Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Washington State University

Coronavirus COVID-19

COVID-19 Advisory: WSU Extension is working to keep our communities safe. All Extension programming is being provided virtually, postponed, or canceled. Effective March 16, 2020, WSU Extension county offices and WSU Research & Extension Centers will be closed to the public. We are available via email, phone, and webconference.

Master Gardener Training

(425) 338-2400

Updated Nov. 22, 2020

Cancelled: MG Training for 2021

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, we cannot offer traditional WSU Extension Master Gardener Training in 2021. However, we will be joining with the WSU Extension State MG Program to offer online Home Horticulture Training (web), which is now open for registration. It will include online classes Saturday mornings January through April with homework done through WSU’s Global Campus. This training will not lead to WSU Master Gardener certification and therefore does not have a volunteer commitment. Those whose goal is to become a WSU Certified Master Gardener Volunteer should wait to apply for the Class of 2022, when we hope to return to in-person training.

Volunteer Master Gardener Training in 2022

Subject to Change

Join over 300 WSU-Snohomish County Extension Master Gardener (MG) volunteers in teaching good gardening and related horticulture and environmental stewardship practices to Snohomish County residents while at the same time learning and and having fun working with other like-minded volunteers.

Tuition for this extensive training program (pdf) is expected to be $325 plus a minimum volunteer commitment of 40 hours each year for two years working on designated MG projects within Snohomish County. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and should generally be a resident of Snohomish County. Applications for the 2022 MG Training Class should be available sometime in late summer 2021 depending upon the COVID-19 situation. To be notified when applications become available, please send an e-mail to Master Gardener Coordinator Howard Voland (email).

Cost of the training without the volunteer commitment is expected to be $825 for a limited number of full-tuition students, which are usually, but not limited to, horticultural professionals who don’t have the time for volunteering. Full-tuition application information is available on the Horticulture Professionals webpage.

Training focuses on familiarization and learning how to use resources to research, educate, mentor, and answer horticulture questions for the general public in a collaborative environment. With that in mind, all quizzes and exams are open book and can be re-taken. No memorization is required.

Training includes approximately 80 hours of college-level classroom and workshop instruction held once a week on Thursdays, starting the second week of January through March. Classes are held at the Extension Education Center at 600 – 128th Street in South Everett from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Homework averages 4-6 hours a week during training, which includes all quizzes and the final exam. It is done using the WSU Master Gardener Online Training Program, which requires personal computer, internet, and e-mail access.

Additional information