How to Become a Tree Surgeon

How to Become a Tree Surgeon

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.