Celebrating 125 Years: Native Plant Trust

Certificate Programs

Boost Your Career with a Certificate

Learn to identify, cultivate, and conserve native New England plants

Please see answers to frequently asked Certificate Program questions here.

Since 1987, Native Plant Trust has cultivated one of the most comprehensive Native Plant Studies programs in the country. Our curriculum sets a clear path for students to build on the fundamentals of the field in interactive ways, while maintaining program flexibility and increasing the frequency of our offerings. The new curriculum also guides students to create products over the course of the certificate, so that they can complete final portfolios to demonstrate their proficiency in their subjects.

Students enrolled in our certificate programs learn to identify, cultivate, and conserve native New England plants while gaining a greater appreciation for their ecological importance. Students also actively participate in public and private efforts to preserve and restore native New England plants.

Although our certificate core courses are designed for the level of certificate students, enrollment in the Certificate Program is not required to take a certificate core course.

New: Scholarship Opportunities

We are pleased to announce scholarship opportunities for the Native Plant Studies Basic Certificate courses. These scholarships are intended to provide a learning path for students who would not otherwise be able to pursue these courses. We especially encourage students of diverse backgrounds to apply. Recipients of scholarship funds will be kept confidential unless the student voluntarily shares their story.

We have closed the current scholarship application period and will reopen it when we are able to receive more students. Please check back on this page.


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Basic Certificate

The Basic certificate track familiarizes students with the plants of New England, emphasizing structures, skills, and processes. We highly recommend beginning with the foundations courses, which introduce students to native plant vocabulary, morphology, physiology, ecological context, evolution, and relationships. This knowledge is applied to following courses.

All Basic certificate core courses are now offered every semester.

Advanced Certificate

The Advanced certificate tracks encourage students to apply their plant knowledge in a Botany & Conservation specialty or a Horticulture & Design specialty. To enter an Advanced track, students must complete the Basic certificate or have enough experience to qualify for a Basic certificate. We recommend beginning with the foundations courses, which provide context for the field or landscape application. All Advanced core courses are offered every year.

  • Advanced Botany & Conservation • - • Enroll now

  • Advanced Horticulture & Design • - • Enroll now

  • Track Your Credits

  • Plant List • - • -

  • Past Program Catalogs • - • -

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“The certificate program provided me a useful framework and the needed encouragement for pursuing interest in native plants and conservation.”

—Bruce Patterson, Advanced certificate, Field Botany & Conservation

“The program advanced my knowledge in native plants and fits well with my sustainable philosophy and residential design practices.”