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Have you always aspired to work around fresh flowers and beautiful plants?
Does floral arranging and designing sound natural to you?
In that case, a career in floral design may be a good fit for you.
Luckily, the state of Texas has everything you need to become an expert floral designer.
To help you kick-start your career, here are the steps to follow.
Article Table of Contents
Steps to Become a Floral Designer in Texas
The following steps are involved in becoming a floral designer in Texas.
Step 1: Get your high school diploma or GED
A high school diploma or GED is the minimum requirement for a floral designer in Texas.
Most shops and supermarkets will hire you at the entry-level with a GED.
However, if you want to run a business or aim to scale faster in your career to higher positions, you must take a few business classes to boost your creativity and help you manage a shop.
Step 2: Learn the basics of floral design
Whether new to plants or not, it’s essential to learn basic plant care techniques as they are critical in the floral design field.
Most floral designers with a background in plant care and flower arrangement have an advantage over those without, as they focus more on practicing and perfecting their craft.
Other basic techniques you will learn as a floral designer include color coordination, flower gardening, plant care, and health and flower prepping.
Having basic floral design skills is not enough.
Getting formal education is essential to improve your skills and running a business.
Fortunately, there are plenty of institutions in Texas offering floral design courses.
Short- and long-term courses depend on what you’re learning and what you hope to achieve.
Formal classes help you learn about flowers, how to care for them, prepare, cut, and arrange them.
Most long-term courses teach about the business aspects of floral design.
Step 4: Become nationwide and statewide certified
Apart from earning the national certification, you can also get the statewide credential of Texas Master Florist (TMF).
You can get this certification through the Texas State Floral Association (TSFA).
You will need to sit for an exam which costs about $75.
If you pass, you will become eligible to enroll in the TMF program.
The program comprises eight classes, taken online and four hands-on classes.
The cost for online classes is $85 and $95 for hands-on courses.
Once you’re done with the classes, you can register for an exam.
The fee for this final TMF exam is $100.
You can follow the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) guidelines to get the national certification.
Step 5: Create an impressive Portfolio
Working at a local floral shop is one of the best ways to build your portfolio.
Remember, potential employers and clients, need proof that you have worked on similar projects.
List some of your most successful jobs and practice to gain better skills.
Step 6: Work as a floral designer
Floral designers in Texas can work in greenhouses, flower shops, gardens, and floral departments in supermarkets.
You can also choose to work as a freelancer.
Floral Designer Programs and Classes in Texas
Through workshops, you can complete a private program or a certificate at a college or university.
Whichever you choose, classes and programs help you build and grow in your career.
You don’t need to study for four or five years to become a floral designer.
Most floral designer programs in Texas take a few weeks to a few months.
The courses are not as expensive as they range between $50 and $5,000 depending on your chosen program, school, and duration.
Schools that offer floral design programs in Texas include:
The Houston School of Flowers
Houston School of Flowers offers floral classes, including wedding design, floral arrangement, sympathy design, and shop management classes.
The classes take two-week sessions that you can take during the day or in the evening.
Classes cost $370, including all the materials, products, and supplies you will use.
If you make any arrangement, you’re allowed to keep it.
Tarrant County College
Located northeast, Tarrant County College offers a floral design program.
The program consists of five courses.
An internship is optional, and you will receive a certificate of completion.
The courses offered include design I and II, wedding floral, sympathy floral, shop management, and internship.
To be eligible for an internship, you must complete all five courses and pass criminal and drug test checks.
The entire program costs $2,290, inclusive of the internship.
Austin Community College
The Austin Community College offers a certificate in floral design.
You get the certificate after completing the five classes of the floral design series.
You may also apply for an internship after completing the five courses.
Classes are taken individually, including Holiday Design, Principles of Floral Design, Specialty designs & occasions, Sympathy Designs, Business Principles, and Wedding Designs.
Depending on your availability, you can complete the program in one or two semesters.
The tuition fee is $2,000.
Floral Designer Schools in Texas – Summary Table
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| The Houston School of Flowers | 4340 Directors Row D, Houston, TX 77092, USA |
| Tarrant County College | 300 Trinity Campus Cir, Fort Worth, TX 76102, USA |
| Austin Community College | 6101 Highland Campus Dr, Austin, TX 78752, United States |
Floral Designer Salary in Texas
The average floral design salary in Texas is $53,425 but generally ranges between $43,370 and $64,566.
This wide gap is caused by various factors such as level of education, certifications, additional skills, and experience.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Austin | $53,624 |
| El Paso | $47,690 |
| Fort Worth | $53,128 |
| Arlington | $53,041 |
| Corpus Christi | $51,176 |
| Plano | $54,169 |
| Garland | $54,169 |
| San Antonio | $52,582 |
| Dallas | $54,169 |
| Arlington | $53,041 |
Regional Salary in Texas
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo, TX | 40 | $33,050 | $15.89 | $47,570 | $24,520 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 270 | $36,290 | $17.45 | $47,540 | $27,590 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 60 | $29,190 | $14.04 | $43,220 | $18,160 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 30 | $30,550 | $14.69 | $46,350 | $21,760 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 910 | $34,710 | $16.69 | $47,210 | $26,750 |
| El Paso, TX | 70 | $28,650 | $13.77 | $36,400 | $21,770 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 600 | $33,940 | $16.32 | $45,600 | $26,380 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 50 | $29,420 | $14.15 | $34,630 | $23,700 |
| Laredo, TX | 30 | $29,710 | $14.28 | $42,370 | $21,820 |
| Longview, TX | 40 | $27,980 | $13.45 | $31,880 | $22,390 |
| Midland, TX | 50 | $33,800 | $16.25 | $39,520 | $29,400 |
| Odessa, TX | 40 | $32,250 | $15.51 | $36,160 | $25,210 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 240 | $32,710 | $15.72 | $45,820 | $23,950 |
| Tyler, TX | 60 | $30,700 | $14.76 | $35,510 | $23,890 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a degree to become a florist in Texas?
You don’t need to have a degree to become a floral designer, but getting the proper education to operate and run a floral design business is essential.
Is a floral designer job worth it in Texas?
Texas is among the states hiring more florists every day.
That means you can’t go wrong with this career in 2023.
Remember, your passion should be a significant driver when becoming a floral designer.
What other skills do I need to be an expert floral designer?
Apart from plant care, cutting, arranging, and preparing plants, you must also have high time management skills, good communication, attention to detail, organization, customer service, and teamwork.
Is being a florist a stressful job?
Being a floral designer means you’re passionate about flowers and plant care.
This makes it one of the most fulfilling jobs among many people.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Floral Designer
Floral Design by State