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Anyone can throw a few flowers together and say they have been arranged or specifically designed.
However, special qualifications are required to be a qualified floral designer in Tennessee.
The process can be lengthy and trying at times, but it is well worth the effort to finally call yourself a floral designer when it is all said and done.
Article Table of Contents
Steps to Become a Floral Designer in Tennessee
It is necessary to look at the requirements that are required to become a floral designer in Tennessee.
To begin, you need to consider the quantity and quality of jobs that might be available to you in your specific area.
Job Availability Considerations
Before beginning the process of becoming a licensed and qualified floral designer in Tennessee, it is necessary to consider if there will be enough jobs available to make it worth your while.
The types of careers that a floral designer can obtain in Tennessee are numerous, but you must check your local market to ensure that you are landing on the right type of career for yourself.
Think about how you might serve the community with bridal shower flower arrangements, flowers for funerals, and flowers for special occasions of all kinds.
These days, people often purchase flowers for their loved ones for no other reason but to show their love.
Therefore, most floral designers can find plenty of jobs as long as they are willing to think outside of the box.
Become Nationally Certified
The typical floral designer has a high school diploma or a GED.
Their formal academic education does not necessarily need to go beyond that to work as a floral designer.
However, it is always useful to have some certifications that can help you show your clients that you have taken an appropriate amount of experience and education in the floral design industry.
You can become a certified floral designer in Tennessee by taking a course offered by the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD).
This is the officially recognized licensing board for those in the floral design industry.
It is necessary to take a course that is officially approved by the AIFD. Once you have done that, then you can move on to the next step.
Take an Online Exam
After completing the AIFD-approved course, it is necessary to take an online exam as well as a hands-on evaluation of your floral design abilities.
This is the ultimate determination of your ability to be a qualified floral design professional.
The difficulty for those in Tennessee regarding professional floral design is that there aren’t any colleges that specifically offer an AIFD-approved course.
However, it is still possible to become certified.
You can still take the online exam and the hands-on evaluation of your skills.
You need to pass the test with a score of at least 80 to move on.
After passing this test, you will receive a CFD certificate and pin which will be listed in the online directories kept by the AIFD that will show you as an officially certified floral designer (CFD).
Floral Design Programs in Tennessee
There are not any colleges or universities in Tennessee that officially offer AIFD-approved courses on floral design.
However, there are programs that you can take in the state to receive the qualifications that you before taking your test.
A couple of the places where you can take some educational courses in floral design include:
The University of Tennessee Gardens
This is not an official part of the University of Tennessee, but they do have locations both on campus and throughout the city of Knoxville.
Therefore, those interested can get involved in learning about floral design and the skills it takes to become certified.
The cost of the workshops offered by this organization is $30 for members of the garden club and $40 for non-members.
Materials are provided to you, and you get to keep the flower setup that you create.
These workshops last roughly an hour or two, but they can provide you with some valuable skills and information for taking your official tests.
Penn Foster Career School
This school has a number of online career training programs that one can benefit from.
One of the course offerings that they have at this time is a course in floral design.
Those who wish to take advantage of this can learn some important aspects of floral design that might help them get a passing score on their exams.
These are the primary places where one can learn some skills in floral design in Tennessee.
Floral Designer Schools in Tennessee – Summary Table
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| The University of Tennessee Gardens | 2518 Jacob Dr, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA |
| Penn Foster Career School | 925 Oak St, Scranton, PA 18515, United States |
Certified Floral Designer Salary in Tennessee
The average salary for a floral designer is respectable in Tennessee.
The average that one can expect to make as a CFD in different cities in Tennessee are as follows:
- Kingsport, TN – $47,529
- Knoxville, TN – $49,917
- Murfreesboro, TN – $50,344
- Nashville, TN – $50,725
These salaries vary slightly based on the specific city where one performs their services.
However, they are largely consistent across the board, and there are a lot of people who believe that this is a very respectable and decent salary to take home.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $49,052 |
| Clarksville | $49,417 |
| Franklin | $50,547 |
| Knoxville | $49,917 |
| Kingsport | $47,529 |
| Johnson City | $47,352 |
| Memphis | $50,418 |
| Murfreesboro | $50,344 |
| Nashville | $50,725 |
| Jackson | $50,037 |
Regional Salary in Tennessee
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 80 | $32,210 | $15.49 | $46,790 | $22,880 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 30 | $29,350 | $14.11 | $36,650 | $22,910 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA | 40 | $30,460 | $14.64 | $40,630 | $21,350 |
| Knoxville, TN | 160 | $31,900 | $15.34 | $39,350 | $24,020 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 160 | $33,060 | $15.89 | $46,030 | $20,310 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 290 | $35,820 | $17.22 | $47,860 | $27,260 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the University of Tennessee provide floral design courses?
The University of Tennessee does not officially provide or sponsor any courses in certified floral design.
However, you can take workshops with the University of Tennessee gardens to gain some knowledge and hands-on experience that might assist with passing your exams.
Are there floral design courses offered at the high school level?
Believe it or not, there are courses available in high schools throughout the Volunteer state.
The course is available to 10th, 11th, and 12th graders within the high school system.
Therefore, you should make sure you take a look at these courses as a potential opportunity to examine the process of floral design and the hard work that goes into it.
Are opportunities for floral designers bright in Tennessee?
Yes, there is a bright future for floral designers in Tennessee.
Not only are there many different types of careers in floral design in Tennessee, but the demand for this type of work remains sky-high.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Floral Designer
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