Frequently Asked Questions

Cannabis Training University currently offers 8 cannabis certification programs.

• The Cannabis Expert Certification Program, our most popular and thorough program, provides eight in-depth classes on cannabis basics, medical marijuana, marijuana growing, marijuana cooking, marijuana extraction, cannabis careers, marijuana business, and marijuana law. The 42 hours of required training are perfect for the professional who is familiar with the cannabis industry and wants to increase their knowledge and earn all 9 CTU cannabis certifications. The more than 120 hours of optional content make it an excellent choice for business owners, professionals, and consumers who want the most in-depth cannabis education on all aspects of the industry.
• The Marijuana 101 Certification Program is designed for people with no prior marijuana experience. This marijuana training program is popular with new cannabis caregivers. Students learn about cannabis careers and how to start growing marijuana, cooking with marijuana, and medicating with marijuana. This seven-class program gives new students exactly the level of instruction they need to successfully get started with medical marijuana, marijuana cultivation, and cannabis cooking. Students also learn about state- and province-specific marijuana laws and regulations. With 14 hours of required content and more than 100 hours of optional content, students can tailor their cannabis learning to meet their needs.
• If you want to take a deep dive into growing cannabis, look no further than Cannabis Growing Pro Certificate Program. With 23 hours of required content and another 85 hours of optional content, this course will teach you everything you need to know from growing your first marijuana plant to managing a cannabis commercial cultivation facility.
• If you want to create marijuana-infused products, check out our Cannabis Cooking Pro Certification Program. This course starts with how to infuse cannabinoids in oil and leads you through everything you need to know to create cannabis-infused products from there. The 12 hours of required content and 50 hours of optional content will teach you what you need to know from making your first batch of cannabutter to managing a commercial cannabis kitchen or infused-product manufacturing facility.
• If you want to create marijuana extracts, check out our Cannabis Extraction Pro Certification Program. This course starts with how to extract cannabinoids and leads you through everything you need to know to create marijuana concentrates. The 13.5 hours of required content and 50 hours of optional content will teach you what you need to know from making extractions to managing a commercial cannabis extraction facility.
• Do you want to be a budtender? Our introductory Cannabis Budtender Certification Program provides 7 hours of required introductory content and another 10 hours of optional content that will get you ready to start a marijuana retail career.
• Are you already a budtender? The 13 hours of required content in the Cannabis Dispensary Pro Certification Program will teach you everything you need to know to advance your marijuana retail career or start your own cannabis dispensary. You can brush up on details of all cannabis industry sectors with 120 hours of optional content.
• Are you an entrepreneur or business professional looking to enter the cannabis space? Then Cannabis Business Pro is the certificate program for you. The 13 hours of required content will teach you everything you need to know about the three primary cannabis industry sectors: cultivation, manufacturing, and retail. You can brush up on technical details with the 120 hours of optional content. With additional information on ancillary businesses and careers, this course will teach you everything you need to know to succeed in the world of cannabis business.

You must complete the required content to get your cannabis certification. You are responsible for learning all required content, any of which may be covered on the quizzes and final exam. Optional content is extra information that will round out your cannabis education but won’t be covered on the certification exams.

Yes! You can take only one certification program if that is what you are interested in, just like you would take at any college or trade school.

However, most people find that the Cannabis Expert Certification Program is the best deal, and the most comprehensive course we offer. You get an in-depth look at everything cannabis. You will get all 8 course cannabis certificates at the end of completing this program!

You can compare each course and find the one that is right for you here.

No! Marijuana 101 is a simpler version of the Cannabis Expert course. It contains introductory information in each topic. The Cannabis Expert Certificate Program contains all of the Marijuana 101 content, plus an additional 28 hours of required advanced information, more CTU certifications, more downloadable resources, more Ed Rosenthal e-books, more available access time, and more than 120 hours of optional content. The Cannabis Pro certifications include all Marijuana 101 content that applies to the topic plus more detailed information.

If you receive your Marijuana 101 certification and want to learn even more, you can sign up for Cannabis Expert or one of the Cannabis Pro certification programs at a reduced price.

Eight classes are included in the Cannabis Training University Cannabis Expert Certificate Program. The program covers the following subject areas in great detail:

• Cannabis Basics
• Cannabis as Medicine
• Fundamentals of Cannabis Cultivation
• How to Grow Cannabis
• Cannabis Cooking & Extraction Methods
• Cannabis Careers
• Cannabis Business
• Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the US, Canada, and 47 Other Countries Around the World

The seven classes in the Cannabis Training University Marijuana 101 Certificate Program provide simple, easy-to-use training in the following subject areas:

• Intro Cannabis Basics
• Intro Cannabis as Medicine
• Intro Fundamentals of Cannabis Cultivation
• Intro How to Grow Cannabis
• Intro Cannabis Cooking
• Intro to Cannabis Extraction Methods
• Intro Cannabis Careers
• Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the United States and Canada

Six classes are included in the Cannabis Training University Cannabis Growing Pro Certificate Program. The program covers the following subject areas:

• Intro Cannabis Basics
• Fundamentals of Cannabis Cultivation
• How to Grow Cannabis
• Cannabis Cultivation Careers
• Cannabis Cultivation Business
• Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the United States and Canada

Five classes are included in the Cannabis Training University Cannabis Cooking Pro Certificate Program. The program covers the following subject areas:

• Intro Cannabis Basics
• Cannabis Cooking Methods
• Cannabis Cooking Careers
• Cannabis Cooking Business
• Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the United States and Canada

Five classes are included in the Cannabis Training University Cannabis Extraction Pro Certificate Program. The program covers the following subject areas:

• Intro Cannabis Basics
• Cannabis Extraction Methods
• Cannabis Extraction Careers
• Cannabis Extraction Business
• Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the United States and Canada

Five classes are included in the Cannabis Training University Cannabis Dispensary Pro Certificate Program. The program covers the following subject areas:

• Cannabis Basics
• Cannabis as Medicine
• Cannabis Dispensary and Budtender Careers
• Cannabis Dispensary Business
• Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the United States and Canada

Four classes are included in the Cannabis Training University Cannabis Business Pro Certificate Program. The program covers the following subject areas:

• Cannabis Basics
• Cannabis Careers
• Cannabis Business
• Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the US, Canada, and 47 Other Countries Around the World

The four classes in the Cannabis Training University Cannabis Budtender program provide simple, easy-to-use training in the following subject areas:

• Intro Cannabis Basics
• Intro Cannabis as Medicine
• Cannabis Dispensary and Budtender Careers
• Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the United States and Canada

There are 8 advanced classes in the Cannabis Training University Cannabis Expert Certificate Program and 7 basic classes in the Marijuana 101 Certificate Program.

• Intro Cannabis Basics provides basic information on the cannabis plant, its components, and cannabis products. Cannabis Expert adds specific information about synthetic cannabinoids and details about the effects of cannabinoids and terpenes.
• Intro Cannabis as Medicine provides basic information on how cannabis is used and regulated as medicine. Cannabis Expert adds specific information about how cannabis works in the body, cannabis treatments studied for specific conditions, how effects differ with different patient populations and consumption methods, and details on drug interactions and side effects of marijuana.
• Intro Fundamentals of Cannabis Cultivation teaches students the easiest way to grow one cannabis plant starting from a clone, indoors, or in soil. Cannabis Expert adds detailed information on several indoor and outdoor marijuana grow systems that can be used to grow multiple marijuana plants, with tools to help you choose the best strain and setup for your situation.
• Intro How to Grow Cannabis walks you through growing one cannabis plant from start to finish. Cannabis Expert adds multiple cultivation methods for multiple marijuana plants.
• Intro Cannabis Cooking and Extraction Methods teaches students how to cook with cannabis and provides one basic method for making bubble hash, tinctures, and infused oil. Cannabis Expert adds several advanced cooking and extraction processes and a whole lesson filled with recipes for cannabis edibles, topicals, and marijuana beverages.
• Intro Cannabis Careers describes the jobs, responsibilities, education requirements, expected salaries, opportunities for advancement, and required skills for the primary jobs in the cultivation, manufacturing, and retail sectors of the cannabis industry. Cannabis Expert adds information about finding a job in the marijuana industry; cannabis resumes, cover letters, and interviews; and ancillary cannabis-industry careers.
• Cannabis Business is only available in the Cannabis Expert Certificate Program and in the Pro courses.
• Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations summarizes all marijuana laws and regulations in US states and Canadian provinces. Cannabis Expert adds information about marijuana laws in 47 additional countries!

The two-hour Cannabis Training University Intro Cannabis Basics class covers basic information about the cannabis plant, its active components, and marijuana products. The full class adds a half hour of detailed content about cannabinoids and terpenes.

In CTU’s two-hour Intro Cannabis as Medicine class, you’ll learn basic information on how cannabis is used and regulated as medicine.

In the four-and-a-half-hour Cannabis as Medicine class, you’ll learn about cannabis medical research, qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, cannabis products, and cannabis administration methods from some of the world’s leading cannabis doctors. The class has 5 lessons that explore all aspects of medical marijuana. When you complete this class, you’ll be able to explain how cannabis can be used as a medicine to treat a variety of conditions.

Developed by experienced human resource managers who hire employees at real cannabis businesses, CTU’s one-hour Intro Cannabis Careers class describes the jobs, responsibilities, education requirements, expected salaries, opportunities for advancement, and required skills for the primary jobs in the cultivation, manufacturing, and retail sectors of the cannabis industry.

Cannabis Training University’s three-hour, six-lesson, full Cannabis Careers class will give you all that plus the basic skills you need to land a marijuana job and information on ancillary careers. When you complete this class, you’ll be ready to get started on a lucrative cannabis career.

The Pro Careers classes—Cannabis Cultivation Careers, Cannabis Cooking Careers, Cannabis Extraction Careers, and Cannabis Dispensary and Budtender Careers—provide both basic cannabis-industry job skills training and in-depth descriptions of careers that are available in the industry sector.

The Cannabis Training University five-hour Cannabis Business class was developed by successful cannabis industry entrepreneurs. It provides students with detailed information about starting a cannabis cultivation, cannabis manufacturing, or cannabis retail business. It also describes several ancillary cannabis businesses. When you finish this six-lesson class, you’ll be able to start the process of opening a cannabis business!

The Pro Business classes—Cannabis Cultivation Businesses, Cannabis Cooking Businesses, Cannabis Extraction Businesses, and Cannabis Dispensary Businesses—provide both basic cannabis-industry business development skills and in-depth descriptions of how to set up and operate a relevant business.

In Cannabis Training University’s three-hour Cannabis Laws and Regulations class, you’ll learn about past and present cannabis laws in the United States, Canada, and several countries around the world, including specific regulations in each US and Canadian state, province, and territory. This three-lesson class was developed by top cannabis-industry lawyers and is updated frequently to provide the most current marijuana law information available. 

In CTU’s one-hour Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations class, you’ll learn about current federal cannabis regulations as well as detailed regulations in all United States and Canadian states, provinces, and territories.

The Cannabis Training University nine-hour Cannabis Cooking and Extraction Methods class was developed for aspiring marijuana cooks and extraction technicians by professional cannabis chefs and marijuana extraction technicians. This six-lesson class will teach you everything you need to know to extract the essential oils from marijuana plants and create cannabis products. When you finish this class, you’ll be able to turn unprocessed cannabis plants into usable cannabis products.

In CTU’s two-hour, five-lesson Intro Cannabis Cooking and Extraction Methods class, you’ll learn everything you need to know to start cooking with cannabis at home. The class also explores basic methods for making bubble hash, marijuana tinctures, and cannabis-infused oils.

CTU’s 5-hour, 5-lesson Cannabis Cooking Methods class provides all of the advanced cooking training with the extraction training removed. CTU’s 6-hour, 5-lesson Cannabis Extraction Methods class provides all of the advanced extraction training with the cooking training removed.

Before you start growing cannabis at home, you’ll need to make decisions about everything from what strain to plant to where you’ll plant it. Our full seven-hour Fundamentals of Cannabis Cultivation class was developed by master growers. The three easy lessons are designed to walk cannabis growers through every step of the planning process, from making decisions about your garden to setting it up. When you finish this class, you’ll be able to set up a home or commercial cannabis garden space that is perfect for your individual needs.

Deciding on the right grow setup can be confusing for new marijuana growers. In CTU’s three-hour Intro Fundamentals of Cannabis Cultivation class, you’ll learn just what you need to know (and no more) to set up your first indoor marijuana soil grow.

In Cannabis Training University’s eight-hour How to Grow Cannabis class, our Master Growers guide you through every stage of the cannabis cultivation process, giving you advice about all possible choices, every step of the way. The four easy lessons provide step-by-step instructions on every task that’s required to grow weed. When you complete this class, you’ll be able to grow your own marijuana plants from seed to harvest.

With so many options available, growing cannabis can be confusing for newbies. In CTU’s 2.5-hour Intro How to Grow Cannabis class, you’ll learn just what you need to know (and no more) to get through your first indoor soil grow.

No! CTU’s programs have updated marijuana laws and regulations for every US state and Canadian province and territory, plus many other countries around the world!

All of them!

CTU is the only marijuana college with updated marijuana laws for every US state, all Canadian provinces/territories, and 47 other countries around the world. We are the only marijuana university with a team of cannabis lawyers who write and regularly update our cannabis laws and regulations, so our students stay up to date with the latest marijuana laws everywhere around the world.

If you sign up for CTU and the cannabis laws for your country are not yet included in the program, please let us know. We will make sure the marijuana laws for your country are up-to-date and made available to you!

With so many online cannabis training programs to choose from, it’s hard to decide which one is right for you! Cannabis Training University sets itself apart in many ways:

• We were the first. Opened in 2009, Cannabis Training University was the first online cannabis school in the world. That means that for more than a decade, we’ve been developing content and building relationships with the most solid, knowledgeable experts in the cannabis industry.
• We care about academics. Lots of online marijuana schools exist only to sell certificates. At CTU, our focus is on teaching our students what they need to know to succeed in the cannabis industry instead. That means more content and harder tests, but also graduates with proven skills.
• We’re the most affordable academic marijuana program. Most online cannabis schools charge the highest price they can get away with. Others are diploma mills, charging a low price for sub-standard content that will gain you a certification but no skills. At CTU, we believe that all students are entitled to affordable, high-quality cannabis education. Because of this, we offer cannabis classes with a wide range of prices, and also offer a payment plan. We do what it takes to make cannabis education affordable for all.

Of course! Home-based cannabis consumers who are new to growing, cooking, and medicating with marijuana may want to start with our Marijuana 101 Certificate Program. Our Cannabis Expert Certificate Program is ideal for those with more experience who want to learn advanced techniques.

Yes! Our Cannabis Growing Pro Certificate Program and Cannabis Expert Certificate Program have 23 hours of required training on cannabis cultivation and dozens of hours of optional content, the most offered anywhere online. Our Marijuana 101 course provides 5.5 hours of required marijuana cultivation training, streamlined for the first-time grower, with optional advanced content available for more ambitious students.

Yes! Cannabis Training University’s courses all provide information about hemp and CBD in addition to marijuana.

Yes! In the Cannabis Basics class (included in every CTU certificate program), we cover several CBD products, including CBD oil and other CBD-infused products.

In the Cannabis Cooking and Extraction Methods class, students are taught processes and techniques that can be used to infuse oil with hemp CBD, marijuana, or a combination.

There is no homework! There are knowledge checks and exercises to test your understanding of the material. But you will not have to turn in any homework!

There is no schedule! During your access period, you can learn at the most convenient time, at your own pace, anywhere in the world that has internet access!

The questions in Cannabis Training University’s quizzes and certification exams are all true/false and multiple choice. Although you can take CTU quizzes and exams as many times as you want, the questions change every time you take them. This ensures that our students are learning the material, not just memorizing answers. That said, quiz questions are practical and straightforward, covering only the most relevant topics with no trick questions! Any student who studies the material should be able to pass the test and earn a well-deserved, meaningful certification. CTU has a 99% passing rate!

Yes! The Marijuana 101 Certificate Program includes an entire lesson on job requirements, salaries, and advancement opportunities for the primary cannabis industry sectors. The Cannabis Pro programs add information on how to get a job in the marijuana industry, including cannabis job hunting, marijuana resumes, cover letter, interview techniques, and work requirements in every US state and Canadian province. The Cannabis Expert and Cannabis Business Pro certification programs add information about popular ancillary cannabis professions.

Yes! Our Cannabis Dispensary Pro Certificate Program teaches you everything you need to know about opening, managing, and working at a cannabis dispensary or hemp retail store. If you’re new to marijuana retail, our Cannabis Budtender Certification Program teaches you everything you need to know to get started as a Budtender in the exciting cannabis industry.

Yes! Our Cannabis Budtender Certificate Program teaches you everything you need to know to get a budtender job. Our Cannabis Dispensary Pro Certificate Program provides that and a whole lot more, including advanced medical cannabis information and detailed coursework on how to open a dispensary!

Not at all! All of our courses contain both introductory and advanced information. We created our Marijuana 101  and Cannabis Budtender certification programs especially for students like you who are new to marijuana. Marijuana 101 and Cannabis Budtender give you the basics on medicating with cannabis and information on medical and recreational programs in the US and Canada. Marijuana 101 also provides a rundown of the primary cannabis careers, and simple instructions for growing and processing cannabis for the very first time. Cannabis Budtender also provides specific information about how to land a job as a budtender.

Yes, Cannabis Training University is the ONLY cannabis college that has updated marijuana laws for all US states, Canadian provinces and territories, and 47 other countries around the world. CTU is also the only marijuana school with a cannabis attorney on staff who updates these laws regularly.

Yes.  But don’t worry—our students have a 99% pass rate!

You can take the quizzes and test as many times as you need to pass. There is no limit on the number of times you can take the quizzes and test along the way. And you never have to pay more for another quiz attempt!

We actually hear from our students that the quizzes and tests help them understand the material even better!

You have up to a full year to complete our cannabis certification programs.

Discounted extensions are available if you need more time! And from the day you sign up until your access time ends, you have unlimited logins and unlimited access to the videos and cannabis e-books.

Most CTU students take a few months to finish our Cannabis Expert Certificate Program. Marijuana 101 and the Cannabis Pro courses require much less time. Some complete the programs faster, and some complete them slower. Ultimately, it's up to you. There are no set class times and no homework deadlines at CTU.

• The CTU Cannabis Expert Certificate Program has 42 hours of required coursework, including reading assignments from 6 e-books by Ed Rosenthal. In addition to assignments, the e-books provide well over 125 additional hours of optional training time, including 72 downloadable resources for you to keep. With optional and required content combined, the Cannabis Training University Cannabis Expert Certificate Program contains over 160 hours of coursework.
• The CTU Marijuana 101 Certificate Program has 14 hours of required coursework, access to 4 e-books by Ed Rosenthal, and 48 downloadable resources, for a total of more than 100 hours of training available.
• The CTU Cannabis Growing Pro Certificate Program has 23 hours of required coursework, access to 4 e-books by Ed Rosenthal, and 48 downloadable resources, for a total of more than 100 hours of training available.
• The CTU Cannabis Cooking Pro Certificate Program has 12 hours of required coursework, access to 3 e-books by Ed Rosenthal, and 35 downloadable resources, for a total of more than 60 hours of training available.
• The CTU Cannabis Extraction Pro Certificate Program has 13.5 hours of required coursework, access to 3 e-books by Ed Rosenthal, and 31 downloadable resources, for a total of more than 60 hours of training available.
• The CTU Cannabis Dispensary Pro Certificate Program has 13 hours of required coursework, access to 6 e-books by Ed Rosenthal, and 35 downloadable resources for a total of more than 130 hours of training available.
• The CTU Cannabis Budtender Certificate Program has 7 hours of required coursework, 29 downloadable resources, and access to 1 e-book by Ed Rosenthal, for a total of 17 hours of training available.
• The CTU Cannabis Business Pro Certificate Program has 13 hours of required coursework, access to 6 e-books by Ed Rosenthal, and 28 downloadable resources, for a total of more than 130 hours of training available.

Most CTU students prefer to take their time and read all that we provide at a pace that is comfortable for their lifestyle. You can put in several hours per day to finish everything in a week or two if you are in a hurry. Alternatively, you can space out the material over a few months, as most CTU students do.

Yes! If you pass the exams and finish before your time is up, you can still log in and go back and review the materials as often as you want until your access time runs out. And each course comes with downloadable resources that are yours to keep for future reference!

Yes, anyone 18+ can sign up for cannabis training at CTU and everyone is accepted! We have a 99% passing rate on our exams. If you want to take advantage of a sale price but aren’t ready to get started yet, you can sign up during the sale and then come back and log in later during your enrollment period. No GED is needed! No high school diploma is needed! Anyone 18 years and older can enroll from anywhere in the world!

It depends which program which you sign up for. With the Cannabis Expert Certificate Program, you get all 8 certificates that are offered by CTU.  With the Cannabis Dispensary Pro Certification Program, you get both the Cannabis Budtender and the Cannabis Dispensary Pro certificates. With the remaining programs, you get only one certificate. For example, if you take the Cannabis Growing Pro Certification Program, you receive a certificate that says you are CTU-certified as a Cannabis Growing Pro.

After passing the final exam for the CTU Cannabis Expert Certificate Program, you will receive the following CTU certificates:

• Cannabis Expert Certificate
• Cannabis Growing Pro Certificate
• Cannabis Business Pro Certificate
• Cannabis Cooking Pro Certificate
• Cannabis Extraction Pro Certificate
• Cannabis Dispensary Pro Certificate
• Cannabis Budtender Certificate
• Marijuana 101 Certificate

After passing the exams for the CTU Marijuana 101 Certificate Program, you will be CTU certified as having basic knowledge in the following areas:

• Intro Cannabis Basics
• Intro Cannabis as Medicine
• Intro Fundamentals of Cannabis Cultivation
• Intro How to Grow Cannabis
• Intro Cannabis Cooking & Extraction Methods
• Intro Cannabis Careers
• Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the US and Canada

After passing the exams for the CTU Cannabis Business Pro Certificate Program, you will be CTU certified as having detailed knowledge in the following areas:

• Cannabis Basics
• Cannabis Careers
• Cannabis Business
• Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the US, Canada, and 47 other countries

After passing the exams for the CTU Cannabis Growing Pro Certification Program, you will be CTU certified as having detailed knowledge in the following areas:

• Intro Cannabis Basics
• Fundamentals of Cannabis Cultivation
• How to Grow Cannabis
• Cannabis Cultivation Careers
• Cannabis Cultivation Businesses
• Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the US and Canada

After passing the exams for the CTU Cannabis Cooking Pro Certificate Program, you will be CTU certified as having knowledge in the following areas:

• Intro Cannabis Basics
• Cannabis Cooking Methods
• Cannabis Cooking Careers
• Cannabis Cooking Businesses
• Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the US and Canada

After passing the exams for the CTU Cannabis Extraction Pro Certificate Program, you will be CTU certified as having knowledge in the following areas:

• Intro Cannabis Basics
• Cannabis Extraction Methods
• Cannabis Extraction Careers
• Cannabis Extraction Businesses
• Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the US and Canada

After passing the exams for the CTU Cannabis Dispensary Pro Certificate Program, you will be CTU certified as having knowledge in the following areas:

• Cannabis Basics
• Cannabis as Medicine
• Cannabis Dispensary and Budtender Careers
• Cannabis Dispensary Business
• Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the US and Canada

After passing the exams for the CTU Cannabis Budtender Certificate Program, you will be CTU certified as having knowledge in the following areas:

• Intro Cannabis Basics
• Intro Cannabis as Medicine
• Cannabis Dispensary and Budtender Careers
• Intro Cannabis Laws and Regulations in the US and Canada