Cannabis Certification Courses

KCC Doubles Cannabis Certification Courses, Launches Career Resource Center to Meet $2.5 Billion Industry Demand

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—Responding to increasing workforce and training demands of the $2.5 billion-and-growing cannabis industry in New York State, Kingsborough Community College announced today it is doubling the number of courses offered through its virtual Cannabis Career Certificate program and launching a new Career Resource Center with Green Flower, its partner in cannabis education since 2022.

Classes begin Jan. 13, with new start dates offered every eight weeks. Registrants who enroll by Jan. 12 can use discount code: JAN26LASTCHANCE for $100 or $250 discount on an associate or specialist career certificate, respectively.

“New York is one of the fastest-growing cannabis markets in the country,” said Christine Zagari-LoPorto, associate dean of Workforce Development and Continuing Education at Kingsborough. “As the industry develops, the workforce needs have become far more specialized and these courses were designed to prepare students in these jobs that were not widely available in 2022.”

Since the passage of the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act in 2021, the state has procced more than 2,360 licenses to support an industry that surpassed $2.5 billion this past November, according to the New York Office of Cannabis Management.

Kingsborough’s new suite of online courses, led by more than 50 cannabis industry leaders and subject matter experts, reflect that need for specialization by offering certifications in cultivation, product development, compliance, retail and sales, and medical cannabis.

“These new cannabis career certificates are built to match exactly what employers are hiring for in each sector of the cannabis industry,” said Max Simon, Green Flower CEO and founder.

Along with the expanded suite of virtual courses, students enrolled in any of the classes will have access to Kingsborough’s new virtual Cannabis Career Resource Center. The center features a continuing education hub, job portal with access to vetted cannabis companies actively hiring for in-demand roles and a private LinkedIn community where students and certificate program alums can connect and collaborate online.

Six Career-Focused Certificates

The new suite includes six online programs that align with the cannabis industry’s most in-demand job sectors, creating a clear, credible path for students to enter the industry:

Cannabis Associate Certificate (8 weeks, $850) – Provides a comprehensive foundation in cannabis policy, plant science, industry sectors, and compliance essentials, giving students the knowledge and vocabulary employers expect when hiring. This program makes students job-ready for entry-level roles across the industry in just eight weeks.
Cannabis Cultivation Specialist (16 weeks, $2,200) – Prepares students for cultivation roles across indoor, outdoor, and greenhouse environments.
Cannabis Product Development Specialist (16 weeks, $2,200) – Teaches how to develop cannabis products from extraction to finished goods, including concentrates, edibles, beverages, topicals, and more.
Cannabis Retail & Sales Specialist (16 weeks, $2,200) – Equips students with product knowledge, sales skills, and operational best practices to succeed in dispensary and brand sales roles.
Cannabis Compliance Specialist (16 weeks, $2,200) – Trains students to manage compliance across cultivation, retail, and manufacturing operations.
Medical Cannabis Specialist (16 weeks, $2,200) – Equips students to guide safe and effective cannabis use, preparing them for roles in clinics, dispensaries, and other patient-focused settings.

A leader in cannabis education since 2022, Kingsborough just completed, in partnership with CUNY’s New York City College of Technology (City Tech) its successful three-year “From Cannabis to Cuisine” program, for which the colleges received a $1 million grant from the CUNY Workforce Development Training Grant/Contract Courses. The program supported and enhanced Kingsborough’s existing hospitality and culinary arts programs with credential and micro-credential certifications in culinary cannabis.

To learn more about Kingsborough Community College’s Cannabis Career Certificate or to enroll, visit https://cannabistraining.kbcc.cuny.edu/. Registrants who enroll by Jan. 12 can use discount code: JAN26LASTCHANCE for $100 or $250 discount on an associate or specialist career certificate, respectively.

About Kingsborough Community College

Founded in 1963, Kingsborough Community College is Brooklyn’s community college and is part of the City University of New York (CUNY). Located on a 70-acre campus in Manhattan Beach, Kingsborough remains firmly committed to its mission of providing both liberal arts and career education, promoting student learning and development, as well as strengthening and serving its diverse community. Kingsborough provides a high-quality education through associate degree programs that prepare students for transfer to senior colleges or entry into the workforce. Serving approximately 11,000 full- and part-time students annually and an additional 20,000 students in its expanding continuing education program, the college has earned recognition as a Leader College of Distinction for excellence in student success by Achieving the Dream and has been identified as a Top Community College in the nation by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program nine consecutive times.

About Green Flower

Founded in 2014, Green Flower is the industry leader in cannabis education, empowering thousands of professionals, regulators, and businesses with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the legal cannabis industry. Green Flower’s content and technology platform powers cannabis education programs at leading universities and colleges nationwide and provides learning and compliance solutions for cannabis companies of all sizes.