Cannabis Programs

Moraine Valley offers both credit and non-credit cannabis programs. The programs have differences that allow you the opportunity to transition into a variety of roles in the cannabis industry.

 

Available Certificate Programs

Credit Certificates

Cannabis Retail Specialist Certificate

Noncredit Certificates

Cannabis Cultivation Specialist Certificate

Cannabis Extraction Product Development Specialist Certificate

Cannabis Retail Specialist Credit Certificate

Moraine Valley's Cannabis Retail Certificate prepares you 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.听 The legalization of marijuana is causing a large employment growth in the cannabis dispensary industry. This certificate will make you marketable with the skills required to seek entry-level employment in the licensed medical or adult-use cannabis industry.

A Cannabis Retail Certificate allows you to start a career in the new growing cannabis industry in as little as two semesters. Be prepared for employment as a Retail Specialist, Budtender, Store Manager, Operations Associate, Operations Lead, Assistant Dispensary Manager/Dispensary Manager, or Retail Inventory Manager.

Maximize your employment opportunities by earning a certificate that is a blend of business, technical, cannabis law and regulations, and other cannabis-related topics so the student can effectively interact with and serve customers in a retail environment. This program is a total of 13 credit hours and is offered at our main campus in Palos Hills and at our Tinley Park Southwest Education Center.听

Illinois employment is expected to more than double over the next 2 years and reach 29,400 jobs by 2021.听 Job growth is expected to continue to 63,000 cannabis related jobs by 2025. (Tom Schuba. 鈥淣umber of pot jobs in Illinois to grow to 63,000 by 2025, report says鈥 Chicago Sun Times, 7, October 2019).
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Entry-level wages are typically $15-$17 per hour.听 Some companies offer full benefits and stock options for full-time employees.听 (Abdel Jimenez. 鈥淐ompanies are Recruiting Employees for the Start of Recreational Marijuana Sales in Illinois.鈥 Chicago Tribune, 16 October 2019).
Students seeking employment in this industry must be 21 years or older, comply with Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) requirements for the Medical and/or Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensary Agent Identification Card(s), and consent to fingerprint-based criminal history record check as required by state law.
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This course is not eligible for Title Iv funds.
Students can inquire about a private loan with a Financial Aid Counselor, explore scholarships, or make payment arrangements.

Locations

The credit cannabis program is offered at the Palos Hills campus and the Southwest Education Center in Tinley Park.

Program Details

Program NameType of CredentialCurriculum CodeDepartment or Division

Cannabis Retail Specialist

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