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RHS qualifications - advice needed!
jacobjmccullough
Posts: 5
Hey all! I need some advice / guidance re: the RHS qualifications, I'll try to make this post short! Also, I didn't know what category to select, apologies!
Basically, I'm planning on doing the Level 2 RHS qualification in Principles of Horticulture. I'm not able to do the practical side of it at the moment due to there not being a college convenient enough to me offering it, but I'm content with just doing the theory cert. for now. I'm eyeing up a career change, I'm currently a chef but have become increasingly interested in growing my own food. I have a few concerns / queries however that I would like to air out before signing up and paying for it.
Firstly, as someone who has very little theoretical horticulture knowledge currently, hasn't studied anything in a good few years and will be working a full-time job on top of the course - will it all be too much? I've seen some people say that it is a very heavy course and I'm worried that I'll be in over my head or find myself drowning in notes and information.
Secondly, I plan on doing it through distance learning - can anyone vouch for the provider 'Learning with Experts'? I've already come across one such provider that proved to be a little scam-y, and I don't want to pay a lot of money for a course that turns out to be lacking. They seem to be pretty on-the-ball, and certainly sound like they know what they're talking about, but I just want to be sure, as they are charging considerably less than a lot of other providers.
Many thanks in advance to anyone who contributes to this post.
Basically, I'm planning on doing the Level 2 RHS qualification in Principles of Horticulture. I'm not able to do the practical side of it at the moment due to there not being a college convenient enough to me offering it, but I'm content with just doing the theory cert. for now. I'm eyeing up a career change, I'm currently a chef but have become increasingly interested in growing my own food. I have a few concerns / queries however that I would like to air out before signing up and paying for it.
Firstly, as someone who has very little theoretical horticulture knowledge currently, hasn't studied anything in a good few years and will be working a full-time job on top of the course - will it all be too much? I've seen some people say that it is a very heavy course and I'm worried that I'll be in over my head or find myself drowning in notes and information.
Secondly, I plan on doing it through distance learning - can anyone vouch for the provider 'Learning with Experts'? I've already come across one such provider that proved to be a little scam-y, and I don't want to pay a lot of money for a course that turns out to be lacking. They seem to be pretty on-the-ball, and certainly sound like they know what they're talking about, but I just want to be sure, as they are charging considerably less than a lot of other providers.
Many thanks in advance to anyone who contributes to this post.
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Posts
However, you should be aware that the RHS is changing the Level 2 syllabus from September 2022. It is quite a drastic change. If it were me I would make sure I was starting with the new syllabus, as then there will not be any time pressure to do the exams before they stop offering them for the old syllabus. Also if you want to do the practical at some stage in the future then that will be the new syllabus and will match better than with the old theory.
I did mine at a college, but have heard very good things about RBGE (Edinburgh) as an online provider.
Good luck, whichever route you go down 🍀
I agree with @chicky make sure you start on the new syllabus. One good thing is if you look at the info from the RHS, they make it very clear exactly what you need to know. There is a good book authored by Adams, Bamford,Early &others, called Principles of Horticulture it's updated regularly and covers most of what you need to know.
You don't really need it to be the 'season' for it, especially the first 3 units on biology, soils and pests/diseases.
If you start on the old sllyabus, you've only got until Feb 2024 to take all 8 exams. I studied the first 4 in about 5 months - but I wasn't working. I'm doing the next 4 now whilst working and it's doable but a lot harder and I think you might struggle to finish in time. I would recommend waiting until the new syllabus starts - September this year I believe.
The RHS give the recommend hours as around 35 hours per unit (8 units total) - I think I did at least double that to make sure I really knew it well.