Apprenticeships in tree work, country by country

This page lists what official sources say about apprenticeships in tree work. It is a map, not advice on which route to take. Terms, funding and rules change.

United States

The US Department of Labor keeps a list of approved registered apprenticeship occupations on Apprenticeship.gov. Its search covers titles and O*NET codes. Two entries matter for tree work. Both are mapped to O*NET 37-3013.00, the code for tree trimmers and pruners.

Listed occupation	Type and code	Term listed
Tree Trimmer (Line Clear)	Time-based, 0607	4,000 hours minimum
Tree Trimmer (Line Clear)	Hybrid, 0607HY	4,000 to 5,000 hours
Tree Trimmer (Line Clear)	Competency-based, 0607CB	4,000 hours minimum
Arborist	Hybrid, 2048HY	5,400 to 6,000 hours
Arborist	Competency-based, 2048CB	5,400 hours minimum

The occupation list is the approved standard, not a programme with seats. An apprenticeship is run by an employer or a group of employers that registers a programme under one of these occupations. Which programmes exist, who is hiring and what apprentices are paid depend on the employer running the programme and on the state.

The page treats the three types differently. Time-based means a set number of on-the-job hours. Competency-based means the apprentice moves on when skills are shown. Hybrid combines the two, which is why it carries a range of hours.

Canada

Apprenticeships are run by each province, so the picture differs by where you work.

Ontario

Skilled Trades Ontario lists two trades, both non-compulsory. Its pages say a training programme has on-the-job and in-school parts.

Trade	Total hours	Split
Arborist (444A)	6,120	5,400 on the job, 720 in school
Utility Arborist	6,000	5,340 on the job, 660 in school

Both pages call this the time to become competent, about three years. They say the apprenticeship ends in a Certificate of Apprenticeship. Passing the certifying exam earns a Certificate of Qualification. Because the trade is non-compulsory, the certificate does not have to be renewed and holders do not appear on the public register. See the Skilled Trades Ontario arborist page and the Utility Arborist page.

The Utility Arborist page describes the work as pruning, rigging or moving branches and woody growth that is near or could contact electrical apparatus. It says the trade is named under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021.

The Arborist page says in-school training comes in two levels and can be delivered as block release, day release, part-time evening classes or by alternative delivery such as online or correspondence. The older training standard on the same site says industry guidance is one fully qualified worker for each apprentice, and that this ratio is a guideline and not a regulation. It also says the apprentice, the sponsor and a witness sign a Training Agreement. The Arborist training standard from 2008 has the logbook rules.

British Columbia

SkilledTradesBC lists a Utility Arborist programme with 8 weeks of technical training over 2 years and 2,378 hours of work-based training. Its Climbing Arborist page lists 8 weeks of technical training and says Arborist Technician must be taken before Climbing Arborist. See the SkilledTradesBC Utility Arborist page and the Climbing Arborist page.

Quebec

Quebec treats it differently. The government page says an arboriculture qualification certificate is mandatory for anyone doing arboriculture work for an employer, and working without a valid certificate or apprentice card is an offence that carries a fine. Apprentices log at least 1,800 hours under a certified worker. The full rules are on the quebec.ca arboriculture page, which is published in French.

United Kingdom

Apprenticeship standards are published by Skills England. The Arborist standard is reference ST0223. Some older lists give a different number.

Standard	Level and duration	Funding band
Arborist, ST0223	Level 2, 18 months typical	Up to £12,000
Arboriculturist, ST0921	Level 4, 30 months typical	Up to £14,000

The ST0223 page, updated December 2024, gives the typical assessment period as 3 months on top of the duration. Its version history says version 1.0 was approved in June 2017, and that the funding band was reduced from April 2024. An earlier version listed 24 months and £15,000. The page names job titles including arborist, climbing arborist and tree surgeon, and says self-employment is an option. It lists qualifications needed before the end-point assessment, including English and maths, first aid, wood chipper, traffic management and chainsaw qualifications. The end-point assessment is graded fail, pass or distinction, and a pass awards the apprenticeship certificate. See the Skills England Arborist standard.

The ST0921 standard describes roles such as assessing tree health and risk, applying tree law and planning surveys. Its page, updated September 2026, says there are no statutory entry requirements, and that parts of the industry are likely to want a level 2 or 3 arboricultural qualification or an arborist apprenticeship plus experience. It says a revised assessment plan replaces the current one for new starts on June 10, 2027. See the Skills England Arboriculturist standard.

On pay, the government sets a National Minimum Wage apprentice rate. From April 2026 it is £8 an hour. It applies to apprentices under 19, and to those aged 19 or over in the first year of the apprenticeship. After the first year the rate for the apprentice's age applies, which is £12.71 an hour for age 21 and over. See the minimum wage rates page. Employers can pay more than the minimum.

Australia

The trade qualification is the Certificate III in Arboriculture, code AHC30824. The national register, training.gov.au, shows it as current from May 1, 2024. It says the qualification covers trade roles including climbing arborist, EWP arborist, crane specialist, environmental arborist and arborist works coordinator, and that there are no entry requirements. See the AHC30824 listing.

The register entry is the qualification, not the apprenticeship. The apprenticeship is the employment arrangement around it. TasTAFE, a Tasmanian public provider, delivers the course as workplace-based training. Its page says learners must be working in industry under the supervision of a trained and qualified arborist, and that the contact days alone are not enough to pass. It lists a subsidised fee of AU$3,255, a concession fee of AU$410 and a commercial fee of AU$18,615. Those are one provider's fees and other states differ. See the TasTAFE course page.

Apprentice pay in Australia is set under an award or agreement, and the Fair Work Ombudsman is the place to look it up.

New Zealand

The Work and Income page, updated July 2026, says Apprenticeship Boost is a payment made to employers to help them keep and take on new apprentices.

Item	What the page says
Amount	NZ$500 a month per eligible apprentice, not including GST
Length	Up to 12 months, and the apprentice must be under 12 months into the apprenticeship
Applying	Within 20 days of the apprentice starting
Not eligible	State sector employers, and employers already getting another wage subsidy for the same apprentice

The money goes to the employer, not the apprentice. See the Work and Income Apprenticeship Boost page for the full list.

Related guides

For what employers ask for beyond an apprenticeship, see the certifications by country guide. For courses, see choosing a course.