Professional Floristry

QQI Level 5 Certificate in Floristry 5M2686

Are you looking to start a new career or enhance your existing skills?  Whether you’re an avid gardener or have a passion for creative design, this Professional Floristry course will help you develop the skills you need to create stunning floral and plant arrangements for commercial and special occasions.

Beyond the practical skills, this course will also equip you with the knowledge needed to succeed in a retail florist career. Our theory classes will teach you how to set up a shop, manage health and safety requirements, and improve your IT skills.  Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your expertise and pursue your dreams in the world of floristry.

Employment Opportunities

  • Retail sales of flowers and plants in flower shops and garden centres
  • Designing flower and plant displays
  • On location flower and plant arrangements
  • Creating floral designs for special occasions such as weddings,
  • christenings, parties
  • Running your own floristry business.

Course content

  • Retail Floristry
  • Flower Conditioning and Handling
  •  Floral Design for Occasions including Birthdays, Christenings, Anniversaries, Weddings and Special Functions
  • Floriculture and Plant Care
  •  Interior Planting
  •  Plant Design and Care
  •  Retail Display
  •  Communications
  •  Information Technology
  • Event Management
  •  Work Experience

Course features and facilities

Course Features

  • Visiting specialists from many different aspects of the flower sector
  • Links with retail florists
  • Visits to wholesalers, garden centres and display exhibitions
  • Floral decorating for a variety of events

Course Facilities

  • Our fully equipped floristry room has flowers and plants for all practical work.
  • Fully equipped IT suites and the library.

Entry requirements

  • Leaving Certificate or equivalent, LCA or relevant experience
  • Interview
  • Mature applicants welcome
  • Applicants may be accepted without meeting formal entry requirements

“I enjoyed the floristry course in Sallynoggin College as I learned different techniques, from making floral arrangements, to how to look at different ways of making a business out of it.  I also learned computer skills which came in handy, as I now own a florist called Floral Boutique. I would recommend this course as it covers everything, which I liked.”

Sabina Butler, Co-owner of Floral Boutique, Edenderry 

“There were two main reasons I enjoyed the course. The first was learning how to work with flowers/foliage and creating different arrangements, the second was the computer course. At my age I learned so much and I am much more confident and feel I accomplished what I needed to know.

Work experience helped me gain a lot of knowledge into the world of floristry. It also helped me decide on my own goals.

During the summer after college, I decided to open a shop with another student from the class.  From my own retail experience and the retail workshops/assignments we worked on in SCFE we had all the tools we needed to feel confident to open a business. Learning basic information about setting up a shop, health & safety, security, and use of equipment/computers etc, all helped in the understanding of what you could expect opening up a business.

The course is tailored to individual needs. I wanted to learn all the floral side of things but learning about opening a shop really benefitted me. I also needed to brush up on computers as I just had the basic computer skills and felt this side of the course was really valuable to me. There is a lot of assignments, but the tutors are very helpful in helping you to understand what you need to achieve.”

Michelle O’Brien, past student and co-owner of Floral Boutique, Edenderry

Education progression

Below are some examples of progression options with this QQI level 5 award in Floristry 5M2686
South East TU Horticulture (Dublin – National Botanic Gardens) Level 7 WD097

For a more detailed list of progression options please www.cao.ie

For more progression options

South East TU Horticulture (Waterford – Kildalton) Level 7 WD096
South East TU Agriculture Level 7 WD126
South East TU Agricultural Science Level 8 WD191
South East TU Forestry Level 7 WD076
South East TU Retail Management Level 7 WD184
TU Dublin City Centre Visual Merchandising and Display* Level 7 TU795
TU Dublin Tallaght Advertising and Marketing Communications Level 7 TU780
TU Dublin Tallaght Advertising and Marketing Communications Level 8 TU919
*Portfolio Required

Course modules are reviewed annually and may be subject to change