Before I even work with some one i give them the 50 or 100 dollar test you leave it out some reason you go into the other room for 5 minutes or so and then decide to go forward. Second i give them a book if they won’t read it i can’t help you then. They have to have money meaning there car is not mostly duct tape. This cannabis colleges is all crap really a degree in agriculture or agronminey I spelled it wrong any way is way better because you know what fertilizer to use and when and bottled nutrients are just dressed up. A farmer who does crops like food crops will blow away any of theses weed college guys at the end of the day it’s just a plant with a life cycle like everything else. It’s kinda like Harley Davidson it was cheap and good till the 90s then every thing now is that is a Harley Davidson it 100 dollars for dumb stuff same thing with fish hydrolysate at Wal-Mart for 5 dollars and the grow store for 25 dollars a bottle
Duck tape cars might really be in fashion where she lives lol.
As a new grower in an illegal state I just got on the old internet and started reading. Then I started applying what I learned about 6 months later. That’s when the education started lol
I think the " universities " are simply cashing in on the new trend of legally growing weed. People are looking for jobs and weed seems like an easy job? If you have never had a grow before how would you gain experience? Most people do t live in buildings where a grow of any size is doable or legal for that matter. The fact that someone was eager enough to take the course shows motivation if nothing else.
Perhaps they may have learned something you don’t know? You get that as a bonus.
I guarantee, there are operations out there employing tech that you have never used. Multi million dollar facilities that grow food use viable tech that translates very well into cannabis grows.
In fact growing weed is only one part of the business, what about other skills, research and development, agricultural technology, networking, marketing, packaging, distribution, accounting, legal, management, what other attributes can this person have that bring value to your operations? Just growing a plant is only one small part of it.
Gut instinct is good
Certifications are not necessarily a sign of wisdom.
I get people applying for bartending jobs with their “bartending certificate” just about every year. Most of them have never set foot behind a real bar. None of them have ever had to talk a drunk down from violence. Sure they may understand the theory and recipes, but how are they under pressure or are they any good with people? I can teach anyone to make drinks, but I can’t teach them the real world skills they need to be good at their job. I’d hire a person that’s been a barback with zero bartending time over a “certificate” applicant any time.
I’m sure the cannabis world is the same. Someone may come in with a certificate. This shows they’ve passed tests and read books, but have they grown from seed to harvest? Have they diagnosed or solved real world cannabis issues? Are they good with plants? I don’t quite understand paying for a book education, when you could easily work from the bottom up and acquire real skills while getting paid.
That, and showing up on time and being reliable.
I’ve, hired and dismissed more tradesman then I can or care to remember. there are three ways to look at it.
you can get someone young whos nice and ‘quiet’ and u don’t mind having around… that knows nothing… you want them to know nothing, then its your work that makes them good, you mold them to u… takes a sh1tload of work and costs money but each year they get better, then after about 2-3 years in a trade generally they get to what you had in mind… then they progress as a tradesman, and as a man or woman… then you have somone really good at a good rate. then you have to keep them! generally paying them quite well but explaining how good they have it sometime works… but as heartbreaking as it is u just get another apprentice…
you get someone trained at uni, or tafe. with no on the job experience… they can be ok… btu generally they think more then they know… better then the kid above for the first year maybe 2 because they are generally older and have shown innitave and went to get their education then they stop, its because in their mind they are as good as all the tradesman now… they have their education and now a years worth of experience, so you have ego… u cant keep beating things into them like above…
or they are good then leave or want more money… tradesman money
or you get a tradesman they have great experience, should be ‘much’ better then me at what they do. I shouldn’t have to worry, they are their own company… if any thing goes wrong I charge them… and are generally mates. we have the same stresses generally admin or clients building is the least of our worries… but they are expensive and they are always doing their own thing, so even though I can book them in for a year… within that time they may wat to leave for a week or after that time they definatly have to go to another job… but I don’t have to worry about work for them… but they are expensive… and can not always be available. 
those three types of options should be available no matter what industry, you can decide…
but generally if people actually turn up on time for work, or turn up then your half way there…
Wow. The input here is invaluable!!
I do want to clarify that I have absolutely no issue with education and college degrees. I have a B.S in biochem and a Master’s in molecular chemistry so traditional education is not where my concern is. I am questioning the validity of these supposed Cannabis Universities that have popped up in the last few years, riding the wave and looking to cash in on the mainstreaming of marijuana. Like @Cannabian said.
However, now that I’m reading everyone’s responses and thinking about it all, the more I think that their “certification” doesn’t really matter one way or the other. Maybe they have learned some valuable theory. Maaaybeeee they’ve been totally miseducated and this is an opportunity to correct that miseducation and cultivate (pun intended) a really skilled cannabis farmer.
But NOW it’s got me really thinking about whether or not there actually is a need for these or similar cannabis cultivation education organizations. I do know that some states have written into their legislation that anyone who works at a dispensary has to be a pharmacy technician and must have an actual Pharmacist with a doctorate on staff (which is absolutely unimaginably ridiculous in my opinion). They don’t even leave it up to the company to decide what qualifications, if any, their employees must have. It’s literally a law.
So I assume that there may be varying degrees of restrictiveness from state to state. At THAT point would an additional certificate or completion of some sort of reputable program from a credible organization or business be necessary to set one’s self apart from the others?
I mean, ultimately, a certification is nothing more than verified proof from an unbiased entity that someone has mastered a set of skills and theories in order to perform a job or understand a subject. Other than taking someone on as an apprentice, what other way would an employer have to verify that someone has at least a basic knowledge? So, is a program like that something that would benefit the industry?
I’m mostly thinking out loud, but I also am super interested in what you all have to say on that.
I agree with @kettle 100%. Getting someone that is punctual is key. When I subcontracted as a supervisor for many troubled jobs, If you were late more than 3 times, I sent you to the office of the employer so, you could explain why you couldn’t show up on time when you only lived 10-15 minutes away but, your boss that lived over an hour away was never late. I would use the scenario okay, you ar 15-20 minutes late every day, you are costing me xx amount of $$ a year for not being here. Eventually most that stayed got it.
I believe this to be a true statement. You certainly cannot penalize anyone for attempting to gain knowledge regardless of format. But I would also caution putting a lot of faith into a cannabis specific certificate.
This issue isn’t limited to cannabis industry, it’s something all small businesses deal with. It just so happens that you’re also in a niche market with limited “qualified” pool of candidates. I think the best advice I have to share, is to take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of your current team. Use interview process to see if you can find someone that compliments what you already have. I feel like it doesn’t make a lot of sense to go looking for a plant whisperer if you already have a few. Someone with little knowledge but is eager to learn and good at following directions can compliment them well. Or, maybe you already have a staff full of followers. In that case someone with more verifiable hands on experience may be a better fit.
Always remember that nobody knows your business like you do, nor will anyone be more passionate about it.
Just my two cents to preface the following statement:
I run operations for a pest control co that is extremely profitable. We operate in 9 states and I have about 120 techs under my purview. My general tactic is that I hire quality people. Traits would include honesty, loyalty, ability to think outside the box, self motivators, and the ability to follow even when they are not necessarily all in on the short term direction. From this you can mold them into what you want.
Fact is in this business no one has all the answers. If they say they do that’s the first red flag. We have not been allowed to study in depth for generations like other commodities. Ultimately it is you that must lead and create structure for your “lieutenants” to follow and build upon. The knifes edge is allowing them room to grow and expand while also giving them structure to fall within. I would not give very much credence to experts (I work with scientists with PhDs who couldn’t pour piss out of a boot in real world applications… hmmmm Bayer crop science)
Trust your gut. Develop your team with the culture you feel is most important and you will be destined for success. Wishing you nothing but the best 
good luck and godspeed
@Sirsmokesalot
I literally laughed out loud when you mentioned Bayer Scientific! I worked with them as part of a team of scientists from various fields (I covered molecular chemistry) and crop scientists, soil scientists, bla bla bla and I got to see FIRST HAND what you’re talking about. Holy s#!t it was like Amateur Circus Surprise. I did walk away with some fun lab and crop swag. They employ a bunch of bureaucratic dunces but they sure do have fun equipment and tools. Lol.
I just can’t believe you mentioned Bayer because I puke into my mouth every time I hear the name. Lol.
I don’t know if this would be legit or not. It just seems kinda off the wall. On a different note I was actually looking to go to a Brew Beer School. It was actually legit but very expensive. I used to home brew beer but I had to give that hobby up.
My good friends has approached me that they wanted me to be the Brew Master for a pub they was looking at starting. They ended up deciding a no go due to all the red tape.
@MrPeat
Brew school IS legit. I mean depending on the school. Brew schools have a long and respected history because it’s been openly studied and pioneered for thousands of years, unlike cannabis.
Make sure you research your brew school! Make sure the teachers are accomplished brew masters themselves, not some random group of bartenders looking for extra work on Craigs List.
But absolutely look into that. That can definitely get you places. 
Good luck buddy!!!
@the2409labs Oh I found a legit one at the time. I’m retired so I’m not doing it. My point was to make sure you do plenty of research first before pulling the trigger.
If I was contemplating on doing something for growing Cannabis, I’d contact different big growing companies and see if you could be a free intern. Because this would guarantee it’s legit.
The current cannabis schools are focused primarily on entry level employment opportunities. If all a person really wants to do is grow weed, the internet is rich with information. The key thing with using the internet is being able to sort the good information from the not so good.
The only reason that education in the cannabis industry is even a thing is purely because of legalization and potential employment. If you want to learn about growing stuff an agro course that covers modern indoor technology would be more than sufficient but it would require a business degree to be fully fluent in creating a successful and sustainable company.
I am not really interested in entry level/ minimum wage employment opportunities. At present I grow food to reduce my cost of living and to eat tastier and healthier. I grow weed for personal and social use and to exercise a right that had not been mine since I was born. If I wanted to do this on a commercial level I would go very large through progressive expansion.
Bayer Bayer Bayer Bayer lmao
effing bayer… I use to work for them in a factory… (when sep 11th happened so a long time ago). then one day they came in and fired everyone in the factory, it was a manager issue I think… brutal… id already left…
packing agricultural chemicals.
copywriting a species, when there are already heaps of companies using it.
I was talking about it with a mate, whos a wine scientist… and I explained it to him and what this particular species is used for…
basically bacillus amyloliquefaciens is our root protection. its in almost every single experienced DWC grower root biological protection. or sterile… does anyone do sterile?
but its so much more it works on strawberries, mainly for grape mold in wines, if you have a big tree that’s dying of root rot you could dilute this to 1000 litres and save the tree. it works as a preventative to bud rot… it is a magic species. all because of a special property that it tolerates saline environments.
hence it can go in our fertilisers…
how can 1 company get all that… its worth billions.
now hes my best mate and a scientist, and was shocked… but I don’t even know what body to call to find out about this or if I find out this is all true will the general public even care…
completely sh1t… whats worse is the blanket importation ban is so well enforced im thinking of just buying it from bayer… im just getting a price… because I live out in the farms…as buying it from them may only be 2-3 times the price not 8 times like the imported blackmarket stuff…
but im so torn ethically im really p1ssed as u can tell.
anyway completely off topic but microbiology was a fav of mine at uni, and it affects me. so ill continue elsewhere…
but annoying but more then that. for me completely ethically wrong.
take it easy legends. 
actually what is ilgm stance of breaking down whats in products? I was looking into mammoth p for example. (not that ive found anything bad) its just that if we break down whats happening inside it or recommended dosages or how it interacts with other things may affect how much a product is sold…
and im thinking of talking to a microbiologist anyway… because im finding bacillus amyloliquefaciens is so affective against fighting detrimental fungi and I don’t know with what mechanism its using, it could be killing all the beneficial fungi we are adding too…
fertilizer companies letting us buy stuff we don’t need… that would never happen, but we should be sure…
again off topic…
kettle