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An arborist (or tree surgeon or tree trimmer and pruner as they can sometimes be called) is a practitioner of arboriculture. These are career professionals that can cultivate, manage, care for, and rehabilitate trees and shrubs. There are also foresters who are professionals who specialize in managing an entire forest and may be responsible in harvesting wood whereas An arborist specializes in individual trees. Watch the following video to learn about a day in the life of an arborist.
How to Become an Arborist
Though a formal education is not required, some employers like to see a blend of education in arboriculture and experience. In fact, you can gain a bachelor’s degree in forestry or other related field. Also, arborists can earn a specialized International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certification to demonstrate their knowledge.
You can learn more about ISA certifications by visiting the Six ISA Certifications webpage. In addition, some companies may require you to have special licenses and an Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) may be preferred. To learn about CDL license types and how to gain your CDL license, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles website.
Job Description of an Arborist
An arborist has many duties. However, those duties may depend on where they are employed. For example, some arborists may be responsible to climb trees (often with ropes) and some trees can grow to be very large. This means, safety is vital to an arborist especially whe climbing a tree is a must. Arborists are also sometimes called tree surgeons as not only must they remove dead limbs and prune a tree when necessary, they also monitor the health of the trees in their care and recommend treatment.
These professionals must also be aware of environmental changes such the introduction of an invasive species or other hazardous environmental element. In addition to ensuring the health of a tree, they may plant trees to promote additional growth as well. Those in this career field may spend a lot of time outdoors and in the elements.
Free Teacher and Student Resources
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) offers a free series of arboriculture podcasts that focus on news, best practices, and the science of arboriculture. However, if you want to learn more about caring for trees, visit ISA’s Tree Care webpage.
Career Article Resources
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Tree Trimmers and Pruners.
National Center for O*NET Development. 37-3013.00. O*NET OnLine.
