for hopeful florists and certificate programs for those already established in the field to more casual, day or weekend programs for dabblers. The best school in one category may not be the best across the board. Starting with a good sense of what you want to get out of the schooling is the first step; from there, specific research is required to find a school that will provide the education you need in the time and setting that you need it.
It is not usually necessary to attend a specific school for florists in order to flourish in a floral career. Formal floral education can often help prospective florists get a sense of the field, though, and can be a good way of jump-starting a job search. People with no floral design experience often seek out the most basic, introductory-level courses, while those with some flower shop experience often look for classes that are geared more towards enhancing an established floral design business. Knowing what you are looking for will make all the difference in how successful you are at choosing the right program.
Once you have a sense of the sort of education you are after, think about how much time you want to dedicate to a course. A school for florists is often different than many academic institutions, in that its classes are not usually organized around semesters. They often take place in condensed seminars, where students will meet every day over a number of weeks, learning everything from basic flower care and flower arranging to artistic models and prominent influences. Schools often offer multiple sessions each year to allow for the greatest possible flexibility. It is sometimes possible to find a school for florists that offers courses in the evening, as well, though this is usually based on demand.
Whether a school offers diplomas or certificates is also something to consider. Most of the time, people go to a school for florists in order to hone portable skills. Documentation of those skills is important in some settings. Many of the top retail florists require even the most entry-level associates to have proof of formal training.
Certificates and diplomas are usually only helpful if they come from schools that have been accredited or otherwise authorized to judge and rank student work. Accreditation is usually governed by a local florist’s board, but can also stem from national associations. A certificate from an unaccredited school does not necessarily speak poorly on the education received, but it does not usually hold as much weight with employers.
Accreditation is one of the only places in the search for a school for florists where geography comes into play. Most of the time, skills learned in one place can be easily taken to wherever it is the florist ends up. A school for florists rarely helps students with career planning or job placement, and location is usually apropos. If you are looking for a proof that your education matches up to some preordained set of local standards or requirements, however, you will need to be sure that any schools you are considering can provide that.
Information on different school options is usually available on individual school websites, as well as through local florists’ associations. It is usually a good idea to compare a couple of different institutions before making your final decision. Things like credentials and experience of the instructors, quality of the workshop space and equipment, and whether the course fee covers the required materials are all things to look into. Different schools operate differently, but knowing ahead of time what you are getting into will usually make the entire experience more enjoyable.