Horticultural therapist : Career development

Initial promotion may be to supervisory positions, which may require moving to a different employer. There may also be opportunities for therapists to become involved in research projects alongside their therapeutic work.

To improve your chances of promotion, you could work towards horticultural qualifications such as the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Diploma in Horticulture. The Institute of Horticulture (IoH) provides professional membership options; see its website for details of membership eligibility criteria and the benefits of joining.

For those wishing to proceed to the RHS Master of Horticulture award, MHort (RHS), it is essential to have at least three years of relevant professional experience and qualifications such as the RHS Level 3 Diploma or BTEC National Diploma. The MHort (RHS) is one of the highest that can be achieved in the profession and tests horticultural knowledge, understanding and practical skills. Assessments consist of traditional written papers, projects, critiques, practical assessments and a dissertation. The qualification normally takes three years of personal study to complete.