Editing Arborist (section)

==Qualifications==

[[Image:Cranebucketcombo.jpg|200px|right|thumb|An arborist disassembling a tree using a crane and bucket]]
Arborists gain qualifications to practice arboriculture in a variety of ways and some arborists are more qualified than others.  Experience working safely and effectively in and around trees is essential.  Arborists tend to specialize in one or more disciplines of arboriculture, such as diagnosis and treatment of pests, diseases and nutritional deficiencies in trees, climbing and pruning, cabling and lightning protection, or consultation and report writing.  All these disciplines are related to one another and some arborists are very well experienced in all areas of tree work, however not all arborists have the training or experience to properly practice every discipline.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

Arborists choose to pursue formal certification, which is available in some countries and varies somewhat by location.  An arborist who holds certification in one or more disciplines may be expected to participate in rigorous continuing education requirements to ensure constant improvement of skills and techniques.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

In Australia, arboricultural education and training are streamlined countrywide through a multi-disciplinary vocational education, training, and qualification authority called the [[Australian Qualifications Framework]], which offers varying levels of professional qualification. Government institutions including [[Technical and further education|Technical and Further Education]] (TAFE) offer Certificate III or a diploma in [[arboriculture]] as well as some universities.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/victorianskillsgateway/Students/Pages/OccupationSearchDescription.aspx?type=occupation&searchid=794 |title= Becoming an Arborist |website= Victorian Skills Gateway |language= en |access-date= 2018-03-15 |archive-date= 2018-03-16 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180316152417/http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/victorianskillsgateway/Students/Pages/OccupationSearchDescription.aspx?type=occupation&searchid=794 |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= https://coursesearch.unimelb.edu.au/grad/1850-graduate-certificate-in-arboriculture |title= Graduate Certificate in Arboriculture |website= University of Melbourne |language=en|access-date=2018-03-15}}</ref>  There are also many private institutions covering similar educational framework in each state. Recognition of prior learning is also an option for practicing arborists with 10 or more years of experience with no prior formal training. It allows them to be assessed and fast track their certification.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

In France, a qualified arborist must hold a ''Management of Ornamental Trees'' certificate, and a qualified arborist climber must hold a ''Pruning and Care of Trees'' certificate; both delivered by the French Ministry of Agriculture.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.copalme.org/?Les-formations-qualifiantes-des |title= Les formations qualifiantes des arboristes : certificat de spécialisation CS " taille et soin des arbres " |website= Copalme |language=fr |access-date=2018-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2017/02/23/2522468-le-cfppa-a-l-action-sur-le-domaine-paul-riquet.html |title= Le CFPPA à l'action sur le domaine Paul-Riquet - Enseignement et formation - Un vrai chantier pour les lycéens |date= February 23, 2017 |website= La Dépêche |language=fr|access-date=2018-03-15}}</ref>

In the UK, an arborist can gain qualifications up to and including a master's degree. College-based courses include further education qualifications, such as [[national certificate]], [[National Diploma (United Kingdom)|national diploma]], while higher education courses in arboriculture include [[foundation degree]], [[bachelor's degree]] and [[master's degree]].{{cn|date=September 2024}}

In the US, a Certified Arborist (CA) is a professional who has over three years of documented and verified experience and has passed a rigorous written test from the [[International Society of Arboriculture]]. Other designations include Municipal Specialist, Utility Specialist and Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA). The USA and Canada additionally have college-based training which, if passed, will give the certificate of Qualified Arborist.  The Qualified Arborist can then be used to offset partial experience towards the Certified Arborist.

Tree Risk Assessment Qualified credential (TRAQ), designed by the International Society of Arboriculture, was launched in 2013. At that time people holding the TRACE credential were transferred over to the TRAQ credential.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

In Canada, there are provincially governed apprenticeship programs that allow arborists' to work near power lines upon completion. These apprenticeship programs must meet the provincial reregulations (For example, in B.C. they must meet WorkSafeBC G19.30), and individuals must ensure they meet the requirements of the owner of the power system.{{cn|date=September 2024}}