Cannabis Education Center
Cannabis Education Center
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Preparing Skilled Employees for a Growing Industry

The Cannabis Education Center provides comprehensive training  for those currently working or seeking positions in the cannabis industry as employees or entrepreneurs. We connect industry experts and growing businesses with a skilled workforce, and create events to educate and include the public.

RVT For Employers

The CEC has proudly partnered with Green Path Training to offer Responsible Vendor Trainer to the Cannabis Industry. Green Path Training is a a small, woman and veteran owned, CCC accredited, Massachusetts business. Our training highlights the importance of diversity and cultural competency in the cannabis industry.  Our comprehensive training goes through the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission regulations, compliance practices, health, and safety standards. 

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Training for Cannabis Careers

All students must first complete the core curriculum. After that, you'll choose from one of four career tracks. Scroll down to read about them! 

UPCOMING CLASSES

Career Tracks

Patient Services Associate/Retail/Budtender

Patient Services Associate/Retail/Budtender

Patient Services Associate/Retail/Budtender

A person's hand uses tongs to move a marijuana bud from a glass jar to a scale.

A patient service assistant works at a cannabis dispensary and interacts with patients and customers, answers questions, and provides the correct information for registered cannabis patients, caregivers, and customers making purchases. The patient service associate program is a 20-hour introductory course scheduled over three weeks in six, three-hour sessions. During this course, students have the opportunity to earn certificates in customer service. You will review expectations of people working in cannabis retail for both adult and medical use. Classes will be conducted over Zoom and/or in person at Holyoke Community College. 

Cost: $799 

Prerequisite: Cannabis Core

Cultivation Assistant

Patient Services Associate/Retail/Budtender

Patient Services Associate/Retail/Budtender

A marijuana bud grows on a plant

A cultivation assistant helps the cannabis grow team with the activities of cultivating cannabis in all areas of the grow operation. The cannabis cultivation program is a 20-hour introductory course conducted over three weeks as an online self-paced, instructor-led class, and includes four, one-hour online sessions to allow students to interact with industry professionals and with each other. This course considers agriculture as a multidisciplinary activity. Both indoor and outdoor growers need to have a knowledge of plants, pests (insect, animal, fungal, bacterial, and viral), the environment, economics, and marketing. Basic language and math skills are a foundation for all of this. Students will read and interpret information on growing great cannabis; review what it takes to become a successful grower; review plant biology, soils, hydroponics, plant health, nutrition, harvesting, trimming, inventory tracking and managing plant waste. 

Cost: $799

Prerequisite: Cannabis Core

Extraction Technician

Extraction Technician

Extraction Technician

Marijuana leaves growing on a plant are backlit by a lamp

An extraction technician has the skills to support safely extracting useful molecular components from cannabis and hemp using various techniques, including both solvent and solventless extractions such as carbon dioxide, ethanol, hydrocarbons, and more. The extraction technician program is a 20-hour introductory course conducted over three weeks as an online self-paced, instructor-led class and includes four, one-hour Zoom sessions to allow students to interact with industry experts and with one another. The curriculum gives students the basic fundamentals needed to work in a cannabis extraction laboratory. Topics covered include good lab practices; health and safety, metrics; solvent and solventless extractions; winterization; and dewaxing. 

Cost: $799

Prerequisite: Cannabis Core

Culinary Assistant

Extraction Technician

Extraction Technician

A stack of chocolate chip cookies is next to a marijuana bud

A culinary assistant is responsible for cooking, baking, and infusing cannabis- or hemp-based products with extracts. The culinary assistant program is a 20-hour introductory course that provides an overview of cooking and baking techniques used to create edibles. The course reviews tools, equipment, food safety, standard recipes, and dosing, and provides discussions on infused oils, sauces, chocolates, ice cream, and more. Cannabis is not used in this program. Participants will be introduced to at least four industry professionals, prepare for employment opportunities, and have the opportunity to earn ServSafe certification. Classes will be conducted over Zoom and/or in person at the MGM HCC Culinary Arts Institute. 

Cost: $799

Prerequisite: Cannabis Core

Scholarships Available!

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About Us

The Cannabis Education Center is a partnership of Holyoke Community College and Elevate. The CEC's mission is to create an innovative learning space for those interested in joining the cannabis workforce as an employee or entrepreneur. The Center provides the following resources:


  • Academic advising & workforce training
  • Public education events that highlight entrepreneur & career opportunities
  • Entrepreneur opportunities for those interested in joining the cannabis industry as a start-up

Upcoming Events

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Cannabis Education Center in the News

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Cannabis Education Center

Kittredge Center, Holyoke Community College 303 Homestead Ave. Holyoke, MA 01040 US

413.552.2324

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