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The Green Cert – What’s the Point?

20 January 2025
Type Media Article

By Paul Mullins, Education Officer, Teagasc Galway/Clare

The Green Cert, formally known as the Certificate in Agriculture, is an important qualification for those who will be taking over farms in the coming years. There are a number of benefits that flow from having completed the Green Cert and these vary from tax relief to Department of Agriculture Schemes to, indeed, the education itself.

However, first things first.  How does one go about getting the Green Cert?  Well as already stated it is formally known as the Certificate in Agriculture which is a FETAC Level 6 course and verified by QQI.  Therefore, it is a formal qualification that requires on-going engagement to complete.  There are three broad ways of completing the course and these are outlined below.

The Full-time Option 

This option takes place over two academic years and takes place at one of seven Agricultural Colleges throughout the country.  This course provides opportunities for classroom and experiential learning in the colleges.  It also has a substantial element of practical work experience built in where skills learned on the course can be put into use and where students can learn from approved host farmers.  The course also allows students to specialise in their areas of interest, ie dairy, beef, machinery etc.

The net result of this course is an Advanced Level 6 Certificate in Agriculture from which students may be able to progress onto higher education courses.

The Distance Learning Option

This course is designed for those students over 23 that have already achieved a major Level 6 award or higher in another area.  Therefore, if you have completed an apprenticeship or are a nurse, teacher, garda or anyone of a number of other professions, then this could be the course for you.  The big advantage is that this course takes advantage of your proven ability to self-direct your learning, which would have been required to complete your initial qualification.  Therefore, as a result, you can complete this course by typically attending at a college or Teagasc Centre one day per month over 15 – 18 months.  This minimises the disruption to your current work and family situation whilst allowing you to achieve the Green Cert.  There is a large degree of completing work and assignments on your own, but given that one has already completed a similar level of education, then this is achievable.  The qualification that results from this course is the Level 6 Specific Purpose Certificate in Farming.

The Part-time Option

The part-time option is available to those students who are over 23 but who do not have any other qualification at Level 6.  It takes in the region of two to two and a half years to complete.  It typically runs one day per week during the academic term, but different centres may offer different variations such as some evening classes and less day classes to suit attendees’ commitments.  The qualification is the same as that for the distance learning option.  Both the Distance and part-time options require students to complete the same range of practical assessments as per the full-time course in terms of tractor driving, cattle handling etc.

So why bother with the Green Cert?

Well there are a number of benefits to completing the course.  Firstly, let’s look at the Department of Agriculture incentives:

  • Young Farmers Scheme
  • National Reserve Scheme
  • Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS)
  • Registered Farm Partnerships/ Collaborative Farming Grant Scheme

These schemes are all available to Young trained farmers once they commence farming.  There are also a number of taxation benefits available:

  • Stamp Duty Exemption on Transfers of Land to Young Trained Farmers
  • Capital Acquisitions Tax Relief
  • Stock Relief on Income Tax for Certain Young Trained Farmers

These reliefs and Department of Agriculture incentives can amount to thousands of euro in many cases and can help a young farmer with the expense and cash flow difficulties that can arise in the early years of establishing themselves in farming.

Then there is also the actual education and experience gained through the course.  You are being taught by agricultural professionals; in many cases, you have access to Agricultural Advisors who are also working on the ground who may become your Advisor in due course.  The course is quite practical in nature as is the job of a farmer and can give people the confidence to complete certain tasks.  Finally there is the comradery that is built up amongst any group of students that come together to complete a course.  These may be some of the people that you come to rely on in the future as a result of the relationships built up during the course.

In summary, the Green Cert is an important stepping-stone for all future farmers, be it for scheme purposes or education purposes.  There is a course to suit you whatever your stage of life and lifelong friends are often one of the biggest benefits of it.