Skip to content 
What is Arboriculture?
Arboriculture is the cultivation and management of trees, shrubs, and other woody plants. Arboriculture is considered both a science and a practice. The practice and study of arboriculture date back to ancient Egyptian times! Now, arboriculture encompasses a wide range of careers and specialties for any and all tree enthusiasts to pursue!
What are Common Arborist Careers?
Whether you prefer hands-on work outdoors or prefer keeping your nose buried in a book, there is an arboriculture career for you! This is not a complete list, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t see something that catches your eye..
- Groundmen: Most people start off as groundmen, performing duties such as chipping up wood, pruning, and other general tree work.
- Climber: If you’re not afraid of heights, then you may be interested in scaling up big beautiful trees!
- PHC Technician: Interested in Plant Health Care, like treating for pests and diseases? Then, becoming a registered technician might be right you,
- Researcher: If you’re less intrigued by being out in the field, then becoming a researcher may be fulfilling. The industry relies on researchers to develop new techniques and products to resolve issues.
- Consulting Arborist: These arborists specialize in giving their expert assessment on the health and status of trees and shrubs. They often recommend work, but do not conduct the work;
- Forester: While arborists often treats individual trees, foresters oversee larger quantities of trees or large plots of land such as forests/wooded areas.
- Practicing/Working Arborist: This is what most people think of when they hear the word arborist. They are great for recommending treatment and management of individual trees and shrubs.
- Landscape Architect: If you have a flare for creativity and design, then you may make a great landscape architect!
Common Types of Arboriculture Companies
Once you have an idea about what kind of position you want to pursue, the next step is to decide precisely what kind of company you want to work for. Some companies may only fall into one of the categories below, while others may do work with them all – like RTEC does!
Commercial: Conducting work for large commercial properties such as HOAs takes a lot of planning. If you like big projects, these may be the ones for you.
Municipal/Government: Some companies and organizations work directly with the government to conduct large scale projects, from takedowns to ash borer treatments.
Utility: Power companies and other utility companies often need an arborist, climber, and groundmen to help conduct work near trees. Most local companies, like Dominion Energy, have their own forestry department to handle tasks such as trimming trees back away from powerlines.
Residential: Perhaps the most common practice is arboriculture for residential work. This includes maintaining and treating individual trees and shrubs in yards.
Where We Stand: RTEC as a Conservation Ally
RTEC Treecare is a leader in arboriculture and environmental solutions! We believe in making the world a better place for people and the planet. We follow the Integrated Pest Management approach to ensure we only treat for pests when absolutely necessary, so we wont be mindlessly spraying your property with unnecessary chemicals. And when its comes to pruning or trimming, our experts guarantee that the health and safety of the tree are our top priority. As odd as it may sound, not all tree care companies are eco-friendly companies! Here at RTEC we strive to lead the way towards more environmentally sustainable tree work.
How to Become an Arborist
If you’re ready to take the next steps to becoming an arborist, there are a few paths you can take. In order to become certified through the ISA, you must demonstrate time and knowledge dedicated towards tree care. This can be in the form of a secondary education/degree, or by having worked in the industry for a certain number of years.
Want to know more about relevant degrees to becoming an arborist? Check our this handy list here!
Industry Certifications
Depending on what position you are seeking, there are likely certifications needed to be considered for the job.
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): The ISA is the industry standard for becoming a certified arborist, certified climber, and other certificates that are only gained by studying and being tested, Some other positions, such as a Plant Health Care technician, also require you to be PHC certified to apply product.
Start your career with RTEC today!
Are you ready to start a fulfilling and exciting career in arboriculture? RTEC is looking for passionate individuals like you to help make the planet a better place!
We’re Hiring!
Ready to start a career in arboriculture?
