RHS level II Certificate in horticulture - PRINCIPLES OF PLANT GROWTH, PROPAGATION AND DEVELOPMENT.

This is one of a new generation of certificates launched by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2010 to replace older qualifications.

This vocationally-oriented course comprises core studies in general horticulture designed to lay a foundation for a long-term career in horticulture, but equaliy applicable to the keen amateur.

The course covers the first four units of the RHS Level II Certificate:

Unit 1 The plant kingdom
Unit 2 Plant nutrition, the root environment
Unit 3 Pests, diseases and weeds
Unit 4 Sexual and asexual propagation

The second part of the Level II Certificate course can be found on the web site.

To obtain the certificate, awarded by the RHS in England, the student needs to sit and pass written exams conducted under supervision and assessed by the RHS. Exams can be arranged to be sat anywhere in the world and are offered twice annually; in February and June.

A separate fee applies for exams; set by and paid to the RHS. A network of exam centres are located across the UK for students located in the UK. For students located elsewhere; a provision is made for exams to be conducted "under arrangements for exceptional supervision". Those who want only to study the subject without sitting an exam are free to do so.

Working with Colin Elliott, an experienced professional horticulturist and garden designer, this CD-based course is your route to this highly respected and widely recognised qualification. The course provides some 100 hours of study in 10 modules and 10 assignments.

There are 10 lessons in this course:

Classification of plants and the plant naming system
The internal structure of higher plants
The external structure of higher plants, roots, leaves, stems and buds
Identification and function of the reproductive parts of the plant
Pollination and fertilisation in higher plants
The fundamental physiological processes in plants, plant growth and developmental relationships
Soils and the root environment
Plant nutrition
Plant health problems
Plant propagation principles and practice

Each lesson ends with assignments to test your knowledge and reinforce your learning; these are sent to your tutor for marking and comments, while additional interactive self-test exercises are undertaken privately.