There’s an accessible way to get the education you need to succeed in the thriving legal cannabis industry.

There’s no two ways about it—legal cannabis is the fastest-growing American industry. As we published in our Leafly Jobs Report 2021, the legal industry now supports more than 321,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs. That’s more than electrical engineers, paramedics, and EMTs—and twice as many as dentists! 

And this is hardly a phenomenon in a state here or there. At this point, medical marijuana is legal in 37 states, while 15 states and Washington, DC have legalized cannabis for all adults. Job opportunities are through the roof. Even in a year with a pandemic, rampant unemployment, and an economic recession, the legal cannabis industry added 77,300 full-time jobs in the United States—a 32% year-over-year job growth.

Where are the jobs?

Much of the action in the industry takes place at the dispensary, between customer and budtender. Dispensary techs, aka budtenders, can make or break a consumer’s experience, either capturing a lifelong customer or sending them elsewhere. Succeeding as a budtender is a tall order. They must field questions about health concerns, strains, dosages, consumption methods, and more. To put it bluntly (pun intended), the best budtender has a vast knowledge set and is highly skilled in customer service.

How to get a foot in the door or up your game

Luckily, as the industry matures, so do the opportunities for professional development. Enter the Dispensary Technician Certification Program—the only nationally accredited certification of its kind. Offered by Cannabis Career, accredited by the Accrediting Council on Continuing Education and Training, and licensed by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, the course allows you to get ahead of the pack.

You can apply for jobs with a certification already on your resume or deepen your training if you’re already in the industry or a related field. It’s also an excellent option for employers looking to better train their staff, an investment in customer satisfaction. 

School is in session

Entirely online, the course can be taken in its entirety—11 modules for $499.99, or a la carte for $49.99 per module. You can go at your own pace—each module is estimated to take between two and three hours, clocking the entire course in at an estimated 33 hours.

Making for a robust education, modules include everything from the history of cannabis to the endocannabinoid system, modes of delivery, effective communication as a dispensary technician, legal and ethical issues, and the future of cannabis research. From science to safety to customer service, this course has you covered. 

Cannabis and wellness

As cannabis hits the mainstream, more and more people are curious about its potential to play a therapeutic role in their health and wellness. Medical providers and wellness professionals well outside of the legal industry itself are being asked to chime in on matters of the endocannabinoid system and the potential wellness benefits of various cannabinoids for a myriad of conditions. The education provided in the Cannabis Career program offers the critical background necessary to inform how cannabis may factor into holistic wellness recommendations.

Prepare yourself for new prospects

You might be passionate about cannabis, looking for ways to better serve your patients, or simply in need of employment in an industry with real opportunity: No matter your entry point, the educators at Cannabis Career have your back. A Dispensary Technician Certification could very well be the thing that clinches your next interview.

An accredited program is the gold standard that ensures you receive a student-oriented learning experience with standardized & vetted education pillars established by industry experts. As the only nationally accredited program of its kind, the Dispensary Technician Certification Program offers you a ticket to the next step in your career. It’s always the right time to invest in yourself.