Below are the official Permaculture Institute USA guidelines defining the field of permaculture education and practice in the US. The following definitions and procedures follow the guidelines established by the founders of permaculture, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, as described in the permaculture foundation books and documents. 
In addition, these guidelines and definitions are the product of collaborative effort of numerous US-based permaculture instructors and practitioners who have dedicated decades of their professional lives to the evolution of this field and the movement.

• How do I go about getting aquianted with permaculture?

The way most people become acquainted with permaculture is by taking an introductory course.  These are usually weekend courses offered around the country, visit Permaculture Activist for listings. Many people come to permaculture through books such as Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway, or Introduction to Permaculture, by Bill Mollison and Reny Slay.

• What is Permaculture Design Certificate Course (PDC)?What makes some courses more valuable, useful, or applicable than others, if anything?

All Permaculture Design Certificate courses (PDC) shall cover the same 72 contact-hour (14 day length) direct instruction curriculum as provided by the content of the foundational work in the subject - “Permaculture - A Designer’s Manual” by Bill Mollison, and shall include a student talent show and team design projects as part of the coursework. Ask to see a copy of the course outline or course syllabus to confirm this prior to enrolling into a PDC.
PDC can include, in addition to the curriculum, other topics of interest - but you’ll want to make sure that the curriculum includes the application of the principles of Permaculture to the design of systems beyond those of home and garden… specifically, community and economics.

• Where can I see the official permaculture curriculum to make sure the class I am enrolling in is in compliance with it?

Permaculture Design Certificate Course Handbook provides essentially the same outline used by Bill Mollison.  This outline is based on the materials covered in foundational “Permaculture – A Designer’s Manual”, by Bill Mollison.  The Permaculture Institute USA only recognizes those Design Certificates that are issued by instructors who teach all of the materials in Bill Mollison’s book, while recognizing that it cannot be covered in as much depth as in the book in the 72 hours of required lecture for certification.
The recognized curriculum also includes a talent show and a design exercise at the conclusion of the course which is not part of the 72 hour lecture. 

• What formats Permaculture Design Course can be taught in? What is the difference

The format in which a course is taught will flavor the learning experience: the traditional two-week long residential PDC is an intensive dose of living and learning with others. In this type of course, we cannot emphasize enough the importance of the hosts and the host-site to the course experience. Your ability to absorb the material will be influenced by the conditions of the site, and the warmth and hospitality of the hosts… Know what to expect!
The increasingly popular format of the weekend series course, held over a period of several months, tends to allow for a deeper experience of learning in the team design projects. It also seems to better accommodate people with families, and working professionals, who are better able to integrate this weekend format into their busy schedules. Because participants in the weekend classes usually all live near the class site, this type of course format also helps to create new, long-lasting connections within the community as well.  While there are the same amount of hours and days as the residential course there is much more time between the weekends for students to identify and work on designs for community projects. All PDC, regardless of format, shall offer a minimum of 72 contact-hours of learning time; i.e. time of direct instruction by the teacher, following the established curriculum. Anything else is NOT a Permaculture Certificate Course.
Once you’ve figured out what format you want your PDC experience to be, ask yourself, what in a teacher or teaching team is important to you… gender, age, experience?
Location of the class, ecosystem it is held in, etc?

• I’ve been finding many permaculture design courses across the country - some through accredited schools, others through farms and still others given by institutions and individuals. How do I go about choosing a program that will be recognized by my academic institution and/or my future employer?

As with any other training, it is ultimately up to your future employer to recognize it or not. The same is true with any academic institution (college, university) - these all have their own policies regarding accepting or declining credit transfer from any other training, in any field.
Most permaculture trainees take the class because it benefits them and their learning and practice, NOT because it is widely accepted by colleges or employers. Permaculture training is something that enriches you directly, but may not impress someone reading your resume (though there are indications that this is rapidly changing).
Many professionals take the certification course each year and find it invaluable for their practice; not necessarily for the name but for the whole system design and thinking skills that they obtained in the design course.
All certificate level courses are (in theory) the same; all must be taught following the same curriculum. It is up to you to elect to take the class in a college classroom or learn hands-on at a farm or learning center; it is in essence the same material. Of major importance is the teacher’s qualifications and reputation. The Permaculture Institute lists the links to the recommended programs; and to the recommended teachers.

• Who is qualified to teach PDC, how do I find one in my area?

We are in the process of developing a listing of those teachers who have completed the Permaculture Certification Course, and have received the Diploma of Permaculture Design and who are, therefore, qualified to teach PDC.  We also require that those listed by the Institute provide us with a list of teachers that have mentored the applicant along with their recommendations.  Some teachers listed by the Institute may be listed because of their history of successful teaching and through recommendations from other listed teachers.

• If the instructor I selected is not listed with the PI USA, what does it mean?

It may mean that they have not requested that they be listed OR that they do not have the qualifications deemed necessary by the Institute.

• The instructor I took my class from is not listed with PI USA, does it void my certificate or diminishes the quality of my training?

coming soon ............

• Why do I want to get a certificate in permaculture? Who recognizes it, professionally or academically?

coming soon ............

• What is the next step after I take my PDC? Why would I want to get a diploma? Who recognizes it, professionally or academically?

coming soon ............

• Who are Field Directors, how are they selected and where do I find one in my area?

coming soon ............

• I want to start a permaculture group or perhaps an institute in my area. How do I go about it?

coming soon ............

• I want to teach permaculture. How do I begin?

coming soon ............

• I want to use word permaculture in my professional services. What do I need to know about it?

coming soon ............

• What mainstream professions are most compatible with permaculture?

coming soon ............

Northern America Permaculture Teachers Listing
Northern America Field Directors Listing
What is PC Certificate and where do I get one?
What is PC Diploma and how do I work towards one?
Definitions of Professional Practice in Permaculture and much more