How to Become a Floral Designer in North Carolina

While floral design is a field with plenty of competition in North Carolina, you can still pursue your passion.

As long as you take the right steps, you will have the best opportunity of getting that acceptance letter at your dream flower shop.

To become a floral designer in NC, follow our steps below.

Steps to Become a Floral Designer in North Carolina

Research What Florists’ Jobs Are Like

From the average salary of florists and related jobs to the responsibilities and tasks that floral professionals carry out every day, it’s important to explore what you can expect as a floral designer.

If you are looking to get into floral design because you think you will make a lot of money or it will be an easy job, you may want to find work that better fits those ideas.

If you have a true passion for floral arrangement and you understand that competition is fierce in this field, you may be on the right track.

Create a Plan for Training and Jumpstarting Your Floral Design Career

Depending on your local flower shops and other potential employers, you may need more or less education to get started.

Some shops with a higher standard may expect applicants to complete a training course or certificate before being eligible for hire.

Look into these expectations before applying.

Evaluate How Floral Design Would Fit Your Lifestyle and Needs

In most cases, getting a new job is a decision that balances your financial needs and preferences for work duties.

Of course, you can always start working part-time as a floral arrangement professional and increase your dedication to the field as your schedule allows.

Still, you may want to either cut back on expenses or see it as a secondary income if the floral design doesn’t pay the bills.

Enroll in a Floral Design Workshop or Program

Once you know that floral design is right for you, you should send out applications to floral design programs, apply for jobs in flower shops, or take a workshop.

This is the step where you need to start developing your skills.

While on-the-job training is a common path to becoming a florist, you can gain a better chance of getting that first floral arrangement role if you have prior experience.

The easiest way to gain experience is through certification programs, courses, or workshops.

These will usually require you to pay, but it can be a worthwhile investment if it makes employers more interested in your application.

Graduate From a Floral Design Program or Complete a Workshop

In this step, you have to finish what you started in the previous step.

After all, starting a floral design program means nothing if you don’t finish it!

Of course, some programs are designed so that you can take beginner courses and then take more advanced courses as needed.

Others require you to complete the whole program to earn a certificate.

Workshops may simply need you to attend a single workshop for an evening to gain the promised skills.

Finishing a program or course shows employers that you have finished what you started, so it can be just as valuable as gaining the skills and confidence you need from these settings.

Get Your First Floral Design Job

While this step might be obvious, some graduates of floral design programs never get this far.

They may complete the program or workshop and then move on to something else.

In other cases, they may become discouraged by the competition ahead of them and never apply for a florist job.

If you don’t try, you’ll never get the job you want.

This is why we acknowledge that applying for a floral design job and receiving an offer letter is a step worth noting.

Floral Designer Programs North Carolina

North Carolina State Florists Association – Online Classes

For those who want to take floral design classes from anywhere in the state of North Carolina or beyond, the NCSFA’s online classes can be a convenient choice.

This organization offers nine online courses for those who are either in-between jobs, obsessed with floral design, or otherwise inclined to develop this skill.

Students can take these courses at their own pace.

They offer discounted pricing for members, so it’s a great way to affordably sharpen your skills even if you already work in the field.

North Carolina State Florists Association – In-Person Classes

If you need to learn in a hands-on environment, the NCSFA’s in-person floral design classes may be the best fit for you.

After completing your hands-on coursework, you will receive a certificate in floral design.

Whether you are new to the field or a seasoned florist, these classes will give you a fresh perspective and connect you with other budding floral professionals.

Alamance Community College – Floral Design

For only $68.00, North Carolina residents can learn the basic skills of floral design at Alamance Community College.

This non-credit class lasts 18 hours.

During that time, students will use supplies that they have purchased themselves to build a foundation for floral design.

For those who are interested in this program, attending an information session to learn more about necessary materials and course requirements is recommended.

Floral Designer Schools in North Carolina – Summary Table

Salary

In North Carolina, salary.com shares that salaries for floral designer roles range between $42,135 and $62,727.

Regional Salary in North Carolina

Floral Design by State