Earn MCC's Certificate in Cannabis, One of MA's In-demand Industries

On the cutting edge of today’s workforce, Middlesex Community College will offer a new Cannabis Retail Certificate as part of its Spring 2024 programming. Run by MCC’s Community Education & Training (CET) division, individuals will be prepared to get hired in this in-demand field. Institutional partner Mass CultivatEd. will sponsor 10 Middlesex students who qualify for their scholarship program.

“We are incredibly proud to partner with Middlesex Community College to provide scholarships for students to take part in the Commonwealth’s newest cannabis certificate program,” said Ryan Dominguez, Founder/Executive Director of Mass CultivatED. “We are excited to provide local students and community members interested in cannabis with educational opportunities that prepare them for careers in this exciting and growing industry. We hope this new partnership will lead to more career options for job seekers and create pathways for us to establish a diverse industry focused on social equity.”

Taught by a state certified Responsible Vendor Trainer, the noncredit program highlights the knowledge and skills individuals need to work in a customer facing position in the field. MCC’s course will also prepare students to sit for the state certified Core Curriculum training and exam, required by the Cannabis Control Commission. Students will sit for the test as their final exam.

“The goal of the CET division is to offer the most up-to-date, comprehensive programs to help individuals advance in their careers and make the most of continuing education,” said Ellen Wright, MCC’s Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning and Workforce Development. “Our new Cannabis Retail Certificate is taught and developed by expert professionals who understand the industry and what employers are looking for when making their hiring decisions. Students who complete this course are well-equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to directly enter this workforce, and we are grateful to MassCultivatED for helping to extend this opportunity to an even wider audience.”

The course will include training on Mass. compliance and best safety practices, effectively consulting with a patient or adult-use customers, explaining the difference between cannabis and cannabis products, and understanding the effects of the products on the human body. Students will also learn diversion prevention, seed to sale tracking, and cash handling, as well as the basics of extraction, packing and labeling, and refusing sales.

MCC’s new course will run 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, March 6 through April 10. To be eligible to take the course, students must be 21+. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/careertraining/ for more information and to link to the Mass CultivatEd application form.