Why CTU is the GO-TO for Aspiring Cannabis Industry Workers

The Cannabis Training University is one of the most popular and well-known online sources of cannabis education in the United States.

Having being featured on NBC, CBS, Fox News, ABC, CBS, NPR and High Times they have about as many accolades as an online organization can get.

They also partner directly with big names in the marijuana industry including Ed Rosenthal, one of the most prolific authors in the cannabis cultivation world and long-time contributor to High Times magazine in the 80’s and 90’s.

What is a CTU Certification?

Cannabis Training University or “CTU” for short offers a multitude of certifications to maximize the value of their training and to equip students with a diverse set of skills which help ensure graduates find their place in the 40+ billion dollar (and growing!) legal weed industry.

The certificates offered through CTU’s training include:

• Grower Certification, for those looking to specialize in marijuana cultivation and become master growers
• Cooking Certification, for those looking to get into the rapidly expanding edibles and food products space
• Career Certification, a more administrative approach to prepare individuals to help cannabis companies hire and grow
• Medical Certification, for those looking to get into the already established medical marijuana and dispensary industry
• Trimming Certification, combined with the Grower Certification for those looking to get into the growing and production of flowers
• Business Certificate, preparing cannabis enthusiasts in the ways of business to help them become entrepreneurs or fit right in at the newest cannabis startup
• Laws Certificate, to prepare graduates for the ever-changing yet pivotal role local and federal law plays in the marijuana industry
• Budtender Certificate, which builds students sales and customer service skills for client-facing customer service budtender type positions
• Master Certificate, which is a culmination of a bit of all of the above, requiring students to demonstrate adaptability, flexibility and depth of industry preparedness.

As you can see, CTU is a comprehensive online university that has a little bit of everything for every type of aspiring cannabis professional.

*If you don’t see your desired profession in the above list it would be worth contacting CTU to see if it is being added in the future as the organization strives to evolve along with the industry to meet the growing demands of a burgeoning market behemoth.

About Cannabis Training University

Founded in 2009 in the capital of pro-legalization San Francisco, California CTU has been at the heart of the legalization movement providing desperately needed formalized education and training for aspiring marijuana professionals.

While they started with national seminars put on by leading cannabis industry experts the organization set up shop on the internets in 2011 to expand their reach, offer more flexibility in scheduling and even more affordable pricing for students.

CTU is now headquartered in Denver Colorado, which is a mecca for cannabis startups, farms and dispensaries.

The online learning platform is regularly updated with new and revised content to stay at the cutting edge for each of the certifications offered.

Currently there are over 200 professional made instructional videos and over 100 accompanying ebooks to accompany the courses.

The keystone textbook though is Ed Rosenthal’s Official Marijuana Growers’s Handbook which is deemed by many to be essential reading for anyone looking to get into cultivation.

CTU Admissions, Enrollment & Pricing

Cannabis culture is all about inclusiveness so CTU is open to students from all walks of life. They do not require any previous experience in the cannabis industry, nor do they require growing, business or medical credentials.

If you are willing to learn and work hard you are welcome at CTU.

Being an online university enrollment is open to anyone in the world and the courses can be done 100% online in your free time.

This is great for anyone looking to transition from their current job to a career in the 40+ billion dollar (and growing!) marijuana industry.

Once you complete the course you can rest assured finding a job will be a breeze. CTU’s storied history, recognition by the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) and comprehensive curriculum means that CTU certifications are recognized by over 15000 cannabis businesses around the world.

Since everything is online you can learn at your own pace. Whether that is nights after your day job, or on weekends, the pace at which you progress is entirely up to you.

At the end of the training you take the Master Certificate Exam to earn your graduating credentials.

Pricing for a complete education and almost guaranteed placement in an amazingly fast paced industry is a simple one-time payment of $299 (as of this writing). 

Compared to other online schools this is incredibly affordable, especially when you take into account how broad the curriculum is, including growing, legal, administrative, retail and customer service professions.

Cannabis Training University Student & Alumni Reviews

CTU is recognized by the NCIA, has a solid A rating from the Better Business Bureau and enjoys a solid 4.6/5 star user rating average from Google.

If this doesn’t put your mind at ease they have an endless page of user reviews on their website from real graduates who found work after completing CTU training.

Forbes includes CTU as one of the top “10 Educational Programs For Students Eager To Learn About Cannabis“.

The popularity of a university is one thing, but looking at what alumni and graduates do AFTER completing a program is the real indicator of whether or not it is a good investment.

So, is Cannabis Training University worth it? Well, let’s do a little bit of LinkedIn research and see if it is paying off for those who have already completed the training..

The above chart is a snapshot in 2018 of people who have listed CTU as their education or in some cases employment on their LinkedIn profiles.

Graduates are working at leading cannabis brands including:

• retailer 420 Weed Gang
• CBD industry giant Changing The Future Outcome (CTFO)
• Futurepreneur
• Canadian Cannabis Clinics
• Horizon Reality
• Natures Fare Markets
• Genoa Healthcare
• Penn State College of Medicine
• McKesson Specialty health
• Cleveland School of Cannabis
• and many other marijuana-focused nonprofit organizations…

Remember, this is just a list of people who include CTU in their LinkedIn profiles and doesn’t include those that found work after graduating offline or don’t keep their LinkedIn profiles updated (which this publication is definitely guilty of).

So we know people are graduating from all across the United States and Canada and finding jobs in a wide variety of big name cannabis companies.

What industry sectors are CTU graduates working in though?

Well, that is the beauty of CTU training, that it covers literally every aspect of the cannabis industry from growing, retail, legal, marketing, admin and customer service. For this reason it shouldn’t be a surprise to see that CTU grads are working in:

• Business Development
• Operations
• Finance
• Sales
• Consulting
• Marketing
• Media and Communication
• Education
• Entrepreneurship
• Healthcare
• Engineering
• Administrative
• Human Resources
• Community & Social Services
• Real Estate
• Support
• Arts & Design

So, can you find work after completing CTU’s online program? Well, if national recognition, industry partnerships, positive online reviews and Linkedin alumni history is anything to judge by the answer is a resounding YES.

Cannabis Training University doesn’t just sell you courses and forget you. They go out of their way to help you find a job immediately in the industry you love.

CTU has even gone the extra step and added a “marijuana only” job board to their site where cannabis employers across the country go to find qualified new hires.

An online training program with an integrated job board is a rare thing and is proof the CTU is legit and believes in their product.

This is honestly something worth paying $249 to have access to alone, but CTU publishes their jobs free for anyone to browse. As multiple new jobs are added on a daily basis it’s safe to say job security isn’t a worry for program graduates.

Finally, if you can’t afford CTU or just don’t like learning online, there are plenty of print books out there that can teach you as well as less-intense online forums and growing communities where you can learn the basics for free.

Is a CTU Certificate Worth It?

Look, this is an online certification program. There are a bunch of low quality, “fly by night” operations which give online education a negative reputation, and fairly so.

CTU is not one of these organizations. They are officially certified by the National Cannabis Industry Association, recognized by over 15000 businesses and have a solid track record of career placements according to a quick LinkedIn search.

Sure, you could go to a four-year university and put yourself $50,000+ in debt and get a general degree in “horticulture”, non-specific to marijuana, and struggle to find a job after graduation because you don’t have specific experience in this highly regulated industry.

The fact of the matter is because of the sheer “newness” of the cannabis industry as a whole, let alone all of the sub-industries, there are zero four-year schools offering specialized degrees with a focus on cannabis.

Also, the sheer solid track record of CTU in media and with alumni on LinkedIn show truly does help ambitious individuals get jobs in this wonderful industry.

No education, university or online course will get a job for you. You still have to be proactive, work hard, and apply. If all of this is completed then CTU seems to more than pay for itself in the edge it gives job seekers.

Cannabis employers though want people with industry-specific experience. Being a hobbyist basement grower isn’t going to cut it.

A certificate from CTU is affordable, can be obtained quickly, and ultimately be the stand out credential that puts you above the competition when it comes to landing a dream job in the marijuana industry.

CTU vs Cookies University vs Oaksteram

Cannabis Training University (CTU), Cookies University, and Oaksterdam University are all prominent educational platforms focused on providing comprehensive training and resources related to the cannabis industry. While they share the common goal of offering specialized cannabis education, there are distinct differences and similarities between these programs.

Cannabis Training University (CTU):

Cookies University:

Oaksterdam University:

Summary

Overall, while all three institutions offer valuable cannabis education, each has its unique focus and approach, catering to different audiences with varying levels of expertise and interests within the cannabis sector.

Choosing a program will come down to your personal circumstance regarding how much you are willing to pay, your geographical location, your internet speed and reliability, and the timing of the courses.

Frequently Asked Questions