Interested in a career in the cannabis industry, but don’t know where to start? Canadian colleges and universities have introduced cannabis-specific programs for careers in the budding industry. Here are some to consider for the fall semester.

Agriculture and production

Program: Cannabis Production, Level 1
Where: Olds College in Calgary
Length of program: 17 weeks

Combining online classes and hands-on field study, this program is designed to prepare graduates for entry-level production work in the cannabis industry. Students can expect to spend four months in four online courses, including the following: Introduction to Horticulture Production; Cannabis Legislation and Documentation; Introduction to Crop Production and Facilities; and Horticulture for Cannabis Production. These are followed by a five-week blended course, Practical Cannabis Production, which includes a one-week field study with a licensed producer (LP).

Because the courses are online, the program isn’t limited to Calgarians, but students are required to travel to their field-study site. With a limit of 25 participants per course, the program ensures each student receives ample attention. In order to enroll, you must be at least 18 years old and have a Grade 11 education or higher. You must also have any previous criminal record assessed for eligibility in the industry.

Program: Cannabis Cultivation
Where: Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) in Bathurst, N.B.
Length of program: 550 hours

Back in late 2017, CCNB became the first school in Canada to offer cannabis production classes. They focus on entry-level production skills like plant biology, the cannabis plant life cycle, feeding, cutting and hydration. Aspiring greenhouse workers will learn about climate control and irrigation systems, identification and control of major plant diseases, harvesting flowers and plant care, among other subjects.

Open to 25 students, this program is designed for those who enjoy observing, taking care of and handling plants, as well as who like being part of a team and doing physical work. While students will have site visits to production facilities, most of the learning happens in class, either online or in person. New Brunswick-based LP Organigram is on board to provide a one-week practicum in its facilities. To apply, students must have a high school diploma, Certificate in Essential Skills Applied to the Program (ASEP) or GED (General Education Development).

Program: Commercial Cannabis Production
Where: Niagara College Canada (NC) in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
Length of program: One year

Niagara College’s School of Environment and Horticulture offers training in the biology and cultural practices of cannabis production for those seeking careers in growing, production, quality assurance, post-harvest and operations management. The program provides training in multiple areas of cannabis production involving plant nutrition, environment, lighting, climate control, pest control and cultivar selection.

Prospective students will be enrolled in 11 classes over two terms, including Biology and Evolution of Cannabis during the first term, and Licensed Producer Field Placement during the second. The program was first introduced in September 2018 and at press time had availability for the fall 2019 semester. However, applicants must have an Ontario College Diploma or degree in the areas of horticulture, greenhouse technology, agricultural sciences, plant sciences, biology or a related discipline to qualify. Additionally, students are required to be a minimum of 19 years of age and to complete a criminal record check prior to registration.

Science and medicine

Program: Cannabis Applied Science
Where: Loyalist College in Belleville, Ont.
Length of program: One year

Loyalist College offers a hands-on cannabis science program delivered in collaboration with Loyalist’s Applied Research Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis (Canada’s only college lab approved to conduct research with cannabis). Prospective students can expect to take nine courses throughout the year, such as Cannabis Biology and Cannabis Chemistry, Extraction Science for Cannabis and Cannabis Cultivation Science, as well as Cannabis Formulation and Product Development, among others.

Those interested in becoming processing technicians or formulation chemists will develop the skills needed to support cannabis product development, inform process optimization and address product quality, consistency and safety. And while much of the learning takes place in a Health Canada-licensed facility that teaches extraction technologies, students will also learn relevant legislation, regulations and guidelines pertaining to the industry. Applicants must have a diploma in biology or chemistry in order to qualify. Strong math and science skills are also recommended.

Program: Cannabis – Operations, Quality & Edibles Certificate and Post-Graduate Certificate Program
Where: Academy of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences (AAPS) Inc.
Length of program: Four months

North York, Ont.-based AAPS introduced a new cannabis program that begins this fall and is focused on quality assurance, plant sanitation and edibles safety. With a variety of electives to choose from, including Growing Techniques, those seeking a certificate must also enroll in Cannabis Clinical Research Concepts, Cannabis Retail Management and Business Management.

Most classes are offered either in-class or online, with the exception of Quality Control Lab for Cannabis/Edibles, which must be taken in-class and earns students a post-graduate certificate. The program’s website notes that previous graduates have been hired as quality-control associates, laboratory and extraction technicians, among other positions, by companies such as Canopy Growth Corporation, Ontario Cannabis Store and Tilray. Prospective students must have a clear criminal record and a high school diploma. Those pursuing a post-graduate certificate must hold a BSc or higher level of education.

Program: The Science of Cannabis
Where: McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.
Length of program: Six months

While cannabis consumption is banned at McMaster, learning the science behind cannabis is encouraged. In partnership with the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research and the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research, The Science of Cannabis program, introduced in March 2019, offers an evidence-based approach to understanding the science behind the substance.

The courses will cover fundamental cannabis science, therapeutic applications and the possible risks and harms related to consumption. As a three-course academic certificate of completion, the program can be taken entirely online and will be available in the fall to interested individuals working in the health, education, public service and social services sectors. The program is open enrollment and doesn’t require students to submit an application, but they must have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, or equivalent, and be 19 years of age or older.

Business and marketing

Program: Cannabis Industry Specialization (Recognition of Achievement)
Where: Durham College in Oshawa, Ont.
Length of Program: Courses to be completed within one year

Durham College’s Cannabis Industry Specialization program was designed in partnership with GrowWise Health Limited and additional industry leaders to provide participants with crucial insights into the complexity of the rapidly evolving sector.

Students can choose from 13 courses within the categories of business operations, the adult-use market, law and ethics, importing and exporting and medical cannabis fundamentals for business professionals. Potential career options include sales, marketing, finance and consulting. This part-time program is intended to prepare professionals with business experience or those who have already completed a diploma or degree in business, to pursue a career in the cannabis industry. Students who do not have a diploma or degree are still welcome to register for the program and all students must be at least 19 years of age.

Program: The Business of Cannabis
Where: Ryerson University, Toronto
Length of Program: 39 hours taught over three months

This introductory course is intended to familiarize students with the cannabis industry in Canada and, more specifically, Ontario. This non-credit course, taken for personal or professional interest only, will teach students how to apply entrepreneurship principles to the business of cannabis, including financing and how to maximize marketing effectiveness in a highly regulated environment.

The course also focuses on issues specific to starting and operating a cannabis business, including legislation at the provincial and federal levels and regulations pertaining to cultivation, processing, distribution, marketing and selling. The course is offered on Tuesday evenings at Ryerson’s downtown campus, beginning in early September. While the course’s website strongly recommends that students have an understanding of basic business concepts, anyone is welcome to enroll.

Program: Cannabis Courses
Where: Collège Boréal (Boreal College), multiple campuses
Length of program: Each course runs over an eight-week period

Collège Boréal offers online cannabis training in both English and French through its Contract Training service. The courses—Marketing, Sales & Drugs Development, Financing a Cannabis Enterprise in Canada, and Plant Production and Facility Management—rolled out in the fall of 2018 in anticipation of legalization.

The courses cover a range of topics, from regulations in the production and sale of cannabis, commercial production and medical uses of cannabis, to how to prepare a business plan for a cannabis company. The courses can be combined in several different ways and taken in any order based on need and interest. Since they are offered online, they can be taken anywhere in Canada.