How to Become a Tree Surgeon | Artemis Tree Services

Arboriculture is a great career choice for people who enjoy being outdoors and who have a genuine interest in trees. As a tree surgeon, you’ll be protecting, maintaining and nurturing trees and shrubs – not just chopping them down. You will be handling heavy-duty machinery, will need to have a good head for heights and be happy working outside in all weather conditions.

Think you’ve got what it takes? This article will explain everything you need to know about getting started, including how you can train with Artemis Tree Services through our Academy.

What are the responsibilities of a tree surgeon?

Before you apply to become a tree surgeon, you need to make sure you’re up for the job. Tree surgeons offer a wide range of services, meaning day-to-day tasks can vary dramatically.

Here are just a few of the responsibilities of a tree surgeon:

Inspection and surveys of trees and surrounding areas
Carrying out health assessments on trees
Trimming and pruning trees, hedges and shrubs
Felling and removing trees
Grinding out stumps
Competent use of machinery
Site clearance and tidying

You will need to have a good basic level of fitness, be excellent at working as part of a team and be able to follow procedures.

Do you need qualifications to become an Arborist?

Tree surgery can be a dangerous job and requires training to ensure you can perform your job safely.

Your first step to becoming a tree surgeon will be to attain the initial basic qualifications to allow you to work as a groundsman and gain important experience working on the ground assisting a climber. You can then progress and complete further training to become a fully qualified climber. You can do this by taking a relevant university or college qualification or enrolling on an apprenticeship.

Some courses you might choose to take at a college or university include:

Level 2 Certificate in Arboriculture
Level 2 Work-based Trees and Timber
Level 3 Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture

Apprenticeships are often a great choice, as they allow you to take an NVQ qualification during your placement. You’ll learn on the job and gain valuable qualifications along the way.

The Artemis Academy offers a 2-year apprenticeship scheme that has been carefully crafted to generate some of the best newly qualified arborists in the business.

With the Artemis Academy you’ll get:

A real job with a salary
Hands-on experience
An experienced workplace mentor
Full qualification on completion
Transferable skills that open up long-term career prospects
Level 2 Certificate in Arboriculture

What qualities do you need to succeed?

Not everyone is suited to being a tree surgeon. Ideally, you’ll need these qualities to succeed in the role:

Attention to detail
Good team player
Calm in stressful situations
Willing to adjust your work schedule as necessary
Basic level of strength and overall fitness
Able to follow instructions from a team leader
Adaptable and keen to take on whatever a job requires, large or small
Good communication skills for coordinating with team members and liaising with clients
Awareness of health and safety issues
Good with machinery
Patient and polite with the general public

Are you interested in becoming a tree surgeon? Come along for a trial to see if being an arborist is for you before you sign up for the Artemis Academy and see just how high you can climb. Everything you need to jumpstart your career is available as part of the apprenticeship.

Fill out the application form here to get started. Or get in touch with the Artemis Tree Services team for more information.

5 rating based on

572 reviews

Excellent

Jo

Just to say thank you for carrying out the work so professionally. The team were efficient, they took great care to ensure nothing got damaged, they were very friendly and informative and left the ar... Just to say thank you for carrying out the work so professionally. The team were efficient, they took great care to ensure nothing got damaged, they were very friendly and informative and left the area tidy. Work carried out: Removal of deadwood

3 weeks ago

Savas Sivetidis

Good service all round, polite and efficient....

4 weeks ago

Declan McManus

Efficient, tidy and courteous service - I have used Artemis on a number of occasions and cannot think of any reason to change....

2 months ago

Gaby

Excellent service with polite considerate operators...

Anonymous

very professional, knowledgeable company. where able to provide advice and options as to needed to be done. Clean, tidy and polite...

John

Very professional We have used them a few times and would not go anywhere else...

Francis Emmanuel

This was the second time we used the services of Artemis Tree Services. This time it was to fell and remove a mature sycamore. The team were excellent throughout - from initial enquiries, advice with ... This was the second time we used the services of Artemis Tree Services. This time it was to fell and remove a mature sycamore. The team were excellent throughout - from initial enquiries, advice with what was suitable, scheduling of the work, the tree work itself, the disposal of the felled tree and invoicing. Very pleasant, smart, tidy and courteous.

Pools Sritharan

Excellent service from the initial contact to completion. Professional ans polite at all times. Many thanks for this wonderful experience. Regards Pools Sritharan 18, The Avenue, Potters Bar.... Excellent service from the initial contact to completion. Professional ans polite at all times. Many thanks for this wonderful experience. Regards Pools Sritharan 18, The Avenue, Potters Bar.

3 months ago

Wendy Fry

Very pleased with work done to prune large sycamore tree. Detailed quote provided same day as Billy came to inspect and advise. All work was done promptly, safely with no mess whatsoever. Would defini... Very pleased with work done to prune large sycamore tree. Detailed quote provided same day as Billy came to inspect and advise. All work was done promptly, safely with no mess whatsoever. Would definitely recommend this firm. Very professional from start to finish.

Chris Pooley

If you require any tree work done I can certainly recommend Artemis. The estimator Billy was great to deal with professional and gave great advice. We required a Laurel and Holly tree to be reduced i... If you require any tree work done I can certainly recommend Artemis. The estimator Billy was great to deal with professional and gave great advice. We required a Laurel and Holly tree to be reduced in height and shaped and several leylandia trees at the back of the garden to be reduced in height and tidied up.A detailed quote was provided within 24 hours. On the day of the scheduled work the crew arrived on time and Tom and Charlie did a fantastic job very courteous and making sure everything was left nice and tidy. I would have no hesitation in contacting them for any future work required this is an extremely well run business.

Wendy Farrell

Great service from the get go. Surveyor was brilliant and took his time advising me on the best value for money for the job. The two guys in the day were fab! Not a leaf was left for me to tidy up. K... Great service from the get go. Surveyor was brilliant and took his time advising me on the best value for money for the job. The two guys in the day were fab! Not a leaf was left for me to tidy up. Kirstie Harvey in the office is a legend! Cannot recommend this company highly enough.

4 months ago

Kirk Teasdale

Delighted with the work carried out by what I can only describe as absolute gentlemen. They were prompt, courteous and considerate through out. Would definitely recommend.... Delighted with the work carried out by what I can only describe as absolute gentlemen. They were prompt, courteous and considerate through out. Would definitely recommend.

Mark Stafford

As a retired arborist myself I cannot give this company higher praise. Reasonable quote for the work and their climber was very proffessional and worked in a safe manner. Site was spotless when they l... As a retired arborist myself I cannot give this company higher praise. Reasonable quote for the work and their climber was very proffessional and worked in a safe manner. Site was spotless when they left. All in all a very pleasant experience.

Everything was great from start to finish I highly recommend Artemis. From the initial quotation to the reminders and then the text on the day to say they were on their way everything was perfect. T... Everything was great from start to finish I highly recommend Artemis. From the initial quotation to the reminders and then the text on the day to say they were on their way everything was perfect. The chaps onsite were great, very polite and incredibly tidy. I am very happy with the standard of work and would definitely recommend.

Nick Woolford

From the initial contact through to the finished work, everything has gone smoothly and professionally. The estimator came when he said he would, gave us meaningful and thoughtful suggestions. His d... From the initial contact through to the finished work, everything has gone smoothly and professionally. The estimator came when he said he would, gave us meaningful and thoughtful suggestions. His detailed estimate was produced within hours of his visit. Once we had accepted the estimate we received planned date for the work. On the day the workmen arrived when we were told they would. They were extremely co-operative, helpful and informative. The work procedure without a hitch with everything being competed to a high standard, and all the refuse removed, leaving the garden neat and tidy. We will have Artemis back later in the year to prune the fruit trees.

5 months ago

A fantastic service, at good reasonable prices with total clearace of the site upon completion. Couldn't ask for more....

6 months ago

Just had a tree removed in Ruislip Manor, the guys were done and dusted in just over an hour, I was expecting a mess that I'd have to clean up once they left. The guys ensured everything was spo... Just had a tree removed in Ruislip Manor, the guys were done and dusted in just over an hour, I was expecting a mess that I'd have to clean up once they left. The guys ensured everything was spotless when they left. We're all happy, but my Cat missing the tree!

Asarthan

Great job start to finish. All contact smooth and easy. The team listened to everything we wanted and pulled it off to perfection. Very neat and tidy too! Thank you very much!... Great job start to finish. All contact smooth and easy. The team listened to everything we wanted and pulled it off to perfection. Very neat and tidy too! Thank you very much!

Pete W

Another year of great service from start to finish - highly recommended...

Louise Leahy

Excellent service from the beginning, all lovely staff at every point and the work was carried out tidily and with consultation along the way. Very accommodating. Highly recommend and would use again.... Excellent service from the beginning, all lovely staff at every point and the work was carried out tidily and with consultation along the way. Very accommodating. Highly recommend and would use again.

Gordon Smith

I was impressed with your quotation service. The paperwork was excellent. The team arrived on time and carried out the job expertly and in accordance with our wishes. They were very professional and c... I was impressed with your quotation service. The paperwork was excellent. The team arrived on time and carried out the job expertly and in accordance with our wishes. They were very professional and communicated with us at all time. We were very impressed with the whole service from start to finish.