CourseEstablished

Sterile Technique & Mushroom Lab Basics

Master clean working practices, flow hoods, sterilization and agar handling to reduce contamination in any mushroom operation.

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Level

Course

Modules

Duration

3 months · 72 h

Next start

January 11, 2027

Fee

$450

Format

Live online

Certificate

Course Certificate

Language

English US

School

Cultivation

Program identification

1.1Program name: Sterile Technique & Mushroom Lab Basics
1.2Type of qualification: Course
1.3Provider / endorsing institution: Fungaris – International Institute of Mycology, School of Mushroom Cultivation & Production. A Fungaris program of its own, not endorsed by a university.
1.4Mode of study: Online, with live sessions in a small group, recordings and a virtual campus.
1.5Duration (hours / ECTS credits): 3 months (12 weeks) · 72 hours in total · 6 modules of 12 hours · 12 live sessions of 2 hours. ECTS credits: not applicable (Fungaris own program, not an official university degree).
1.6Language: English
1.7Start and end dates / intake: Next intake: January 11, 2027 to April 2, 2027. Enrollment closes on January 4, 2027. Following intake: March 8, 2027. How intakes work →

sterile technique mushroomsmushroom lab setuplaminar flow hood mushroomsmushroom agar workmushroom contamination prevention

Overview

2.1Program description

Sterile Technique and Mushroom Lab Basics teaches the clean working habits on which every reliable mushroom operation depends. You will learn where contamination actually comes from, how to lay out a small lab with clean and dirty zones, and how to work correctly in front of a laminar flow hood or inside a still air box. The course covers pressure sterilization with pressure cookers and autoclaves, pouring and handling agar plates, and the records and standard procedures that keep results consistent.

Contamination is the single most common reason growers lose crops and money, and it is usually caused by habits rather than equipment. By learning the reasoning behind each step, you will be able to troubleshoot instead of following recipes blindly. The course suits growers setting up their first lab and farm staff moving into culture work. For the final project you design a small lab for your own situation, with layout, equipment list, sterilization protocol and written standard operating procedures, reviewed by your professor.

2.2Why it matters / what need it meets

It meets a practical need: applied, up-to-date knowledge in cultivation, useful in areas such as Mushroom production, Spawn and culture supply, Small-scale biotechnology, Education and training.

Mycology is moving fast and good practical training is still scarce. This program gives you a structured path, taught live by people who work in the field, so you can apply what you learn with judgment and safety.

Objectives and competences

3.1General objective

To finish the program able to apply its content professionally and with judgment. In short:

Master clean working practices, flow hoods, sterilization and agar handling to reduce contamination in any mushroom operation.

3.2Specific objectives

Build the foundations: Sources of Contamination; Lab Layout and Clean Zones.
Put them into practice: Laminar Flow Hoods and Still Air Boxes; Autoclaves and Pressure Sterilization.
Apply everything to a real case: Pouring and Handling Agar; Lab Records and Standard Procedures.
Complete a final project reviewed by your professor.

3.3Competences you will gain

Identify the main contamination routes in a mushroom lab.
Lay out a small lab with separated clean and dirty zones.
Work correctly at a flow hood or still air box.
Run and verify pressure sterilization cycles.
Pour agar plates and keep traceable lab records.

Student profile

4.1Who it is for (entry profile)

Growers setting up a lab.

4.2Entry requirements

Basic familiarity with mushroom growing is helpful. A pressure cooker and a clean workspace are needed for the practical exercises.

4.3Career paths (exit profile)

Lab assistant on a mushroom farm
Grower running an in-house culture lab
Spawn production trainee
Laboratory technician in a small mycology business
Educator running practical mycology workshops

Sectors

Mushroom productionSpawn and culture supplySmall-scale biotechnologyEducation and training

Outcomes depend on your experience and on your local market.

Study plan

5.1Overall structure (modules and workload)

Module	Title	Phase	Topics	Hours
01	Sources of Contamination	Foundations	3	12
02	Lab Layout and Clean Zones	Foundations	3	12
03	Laminar Flow Hoods and Still Air Boxes	Practice	3	12
04	Autoclaves and Pressure Sterilization	Practice	3	12
05	Pouring and Handling Agar	Application & project	3	12
06	Lab Records and Standard Procedures	Application & project	3	12
	Total			72

6 modules × 12 hours = 72 hours: 24 hours of live sessions, and the rest for campus study, exercises and the final project.

5.2Content by module

Hover or tap a module to follow the path from the first session to the final project. Open a module to see the topics it covers.

5.3Company placement

This program does not include a company placement. Practice is built into every module through exercises, case studies and the final project.

5.4Final project

A design for a small mushroom lab with layout, equipment list, sterilization protocol and written standard operating procedures.

Methodology

6.1How it is taught

Live online sessions, usually weekly, with a working professional and a small group.
Recordings of every session, so you can catch up if work or time zones get in the way.
Exercises and real case studies in every module.
Tutoring: your professor answers questions and gives feedback on your exercises and project.

6.2Platform and resources

A Moodle virtual campus with session recordings, readings, exercises and forums for each module. You need a computer, an up-to-date browser and a stable connection; a webcam and microphone are recommended.

Technical requirements →

6.3Estimated weekly workload

About 6 hours a week for 12 weeks: one 2-hour live session on a weekday evening, plus study and exercises on the campus at your own pace.

Assessment

7.1Assessment system and weighting

Assessment is based on participation in live sessions and practical exercises after each module. The professor reviews the final project and gives individual feedback.

40%Participation and module exercises

60%Final project

7.2Requirements to pass

Complete every module, by attending the live sessions or watching the recordings.
Hand in the module exercises.
Have your final project approved by your professor.

Teaching team

8.1Academic direction

The Cultivation at Fungaris coordinates the content and quality of this program. The academic director of each intake is named in the intake guide.

8.2Faculty

Taught by professionals who work in the field. The professor of each intake is confirmed before the start.

Meet our faculty →

Certificate

9.1Certificate awarded

Course Certificate

On completing the program and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Accreditations are assessed according to the training completed and the local regulations of each country.

9.2Issuing body / recognition

Issued by Fungaris (operated by Nexora Generation, S.L.) as a digital certificate. It is a Fungaris certificate of its own: it is not an official university degree and does not award ECTS credits.

About our certificates →

Admission and enrollment

10.1Admission process (steps)

Send your request through the form or write to admissions.
Admissions reviews your profile and confirms the start date, the session schedule and the fee.
You secure your place with full payment or a 40% reservation.
You receive your campus access and welcome guide before the first session.

10.2Documents required

A valid identity document.
Contact and billing details (personal or company).

10.3Deadlines

Enrollment for the intake starting on January 11, 2027 is open until January 4, 2027, or until the group is full (maximum 20 students).

10.4Fee and payment options

Fee: $450

Full payment before the start: $360 (20% reduction).
40% reservation ($180) and 3 monthly installments of $90.

Fees and financing →

10.5Grants, discounts and funding

Discounts: 10% for Fungaris alumni and 15% for groups of three or more people from the same organization. Discounts cannot be combined with each other or with the full-payment reduction.

Your employer can pay for the program and receive the invoice in the company name. Whether a public or employer training budget can cover the fee depends on your country, so check with them.

10.6Cancellation policy

The conditions for canceling, withdrawing or moving to a later intake are explained in our cancellation policy and in your enrollment confirmation. Nothing there limits your rights under the consumer law that applies to you.

Cancellation and refunds →

Additional information

11.1Frequently asked questions

Do I need experience to study Sterile Technique & Mushroom Lab Basics?

Basic familiarity with mushroom growing is helpful. A pressure cooker and a clean workspace are needed for the practical exercises.

How is Sterile Technique & Mushroom Lab Basics taught?

Live online, in 6 modules with a working professional, a small group and a final project.

How am I assessed?

Assessment is based on participation in live sessions and practical exercises after each module. The professor reviews the final project and gives individual feedback.

What is the final project?

A design for a small mushroom lab with layout, equipment list, sterilization protocol and written standard operating procedures.

What certificate do I get?

On completing the program and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Accreditations are assessed according to the training completed and the local regulations of each country.

What can I study after Sterile Technique & Mushroom Lab Basics?

The natural next step is Diploma in Gourmet Mushroom Production.

11.2Alumni testimonials

We only publish verified testimonials from real students. This program does not have any published yet; they will appear here once its first intakes finish.