Moraine Valley Adds New Cannabis Certification Course

PALOS HILLS, IL — So you want to be a budtender? Or maybe you want to manage a cannabis dispensary? Moraine Valley Community College is introducing a cannabis retail certificate program that prepares students for a career in the exciting cannabis retail industry.

Students will learn how to mitigate risks for cannabis businesses and company employees by demonstrating how to safely and compliantly sell cannabis to patients and customers, as well as protocol for handling the complex situations that arise in a cannabis retail operation. Legalization of medicinal and recreational marijuana is causing large employment grown in the cannabis dispensary industry.

Students who complete the course and earn a cannabis retail certificate will be able to start a career in the new growing industry as a retail specialist, budtender, store manager, operations associate, operations lead, assistant dispensary manager, dispensary manager or retail inventory manager.

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Illinois employment is expected to more than double over the next 2 years and reach 29,400 jobs by 2021. Job growth is expected to continue to 63,000 cannabis related jobs by 2025, according to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Entry-level wages are typically $15-$17 per hour. Some companies offer full benefits and stock options for full-time employees, according to news reports.

Students seeking employment in this industry must be 21 years or older, comply with Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation requirements for the Medical and/or Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensary Agent Identification Card(s).

The course requires 13 credit hours, including introduction to business, principles of retailing, cannabis introduction, cannabis laws and regulations, cannabis pharmacology and Microsoft Office 1. The course can be completed in two semesters.

This course is not eligible for Title Iv funds. Students can inquire about a private loan with a Financial Aid Counselor or make payment arrangements.

For more information about the cannabis retail certificate, complete the form and someone will contact you. The Fall 2020 semester at Moraine Valley Community College starts Aug. 24. Due to the pandemic, registration is being done remotely.