How Do I Become an Arboriculturist?

The requirements needed to become an arboriculturist are not usually many but can vary by jurisdiction and job description. Most of the time, the job can be had by anyone with a high school diploma and an interest in trees. An associate’s degree in biology, botany, or woodland studies is almost always helpful, but rarely required. Depending on where you are, you may also need to pass a tree care or forestry technician certification exam. This is particularly true if you are seeking employment with a government agency.

In most cases, all that you need to do to become an arboriculturist is to find a job listing and apply. These jobs can also be titled “tree officer,” “arboriculture officer,” “tree expert,” or “tree surgeon.” Do not be intimidated by these titles: arboriculturists usually have no formal training and certainly do not have medical qualifications. Their main job is to look after trees, monitor forest health, and keep track of tree growth and disease.

There are a couple of different places to look for arboriculturist jobs. One of the biggest employers in most places is the local government. Governments need arboriculturists to maintain the trees in parks and on public lands. A person in this capacity would likely check trees for health, oversee tree maintenance, respond to public tree crises, and may even play a role in planning tree planting and park layout, too.

Arboriculturists may also work for private firms. Private firms provide tree specialist services to public and private entities, ranging from large landowners to businesses. Governments sometimes also contract with independent arboriculturist firms for specific projects. Private firms usually advertise open positions both on their websites and on job boards within the local communities where they operate.

It is usually very difficult to become an arboriculturist without at least an interest in learning about trees. Jobs like planning park layouts may not require any particular expertise, but the ability to effectively research and present findings is almost always a must. Similarly, knowing what to look for when inspecting trees usually requires a lot of research and studying. In most cases, this training is provided on the job but can be tiring for employees without at least a baseline interest in how forests grow and thrive.

You can help your prospects of landing an arboriculturist job by either taking some classes in botany, biology, or forestry or by gaining some experience working with trees. An arborist, for instance, is person who tends to trees, usually in terms of pruning and general upkeep. Arboriculturists in most settings oversee arborists. Spending a few years as an arborist, or otherwise gaining experience on how to care for trees, can help you advance faster once you become an arboriculturist.

The most senior arboriculturists often hold national or regional certifications in tree health and landscaping. Whether or not certification is required or even available is entirely a matter of local jurisdiction. Certifications often qualify professionals to negotiate contracts; plan and landscape different sorts of terrain, keeping variables like soil type and likelihood or erosion in mind; and prepare tree survey reports for official use.

There is usually a great deal of advancement possible within the tree care field. You may start out doing little more than an arborist, but with time and a good record, you will likely find your responsibilities and pay increasing from year to year. The more training and qualifications you have when you first become an arboriculturist, the more you are likely to be paid, as well.