To become an arborist, you will typically need to gain both practical experience in working with trees as well as formal education. Standards for the profession vary by geographical region as well as by the criteria set by employers. In many countries, including the United States, it is possible to achieve professional certification as an arborist after several years of documented, professional work experience and completing training workshops and classes. Depending on your career goals, you may also want to pursue advanced, postgraduate education in a related field.
Some people may decide to become an arborist after working in landscaping. Working as part of a landscaping crew can provide you with a great deal of hands-on experience and can also give you an idea of whether you are able to undertake the rigors of working with large trees and under varying weather conditions on a regular basis. Other possibilities for developing an understanding of the work of an arborist include working in a plant nursery or for a forest preserve. If you are still in high school or college, you may also be able to participate in an internship program that can provide you with a structured opportunity to learn about and work with trees in a variety of settings.
Once you have determined that you would like to become an arborist, look into educational and certification programs. In some places, such as the United States, government forest service agencies offer training programs for aspiring arborists. Some professional organizations for arborists also sponsor recognized certification programs that typically require you to participate in both classroom-based coursework as well as field education. Once you have this certification, you are likely to be in a better position for obtaining more highly paid arborist jobs. Some countries, such as France, require arborists to hold specific qualifications before being able to practice arboriculture.
While actually working in the field is typically essential if you want to become an arborist, you may be able to greatly expand your career options by pursuing academic degrees in horticulture or forestry in addition to professional certification training. With an academic degree, you may be able to get work teaching arboriculture to others, to perform research, or to act as an expert witness in court cases involving trees. Other educational options include receiving training in business administration, which may be of help in setting up your own landscaping company or consulting practice.