Figures (1)  Tables (2)

    • Figure 1. 

      Overview of educational and career pathways for floral designers. Entry-level positions require a high school diploma or equivalent. Postsecondary training/education programs are provided by State Florists Associations, AIFD Education Partners, and higher education institutions. CFD could be achieved by completing the appropriate educational programs provided by an AIFD Education Partner, approved State Florists Association, SAIFD Chapter, or during any stage of higher education. AIFD can only be obtained by achieving the required scores in the PFDE. A person from the general public follows the same pathways as those who start after high school. zAIFD does not restrict applicants to those only with a CFD credential. This framework is intended to show certifications and education levels.

    • State Florists Association Education Providers
      Alabama State Florists AssociationMissouri State Florists Association
      Alaska State Florists AssociationMontana State Florists Association
      Arizona State Florists AssociationNebraska State Florists Association
      Arkansas State Florists AssociationNevada State Florists Association
      California State Florists AssociationNew Hampshire State Florists Association
      Connecticut Florists AssociationsNew Jersey State Florists Association
      Florists Association of the RockiesNew Mexico State Florists Association
      Florida State Florists AssociationNew York Florist Associations
      Georgia State Florists AssociationNorth Carolina State Florists Association
      Hawaii Florist AssociationsNorth Dakota State Florists Association
      Idaho State Florists AssociationOhio Florists Association
      Illinois State Florists AssociationOklahoma State Florists Association
      Indiana State Florists AssociationRhode Island Retail Florists Association
      Iowa Florists’ AssociationSouth Carolina Florists Association
      Kansas Florists AssociationsSouth Dakota Florists Association
      Kentucky Florist AssociationsTennessee State Florists Association
      Louisiana State Florists AssociationTexas State Florist Association
      Maine State Florist & Growers AssociationUtah Professional Florists Association
      Maryland Florist AssociationsVermont Florist Associations
      Massachusetts Florist AssociationsVirginia State Florists Association
      Michigan Florist AssociationWashington Florists Associations
      Minnesota State Florist AssociationWest Virginia Florist Association
      Mississippi State Florists AssociationWisconsin and Upper Michigan Florists Association

      Table 1. 

      The 46 State Florists Associations examined in the study identify floristry education and training programs in the floristry industry with the purpose of developing the educational and career pathways framework.

    • StateCredential programRequirements
      ArizonaArizona Master Florist (AzMF)

      • Complete 12 classes (Principles of Design; Care & Handling of Foliage & Flowering Plants; Customer Relations; Delivery; Merchandising; Employee Relations; Advertising & Promotions; Daily Business Procedures; Basic Design Techniques; Wedding Techniques; Funeral Techniques; Care & Handling of Cut Flowers & Foliage)

      • Pass Final Exam

      ArkansasArkansas Master Florist (AMF)

      • Complete classes and pass exams (Principles and Elements of Design; Care and Handling of Fresh Cuts and Plants; Flowers to wear; Management; Marketing; Advertising and Promotion; Management: Merchandising; Management: Customer Relations, Employee Relations; Hands-on Wedding Bouquets; Hands-on "Celebration of Life" with an Emphasis on Sympathy; Management: Delivery; History of Design Styles: Everyday)

      • Written and Hands-on tests (Flowers to wear; Wedding Bouquets; Everyday, Sympathy, Copy)

      CaliforniaCalifornia Certified Florist (CCF)

      • Written Exam (Flower ID; Flower and Plant Care and Handling; Floral Design [Design Elements and Principles; Color and Light in Floral Design; Floral Design Concepts and Styles; Considering the Container; Techniques and Mechanics])

      • Hands-on Design Test (Flowers to Wear; Sympathy Arrangement: Standing Spray; Hand-tied Bouquet: Wedding Design; Designer’s Choice; Duplication Design)

      FloridaFlorida Professional Certified Florists (FPCF)• No info on how to achieve FPCF on the official website
      Florida State Master Designer (FSMD)• No info on how to achieve FSMD on the official website
      GeorgiaGeorgia Master Florist (GMF)

      • Complete and pass nine online classes (Principles of Design; Concepts of the Care and Handling of Foliage and Flowering Plants; Care and Handling of Cut Flowers and Foliage; Customer Relations; Delivery Made Simple; The Art of Effective Visual Merchandising; Employee Relations; Advertising and Promotion; Daily Business Procedures)

      • Complete and pass a hands-on class and exam

      • Complete and pass a design evaluation session

      IllinoisIllinois Certified Professional Florist (ICPF)

      • Nine online classes (Concepts of the Care & Handling of Foliage and Flowering Plants; Care & Handling of Cut Flowers and Foliage; Customer Relations; Flower Shop Delivery Concepts; The Art of Effective Visual Merchandising; Advertising and Promotion; Employee)

      Illinois Certified Designer (ICD)

      • Complete the appropriate floral design education programs through ISFA, including ICPF and the Continuing Education Bootcamps

      KentuckyKentucky Master Florist (KMF)• No info found on how to achieve KMF
      LouisianaCertified Florist (CF)• No info found on how to achieve CF on the official website
      Maine
      		Professional Certified Florist (PCF)

      • Take 12 classes and pass an exam: Design Classes (Elements of Design; Basic Principles of Design; Care & Handling of Cut Flowers & Foliage; Care & Handling of Flowering Plants; Wedding Design; Sympathy Design)

      • Management Classes (Customer Relations; Employee Relations; Delivery; Merchandising; Promotion; Basic Business Procedures)

      • Take the certification test

      Maine Master Floral Design Program (MMFD)

      • Good standing of Maine State Florists and Growers Association (MSFGA) or an employee of a member shop in good standing

      AND

      • Have passed MSFGA’s Professional Certified Florist (PCF) program within 5 years of exposure to floral design.

      OR

      • A comparable or advanced course of study such as AIFD, a college degree in retail floriculture or equivalent and 3 years of exposure to floral design.

      OR

      • 5 years full-time design experience. (Students must be able to show proof of design experience). All eligibility for enrollment will be up to the MSFGA Education Chairman and Instructor.

      MichiganCertified Florist (CF)• Written test + Hands-on test
      North CarolinaNorth Carolina Certified Professional Florist (NCCPF)

      • Nine online classes on shop operation (Flower Shop Delivery Concepts; Care and Handling of Cut Flowers and Foliage; Advertising, Promotions, Marketing, and Public Relations; The Art of Effective Visual Merchandising; The Principles of Design; Employee Relations; Customer Relations; Concepts of Care and Handling of Foliage and Flowering Plants; Daily business procedures)

      • Three hands-on classes (Current Design and Techniques; Sympathy Design and Techniques; Wedding Design and Techniques)

      • Final exam

      Rockies
      		Certified Professional Florist (CPF)• No info found regarding how to achieve CPF on the official website
      South DakotaSouth Dakota Certified Florist Program (SDCF)• Written and practical application test
      TexasTexas Master Certified Florist (TMF)

      • Texas State Florists’ Association (TSFA) Education Application (Wedding Bouquet; Standing Easel Spray; Wired and Taped Corsage; Vase Arrangement; Basket Arrangement; Asymmetrical Arrangement)

      • Qualifying Exam (Symmetrical Triangle; Asymmetrical Triangle; Oblong Design; Round Design; Corsage)

      • Seven online courses(Floral Business Procedures and Policies; Care and Handling of Foliage and Flowering Plants; Care of Cut Flowers & Foliage; Floral Sales, Profitability; Flower Shop Delivery Concepts; The Art of Effective Visual Merchandising; Advertising and Marketing)

      • Three hands-on courses(Celebration of Life, Sympathy Design; Wedding Design Styles & Techniques; The Elements & Principles of Floral Design)

      • TMF Final Exam

      Texas Master Florist Advanced (TMFA)• Attend courses in four of 12 TSFA-approved topics
      • Attend four TSFA Convention-approved hands-on workshops
      • Earn one credit per class
      • You have 4 years to obtain eight total required credits
      Professional Certified Florist (PCF)• Complete TSFA Education Application
      • Seven online courses (same as TMF’s courses)
      • Three hands-on courses (same as TMF’s courses)
      • PCF Final exam
      Wisconsin and Upper MichiganCertified Florist (CF)• Nine online Classes
      • Three hands-on classes
      • Final Exam (Written + Hands-on)

      Table 2. 

      Current certified florist programs provided by 15 State Florists Associations for the professional development of florists in the study of examining education programs for developing the educational and career pathways framework.