Attend a technical school, community college or vocational school that offers a certification course in floral design. These courses take anywhere from a couple of months to a full year to complete, depending on the school. They teach the basics of floral design, bow making techniques, cutting techniques, etc. This level of course will prepare you to work for someone in their shop as a floral designer.
Enroll in a university that offers a bachelor's degree in floral design. These programs include more in-depth coursework and usually include botany, chemistry, horticulture and business classes. Earning a bachelor's degree will prepare you to run your own shop or a nursery that offers floral design.
Search the Internet for online floral design programs. These programs may range from certificate programs to bachelor's degrees. Make sure the school is accredited and certified by a well-known educational entity, such as the state board of education or the state commission on colleges and universities for the state in which the school is located.
Complete the educational and testing requirements for the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) certification in floral design. To begin the certification process, you must have either completed a program certified by the AIFD, earned a bachelor's degree from an AIFD certified school, or had three years of on-the-job experience in floral design. You must then take the AIFD test and undergo a personal evaluation, during which you will present five floral designs to be evaluated by AIFD representatives.