Climbing 

Arborist 

Climbing Arborists take to the air, caring for the trees that surround us. They enjoy the challenge of working outdoors, while displaying their caring nature in the way they maintain our green spaces.

As a Climbing Arborist, you’ll spend your days up in the trees, letting your curious and nimble nature help you navigate a challenging and invigorating environment.

You don’t shy away from diverse weather conditions, and you’re great at guiding your work through visual assessments. You’ll assess trees for health risks, either using climbing equipment or vehicles to safety carry out your tasks.

What You'll Learn

  • How to assess trees and shrubs for risks 
  • How to do aerial work with a lift truck and climbing equipment  
  • How to conduct tree climbing and pruning at heights  
  • How to identify and remediate issues for trees 
  • How to identify common tree health disorders  

Key Job Skills

  • Active listening  
  • Plant and tree identification 
  • Plant and tree treatment  
  • Falling, limbing, pruning and bucking  
  • Climbing equipment use 

Technical Training

To get certified, you will need to sign up for technical training at an approved training provider in addition to on-the-job training. 

Visit Trades Training BC and EducationPlannerBC for a comprehensive list of what programs are available in your trade at public and non-public schools. 

Technical Training 8 weeks over 1 year
Work-Based Training
1800 HOURS
General Skills
Adventurous Athletic Curious Visual

Program Updates

Individuals applying for a Sign-off Authority number for Climbing Arborist do not require Arborist Technician certification. Updated forms are posted below in the Challenge the Trade section.

The Exam Breakdown is available for the Certificate of Qualification and show the approximate percentage of weighting per General Area of Competency (GAC).

The apprenticeship pathway for Climbing Arborist is now available for registration. Both the apprenticeship and challenge pathway requires the candidate to demonstrate competency in a practical assessment in addition to a written exam. See Occupational Performance Standards for an overview of the competencies that are assessed.

Program Information

Note: Arborist Technician must be taken before Climbing Arborist. 

Challenge the Trade

If you have significant work experience in a trade but have never been certified in Canada, you may apply to challenge the certification. Learn more about How to Challenge a Skilled Trade.

OR

If you sponsor apprentices but have never been certified in Canada, you may request to supervise and sign-off apprentices when they are ready to be certified. Please contact customer service for more information.