RMCEP Receives CanTrain Cannabis Grant to Provide Training in the Cannabis Industry

Are you curious or interested in what the growing cannabis business in Minnesota has to offer? Are you looking to jump-start a new career in the cannabis industry? If yes, Rural Minnesota CEP, Inc., can help provide information, answers, and the training to do so. RMCEP has obtained funding to train individuals for free in a variety of specialty pathways in the Cannabis industry.

The cannabis industry is continually growing and changing, and employers are looking for knowledgeable workers. What better way to show you are knowledgeable and ready to be an asset to a business than by becoming certified in your area of interest or specialty? RMCEP is offering training in 6 certification areas within the cannabis industry.

Do you have experience:

• As a barista, bartender, or server? You could start as an entry-level bud tender.
• Working in a nursery or on a farm? You could start as an entry-level cultivator, harvester, or trimmer.
• Working in manufacturing? You could start in an entry-level packager or production position.
• As an operations manager in a restaurant, retail location, or warehouse? You could transfer into management in the cannabis industry.
• As a med or lab tech? You could start in an entry-level position in processing or lab testing.
• With logistics or delivery? Many of these skills can be transferred to the logistics side of the cannabis industry.

Cannabis-specific skillsets are centered around:

• Knowledge of cannabis product types.
• Proprietary management and tracking systems to track inventory, processing, and distribution.

To take advantage of this training opportunity and learn what specialty certifications are being offered, contact your local Rural Minnesota CEP office in the CareerForce centers located in Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Alexandria, Little Falls, Brainerd, Wadena or Bemidji, or reach out to Stacy Belen, Operations Program Coordinator, located in our Detroit Lakes office at 803 Roosevelt Ave., 218-847-0706 or at stacyb@rmcep.com. 

Take the first steps to launch a new career and work in this growing cannabis industry. General Cannabis Associate Certification.  This is an 8-week foundational course where you will explore the different sectors of the cannabis industry, including:

• Cultivation, manufacturing, extraction, retail sales, and more.
• Essential knowledge of cannabis policy and compliance.
• Building a strong foundation in cannabis products and plan science.
• Understanding the nuts and bolts of how licensed cannabis businesses really operate.
• Speak the language of cannabis accurately and confidently to any employer.

Below are additional specialist certifications that you may pursue. 

Cultivation Specialist Certification

This is an 8-week course in the foundational skills needed to succeed in cultivation roles across indoor, outdoor, and greenhouse environments, including:

• How to germinate, clone, and train plants for optimal growth and yield.
• Implementing irrigation, lighting, and environmental controls to maintain plant health and consistency.
• Harvest, trim, dry, and cure cannabis to meet the quality and compliance standards employers expect.
• The professional cultivation skills that set you apart and help you get hired.

Product Development Specialist Certification

This is an 8-week course that builds the hands-on expertise needed to create safe, consistent, and compliant cannabis products. Including:

• How cannabis products are made from extraction to finished goods.
• How edibles, beverages, topicals, concentrates, and pre-rolls are formulated with precision and consistency.
• Apply manufacturing, quality assurance, and safety protocols used in licensed cannabis facilities.
• Navigate product testing, labeling, and compliance standards required by regulators.
• Build the professional product development skills that set you apart and help you get hired.

Compliance Specialist Certification

This 8-week course delivers the regulatory and operational understanding required to protect cannabis businesses and maintain legal integrity. It covers:

• Cannabis regulations and compliance requirements across cultivation, manufacturing, retail, and distribution.
• How to build and maintain audit-ready, legally compliant operations and SOPs.
• How laws and regulations impact every corner of the industry.
• The tools and systems used for licensing, permitting, and track-and-trace.
• How to become an indispensable compliance professional in today’s heavily regulated cannabis market.

Retail and Sales Specialist Certification 

This 8-week course teaches product knowledge, customer service, and compliance, essentials needed to thrive in dispensary and brand sales roles. It includes:

• How licensed dispensaries and cannabis brands operate in regulated markets.
• The skills for selling cannabis products compliantly and effectively.
• Cannabis product knowledge that drives great customer experiences.
• Retail operations essentials like inventory management, merchandising, and point-of-sale compliance.
• The sales and service knowledge cannabis employers are hiring for right now.

Medical Cannabis Specialist Certification

This 8-week course gives healthcare and wellness professionals the evidence-based education needed to apply cannabis therapeutics safely and effectively. Including:

• How cannabis interacts with the body through the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
• Differentiate minor and emerging cannabinoids and their therapeutic roles.
• How to guide patients and consumers on product selection, dosing, and methods of administration.
• Contraindications, side effects, patient assessment, and best practices for safe use.
• How to become a trusted professional in therapeutic cannabis care.

Explore Other Programs by RMCEP

RMCEP offers several grants and development programs to help Minnesota residents step into new careers. Learn about AgPaths, which helps people gain experience in the agricultural field. Read about Drive for Five, which fills in-demand jobs in the region. Whatever your career goals, RMCEP can help you get the training, education, and experience you need. Contact us and take the first steps today.