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Home / Guides / Green Cert

The Green Cert: how to get it, what it costs, and what it unlocks

Farming · Ireland•5 min read•Updated 2026-10-26

Part-time

23 or older, €1,950

DistanceLevel 6 award needed, €3,250
Age limit for reliefsUsually 35 or 40, by scheme
Check what you could claimHow to apply
The short answerThe Green Cert is the Teagasc farming qualification that counts for young trained farmer schemes and tax reliefs. You can do it full-time at a college, part-time if you are 23 or older, or by distance if you already hold a Level 6 award in another subject. The 2026 Teagasc charge is €1,950 part-time and €3,250 by distance.
PZak Carolan · The People's PocketChecked against Teagasc: Pathways to a Green Cert, 2026-10-26

Most of the money comes after the course: the qualification is what lets you claim several young farmer reliefs and payments. Each one has its own age limit and rules.

Quick facts

Part-time
23 or older, €1,950
Distance
Level 6 award needed, €3,250
Full-time
Two years at an agricultural college
Counts for
Young trained farmer schemes and reliefs
Age limit for reliefs
Usually 35 or 40, by scheme

The three ways to get it

Full-time: a two-year course at an agricultural college, open to school leavers and people returning to education.

Part-time: for people aged 23 or older, who attend on a part-time basis.

Distance: a faster route if you already hold a Level 6 award or higher in a non-farming subject. It asks for more learning on your own. One Teagasc centre says its course takes 15-18 months.

Part-time and distance courses start on a rolling basis at colleges and Teagasc advisory regions. Level 5 and 6 Teagasc courses in horticulture, forestry or equine also give you a Green Cert.

What it costs

Teagasc's 2026 charge for the Part Time Green Cert for adult learners is €1,950. The Distance Education Green Cert is €3,250.

These charges do not include accommodation or food.

What the Green Cert unlocks

Young Trained Farmer stamp duty relief. You must be under 35 on the date the land is transferred. You need a relevant qualification, or to get one within 3 years of getting the land.

100% stock relief. Young trained farmers get 100% stock relief for the year they qualify and the next three years with a stock increase. It runs for accounting periods ending by 31 December 2027.

Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers. A payment for farmers under 40 with a Level 6 farming award. It averages about €150 a hectare over 5 years.

National Reserve (Young Farmer Category). Income support for young farmers setting up, with up to 50 entitlements or top-ups. The 2026 deadline for both payments was 15 May 2026.

How to start

1

Pick the route that fits your age and background

Part-time is for people aged 23 or older, and distance is for people with a Level 6 award in another subject.

2

Contact your local Teagasc college or education centre

Part-time and distance courses start on a rolling basis at colleges and across Teagasc advisory regions.

3

Check the course charge before you enrol

The 2026 charge is €1,950 for the part-time course and €3,250 for distance education.

4

Finish the course before you apply for schemes

CIS-YF, for example, needs the Level 6 award completed by its deadline.

Things to watch

Each relief has its own age limit. Teagasc says the upper age for young trained farmer status is usually either 35 or 40, depending on the scheme.

Timing matters. For CIS-YF in 2026, the course had to be completed by 15 May 2026. Start early if you plan to take over land soon.

Phone, forms and how long it takes

Teagasc head office (general)
+353 59 917 0200
Teagasc (general)
info@teagasc.ie
Apply for a Teagasc course online
Teagasc online application

From the official pages (teagasc.ie), re-checked every night. Numbers and times can change, so check the official page before you send anything.

Common questions

Green Cert Ireland: what is it?

The Teagasc farming qualification that meets the education rules for young trained farmer schemes and tax reliefs. Full-time, part-time and distance routes all lead to it.

How much does the Green Cert cost?

Teagasc's 2026 charge is €1,950 for the part-time adult course and €3,250 for distance education. Charges do not include accommodation or food.

Is there an age limit for the part-time Green Cert?

It is for people aged 23 or older. Full-time college courses suit school leavers and people returning to education.

Can I do the Green Cert by distance?

Yes, if you already hold a Level 6 award or higher in a non-farming subject. It needs more learning on your own.

What does the Green Cert qualify me for?

Young Trained Farmer stamp duty relief (under 35), 100% stock relief, CIS-YF and the National Reserve (Young Farmer Category), each with its own rules.

Sources, read 2026-10-26. Every figure and rule on this page comes from one of these official pages. If one changes, this page is wrong until we fix it — tell us and we will.

Keep going

Young farmer supports: CIS-YF and the National ReserveStock relief for farmersFarm stamp duty reliefsTeagasc maintenance grant