CNM Ingenuity’s Cannabis Workforce Certificate Program Ready to Connect More New Mexicans to High-Demand Cannabis Industry Jobs
CNM Ingenuity, the enterprise arm of Central New Mexico Community College, has opened registration for its second online program specifically designed to meet New Mexico’s mandated training requirements for cannabis industry employees and employers. CNM Ingenuity (CNMI) has partnered with SeedCrest, a New Mexico-based cannabis curriculum provider, to offer the Cannabis Establishment Technician (CET) Certificate program.
The 40-hour CET online program trains job seekers on state rules, regulations, safety protocols, ethics and more. Graduates of the program are qualified to fill the workforce demand in New Mexico’s cannabis industry that is quickly ramping up as recreational cannabis dispensaries prepare to open April 1 in New Mexico.
Deadline for interested New Mexicans to register for the next cohort, which runs from Feb. 7 through March 25, is Jan. 21. CNM’s first cohort, which began in December, was completely full with nearly 100 participants.
“We are thrilled with the success of the first cohort. The course feedback was overwhelmingly positive from participants preparing to work in the New Mexico cannabis industry,” said CNM Ingenuity’s Mary Gallivan, Executive Director of Program Management. “One of our primary functions at CNM Ingenuity is to support our economy’s workforce needs by delivering accelerated training programs that produce a pipeline of skilled workers for our state’s growing industries. As the cannabis industry prepares for major expansion this spring, there will be very high demand for a well-trained and professional workforce that fully understands the obligations of working in this industry.”
Cannabis companies seeking to hire well-trained, industry knowledgeable cannabis professionals can rely on CNM Ingenuity’s Cannabis Certificate programs in 2022 and beyond to find the most educated talent available. The 40-hour CET program prepares students to join the workforce with knowledge in state rules, safety protocols, ethics, plant biology, and more. Learners who take and pass the CET Workforce Certificate Program are well-qualified and ready for cannabis work – they learn New Mexico-specific industry concepts that allow them to get into the regulated marketplace with a higher understanding of how it all works. Those seeking employment or those seeking to start a business in the New Mexico cannabis field must be at least 21 years of age.
During the span of the course, SeedCrest Career Coaches facilitate weekly online career advisement and networking for learners with local hiring companies, allowing CET students to apply their studies to actual jobs in New Mexico while shortening learning curves around how to navigate state licensing systems to find employment.
“We supplement the student certificate experience with career advisement sessions that are designed to help professionals to walk through the barriers to entry and to understand how to apply their CET Certificate to getting a job in cannabis,” said Shanon Jaramillo, SeedCrest founder.
The CET Certificate not only supports the industry but it also serves the public. As the recreational cannabis industry launches in April, training standards, industry knowledge, professionalism and compliance with all state laws will become more and more important. This curriculum focuses specifically on New Mexico’s policies and industry terminology, as well as training on community responsibility, ethics, safety, and security, all of which help to mitigate risk.
CNM Ingenuity is now accepting applicants for the program’s next cohort that starts Feb. 7. Deadline to register is Jan. 21. For more information and to register for the training, click here.
About CNM Ingenuity: CNM Ingenuity is the enterprise arm of Central New Mexico Community College. The mission of CNM Ingenuity is to promote the public welfare and the prosperity of individuals and to foster economic development within both the private and public sectors. CNM Ingenuity supports accelerated training opportunities, as well as partnerships that foster job creation.
About SeedCrest: SeedCrest, LLC is a Woman, Latina, and LGBTQ owned organization working to empower colleges, government, and businesses with standardized, state-specific employee cannabis certificates and in turn creating a knowledgeable and specialized talent pipeline for the cannabis marketplace.