The Benefits of Cannabis Employee Certification
Are you looking to take your cannabis business to new heights? While federal standards for cannabis education may not yet exist, pursuing cannabis employee certification courses for your employees can offer numerous benefits. Whether you’re a veteran company or just starting out, investing in education can be a wise decision with long-term rewards.
Certain states require licensing or training for employees in various aspects of the industry, such as cultivation, manufacturing, testing, sales, transportation, or management. However, most often, employees pursue cannabis certification on their own to gain specialized knowledge and insights into the field.
With a booming industry employing close to half a million full-time workers, hiring managers are faced with a daunting task. An employee who has earned certification in cannabis studies can provide a significant advantage for a cannabis business.
What is a Cannabis Certification?
Typically offered online—although there are a few select training facilities across the country—cannabis certification courses usually provide a general introduction to the cannabis industry, along with more in-depth courses on everything from the origins of different cannabis strains to the making of edibles and tinctures.
Why Get a Cannabis Certification?
Certifications Demonstrate Hard Work
Because there are no standardized educational requirements to work in a dispensary or other cannabis-related business, an application can only tell you so much about an applicant. If you asked your applicants if they are hard workers, most would say that they are to improve their chances of landing the position. Cannabis employee certification can be used to validate their claim.
If someone has clearly illustrated a willingness to learn and excel through earning a certificate, they are invested in making themselves more valuable. Even more, they will likely be a better hire than someone who hasn’t.
High Turnover Leads to Higher Costs
According to a study published by the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE), “replacing a worker costs an average of $4000.” This is due to a loss in productivity and morale and an increase in training costs, advertising expenses, and errors made by new employees.
Working in the cannabis industry isn’t ideal for every job candidate, and hiring qualified, certified employees decreases attrition. Remember, they knew what career they wanted and chose to seek out options to get educated on that said career.
Keeps You Competitive
Hiring qualified employees has a direct impact on the performance of your company. In an industry that is lacking in credibility, it’s no secret that subject matter experts (SMEs) give you an edge over your competitors.
Having more SMEs on your team significantly boosts your company’s reputation and increases the confidence that your customers have in your products or services.
Expands your Company’s Network
To obtain a cannabis employee certification, applicants will likely need to attend classes or a seminar of some sort. These classes give members the chance to communicate with others in the industry and exchange ideas that could improve your company’s practices.
Having connections and building partnerships in an industry that is so young could be instrumental for the long-term success of your company. Not to mention, HR would also have direct references available should you need more resources.
Are Cannabis Certification Worth It?
While cannabis certifications are great for all the reasons mentioned above and can absolutely be worth the time and money expended for both the employee and employer, there is one notable downside: without federal standards, the education offered in the courses can vary widely.
For every good training course with a legitimate curriculum, there are bound to be dozens of poor courses hosted by unqualified instructors, so make sure that the cannabis certification comes from a reputable organization with experienced and licensed cannabis professionals.
Pair an Educated Workforce With a Reliable ERP Solution
Working in the cannabis industry has its challenges, but having an educated workforce with a legitimate interest in the industry’s health and future can help your business reach its goals.
Having the right system in place for your employees can also be a conduit for productivity.
As the cannabis supply chain becomes increasingly complex, enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions like 365 Cannabis come equipped with functionality tailored to fit the unique needs of cannabis business owners, including compliance and regulatory issues. This allows your business to reduce or eliminate manual processes, increase efficiencies, and focus on the growth of your business.
If you would like to see how 365 Cannabis can increase your productivity, request a demo to see more!