This Certificate delivers the practical element of the new RHS level 3 qualifications, alongside the theory RHS Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Garden Planning and Applied Propagation.

New topics include the production of fruit, vegetable and herb crops as well as the design and maintenance of ecological and sustainable plantings.

The Level 3 Practical Certificate offers a progression for those already in a horticultural role, and is also aimed at anyone with a personal interest in the supervision and development of gardens and landscapes, so meeting the needs of horticultural professionals and amateur gardeners looking to take their skills to a more professional level.

It is quite different from the previous RHS Level 3 Certificate Practical Horticulture course and has been designed to support specialist/industry specific pathways and is a direct result of the findings of the Horticultural Round Table Group (OHRG).

A level 3 qualification from the RHS can facilitate career progression and is recognised by the National Trust and many other large employers as an entry into management positions within the horticultural sector.

The RHS states:

'Those involved in the field of Garden and Landscape Maintenance have to be able to apply the principles of horticultural science, seek out best practice, select techniques which are cost effective, embrace sustainability, ensure biosecurity and comply with current legislation as they develop the gardens and landscapes under their care. These horticulturists have to apply the skills developed within the Level 2 qualification, but embrace the concepts of Garden Management Plans, Maintenance Schedules and Garden Health Plans to enable them to manage the many different aspect which make up gardens.'

 The RHS Practical Certificate consists of 8 Topics, plus 4 qualification-wide outcomes.

Plant Knowledge 1. The identification and requirements of plant species 2. Plant specification and sourcing 3. Plants within gardens and designed landscapes 4. Propagation techniques.

Creating Planted Areas 1. Site preparation 2. Planting schemes 3. The planting process 4. Post-planting management.

Maintaining Planted Areas 1. Maintenance of planted areas 2. Garden management plans / maintenance schedules 3. Evidence-based practice / best practice 4. Evaluation of techniques.

Plant Health 1. Biosecurity 2. Biotic and abiotic impacts on plant health 3. Integrated Pest Management 4. Planning garden health.

Productive Growing 1. Cultivation of vegetables 2. Cultivation of top fruit 3. Cultivation of soft fruit 4. Cultivation of herbs.

Protected Growing 1. Siting, design and maintenance of protected structures 2. Internal structures and equipment 3. Production of crops 4. Management of plant collections.

Ecological and Sustainable Plantings 1. Purpose of ecological and sustainable plantings 2. Species selection 3. Establishment of ecological and sustainable plantings 4. Maintenance of ecological and sustainable plantings.

Landscaping Materials 1. Inspection of existing hard landscaping features 2. Maintenance plans and schedules for landscaping materials and features 3. Planning a new hard landscaping feature 4. Selection and calculation of materials.

The Qualification-wide outcomes embedded within the course follow on from level 2 and consist of health and safety, sustainability, best practice and equality and diversity.

Click here to download the syllabus for the New Level 3 Practical Certificate.

Assessment:

There will be one practical assessment day and also a separate ‘professional discussion’ on another date with an RHS examiner.  A practice day will also be scheduled. The third part of the assessment process is an online assessment of practical knowledge in June.

Course delivery: 

The course runs over an academic year. 

Home study from September - June, with three blocks of practical work  at our Ryton centre in September, January and June/July, ending with an RHS Practical assessment and Professional Discussion in July.

An online multiple-choice examination is taken at home in June.

Enrolling on this course involves a commitment to a full year of study.  

You will be given a structured programme and be expected to carry out a series of tasks  - in your own garden, a garden to which you have access or your place of work; you will get feedback and advice from your course tutor. 

 Online resources:
Course notes covering all the topics in the syllabus are downloadable from the online classroom (or available in printed form to purchase separately); these provide the background information for each part of the syllabus which is tested in the final online exam known as an OCA (online competence assessment).
Self-test quizzes in the online classroom will help you check your knowledge.
Narrated presentations in the online classroom  cover the key points for each practical topic;  there are also videos demonstrating the tasks, which help you to identify the key points for proficiency and avoid errors in technique.

Plant identification  is part of the practical and online assessments  and is supported by weekly narrated presentations with self-test quizzes to help you to learn botanical names.
There will be  regular plant identification tests from a video of  live specimens.

Click here to see some sample study materials  (please note, with 'guest access' quizzes and interactive elements are not available).

When you have successfully completed all the constituent parts of the qualification The Royal Horticultural Society which award The RHS Level 3 Certificate in Horticultural Practice, graded either Pass, Merit or Distinction.

Most of this course is made up of online study at home, supplemented by practice in your workplace, garden or allotment.  Blocks of teaching and assessment will take place at our Ryton centre near Coventry.

Fees for 2026-7: RHS fees £230, tuition and materials £1470 = Total £1700

The RHS fees for the new Level 2 Practical Certificate are £230 for registration  and assessment.   These RHS fees are now due at the beginning of the course as an itemised part of the initial payment.

 You can pay £1700 in full for your course or in four instalments of £430 (£1720).

If you choose to pay in instalments your first payment of £430 constitutes a booking fee and your RHS fees which are non-refundable once paid to the RHS even if you decide not to take assessments. 

Please note: In the event of the course not running, the booking fee will be returned to you. 

The remainder of the course fees can be paid in three equal instalments of £430, on weeks 8, 16 and 24 . You can make these payments via the 'Make Payment' tab on the website.

Or you can ask us to set up a direct debit mandate when you book the course by indicating 'yes' on the enrolment form and we will be pleased to send you a mandate form by email. Once this has been returned to us we can request payments from your bank on or about weeks 8, 16 and 24 .

You will receive statements of account during your course; please note these are statements not additional invoices.

Please consider before you enrol on this course whether:

(1)  you have access to a garden, for work or as a volunteer, where  you can carry out the necessary course work during the year;

(2) you can commit to attend on the published dates for training and assessment; there are no alternatives available in 2026-7.

The RHS recommends that you have completed the Level 2 Practical Certificate or equivalent before undertaking this course. 

An RHS Level 2 qualification is well respected in the horticultural industry and can be the first step in changing to a career in horticulture.This Certificate is an accepted route into the horticultural profession for the National Trust and many other large employers.

From this, you can go on to study the RHS theory Certificate, The RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development and work towards the RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles and Practices of Horticulture.

It also gives you the opportunity to progress on to a level 3 course ( the new RHS Level 3 Practical Certificate and to an eventual Level 3 Diploma with a Level 3 theory Certificate and Award in Horticultural Investigation), in turn allowing progression to higher education or perhaps career advancement into supervision or management positions within the industry.