How to Become a Floral Designer in Maine

If you love working with flowers and have a knack for creating beautiful arrangements, becoming a floral designer could be your perfect career path.

As a floral designer, you can work with various flowers and plants to create breathtaking bouquets and arrangements for various occasions.

This article outlines the steps necessary to become a floral designer in Maine.

Steps to Become a Floral Designer in Maine

Becoming a floral designer in Maine doesn’t require a degree but some training and certification.

Follow these guidelines to start a successful career as a floral designer in the state of Maine:

Step 1: Learn the Basics of Floral Design

Begin by learning the basics of floral design.

Flowers are available in a wide range of hues, forms, and sizes and can be arranged in an infinite number of ways.

To get started, you can access online courses, tutorial videos, or workshops offered by floral design schools and associations.

Step 2: Take a Floral Design Course

While not mandatory, taking a floral design course will provide you with a more comprehensive education in floral design.

Many community colleges, vocational schools, and private floral design schools across Maine offer floral design courses.

These courses can range from short-term certificate programs to more extensive programs that cover the fundamentals of floral design, including flower care and handling, color theory, design elements, and business management.

Step 3: Become a Certified Floral Designer (CFD®)

Becoming a Certified Floral Designer (CFD®) is an internationally recognized achievement demonstrating your floral design proficiency.

There are three ways to become a CFD®.

The first way is to attend and complete an appropriate floral design education program at an AIFD® Education Partner, approved State Floral Association, or SAIFD Chapter, and then pass the PFDE® online test.

The second way is to participate in the same Professional Floral Design Evaluation® (PFDE®) as those seeking their AIFD® designation.

This evaluation includes an online test and hands-on design evaluation and is held once annually.

Finally, the third way is to participate and earn an average score of 7.0 for all designs, with no design lower than 6.5, in the SAIFD Student Competition at Symposium.

Those who meet the minimum requirements can be recommended for CFD to AIFD.

They must also follow the current process, including taking and passing the online test with a score of 80% or higher and paying the necessary fees.

Upon completing these options, candidates will receive the CFD® designation, a CFD® pin, and a certificate and be listed in the AIFD® directories.

To maintain the CFD® certification, you must pay the annual fees and meet continuing education requirements.

AIFD® offers CFDs a one-time $250 discount on the Professional Floral Design Evaluation® (PFDE®) if they want to pursue AIFD Accreditation and continue to grow in their professional floral design journey.

Step 4: Gain Practical Experience

Once you have completed your floral design course, gaining practical experience is crucial to refining your skills and building your portfolio.

You can acquire practical experience by volunteering or interning with a florist.

Many florists offer internships or apprenticeships to aspiring floral designers.

Working at a flower shop can also provide valuable experience in customer service, flower arrangement, and business management.

In addition, starting your floral design business is another way to gain practical experience while developing your skills and portfolio.

By starting your own floral design business, you can also have the opportunity to showcase your creativity and build a brand that reflects your unique style.

Moreover, it can also give you the freedom to work on your terms and set your schedule.

Floral Designer Programs/Classes

Several programs and classes are available for those interested in becoming a floral designer in Maine.

Various schools, associations, and institutions offer these programs and classes.

Here is a detailed overview of some of the options available in Maine:

Maine State Florists and Growers Association

This AIFD® Education Partner offers a variety of floral design courses throughout the year, ranging from beginner to advanced.

The courses cover different topics such as wedding design, funeral design, and holiday design.

The cost of the courses varies depending on the duration and level of the course.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

This botanical garden offers workshops, courses on floral design, and other horticultural topics.

Their floral design courses cover color theory, composition, and mechanics.

The cost of the courses varies depending on the duration and level of the course.

Studio Flora Designs

This floral design studio offers private workshops and classes for individuals or groups.

They specialize in wedding and event floral design and offer courses on floral arrangements and centerpieces.

The cost of the courses varies depending on the duration and level of the course.

Maine School Administrative District #40

This school district offers a vocational program in floral design for high school students.

The program covers the fundamentals of floral design, including flower identification, arrangement techniques, and business management.

Central Maine Community College

This college offers an online course in floral design that can be completed at your own pace.

The course consists of 240 hours of instruction and covers topics such as flower care and handling, design principles, and event design.

The cost of the course is $1,600.

In addition to the programs and classes offered in Maine, many online courses are available for those who prefer to learn from home.

Various institutions that cover floral design, flower arranging, and event design offer these courses.

Some popular online courses include:

Udemy

Udemy offers a variety of online courses on floral design, ranging from beginner to advanced levels.

Skillshare

Skillshare offers courses on floral design, flower arranging, and other creative topics.

The Floral Design Institute

The Floral Design Institute offers online courses on floral design, wedding design, and event design.

AIFD Education

The American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) offers online courses on floral design, in-person courses, and workshops.

Floral Designer Schools in Maine – Summary Table

Salary

According to salary.com, the average salary for a floral designer in Maine is $52,447 as of February 2023.

However, salaries can range from $42,577 to $63,384, depending on experience, education, and location.

Regional Salary in Maine

Floral Design by State