Cómo convertirse en diseñador floral en Connecticut

Floral arrangements can bring great joy and peace to almost any occasion. Some people are looking for a beautiful centerpiece, bouquet, or arrangement for a celebration, wedding, or funeral. Since you will be interacting with people who may be in different emotional states, it is important to have skills such as empathy and attentiveness. You must be willing to listen to each customer’s needs and communicate important details about flower care, delivery expectations, and other important elements of the product they are purchasing.

Floral designers may be responsible for cutting live flowers, caring for plants, and using design elements such as embellishments to ensure that each arrangement meets and even exceeds client expectations.

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Requirements to become a floral designer in Connecticut

Floral designers in any state can find employment with just a high school diploma or GED. Some companies are willing to hire candidates even without these credentials.

Meeting the minimum employment requirements could land you an entry-level job, but enrolling in a post-secondary training program will broaden your scope of opportunities within the industry. Improving your skills at local workshops, completing an internship, or earning a certificate or degree will help ensure your career as a floral designer is long-lasting.

You can find internships through networking with industry professionals. To make contacts, it is important to attend floral design events and even build relationships with colleagues through social media.

You can also choose to obtain a national certification as a Certified Floral Designer (CFD). This title will be of particular interest to those who want an official endorsement in order to gain a client base. This certification will allow you to earn a higher salary.

Connecticut Schools for Floral Designers

If you want floral design to be more than a hobby, or if you have aspirations that go far beyond entry-level employment, you should consider one of the following training options:

The Darien Community Association offers flower arranging workshops taught by Diane Schlinkert and Allie Calan, both Darien residents and graduates of the New York Botanical Nursery Certification Program. Those interested should subscribe to the DCA email list to receive notifications of upcoming applications, or check their website regularly for updates.
The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut offers floral design classes that last up to two and a half hours. Sessions are typically scheduled about nine times a year and courses cost about $35 each.
Penn Foster College is an online program and allows students to earn a Certificate of Completion in Floral Design. It takes just five months to complete and tuition is approximately $640.

National Certification for Floral Designers in Connecticut

The CFD certification process is run by the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD). You will be able to find employment without this credential, but if you want to work as a freelance floral designer, this certification will be very helpful in building your client base without a lot of prior experience.
To earn the CFD credential:

Attend and successfully complete the appropriate floral design education programs at an AIFD participating center, approved State Floral Association, or SAIFD Chapter (AIFD Student Chapter). You must pass the online Professional Floral Design Assessment (PFDE) test.
Take part in the PFDE online test and practical design assessment.

Upon completion, you will receive a CFD certificate and pin, as well as a listing in AIFD’s online and print directories.

Currently, Connecticut does not offer any AIFD-approved training programs for floral designers. This means that in order to become certified in this state, you will need to participate in the PFDE online test and the practical design assessment. This will require you to pay a $150 registration fee and another $1,550 PFDE exam fee.

To keep your CFD current, you must pay an annual fee of $124 on or before May 1 of each year. You must also complete at least 25 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) every three years. This can be done by attending workshops, state conventions, public presentations, and many other events.

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Career prospects and salary expectations

Data presented by The Projections Managing Partnership (PMP) shows that there were 550 floral designers employed in Connecticut in 2016. PMP does not anticipate any changes over the 10-year period between 2016 and 2026.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), floral designers in Connecticut earned an average of $15.83 per hour in 2017. This equates to an annual income of $32,930. The florists who earned the highest salary in Connecticut during this same year earned an annual income of about $48,120.

Working as a Floral Designer in Connecticut

The BLS reports that the job market for floral designers will experience a six percent decline nationwide by 2026. However, Connecticut will not be affected by this expected national decline, as the number of floral designers in this state is not expected to change by 2026.

Since the floral design industry in Connecticut looks set to remain stable for years to come, it’s a great time for you to get into the industry. You’ll find employment in the floral departments of local supermarkets, retail flower shops, gardens, or greenhouses. Starting your own business as an independent floral designer can be an attractive option if you want more control over your income level.

You can expect to earn the highest compensation as a Connecticut floral designer in cities like Stamford, Norwalk, and Greenwich.

Consider whether the best option is to earn a national certification, enroll in a degree or certificate program, or complete an internship to learn the tricks of the trade. You may even decide to complete all three options. Apply the knowledge and skills you gain to create a plan of action for a successful career as a floral designer.