Are you looking at a career in aboriculture or to start your own tree surgeon business?

Why we’re different

Learning new skills has as much to do with the experts who are teaching you, as it does with the environment you are learning in.

If you’re an employer sending candidates to us, you should expect good value for your money. As well as the base skills which make up the assessment criteria of each course, we also introduce soft skill elements to help introduce, or reinforce a commercial and professional way of thinking and operating to your staff.

If you’re funding your own course, you can expect a friendly and respectful setting where our aim will be to not only get you to the end of the course with a pass, but to also help you to discover your future by introducing the concept of future growth in line with a career plan.

We provide hot breakfast, lunch and hot drinks throughout the whole day, so there’s plenty of opportunity for us to open up as a group, and share ideas.

All we ask of our students is that they arrive well-presented with ‘learning mode’ engaged.

Becoming a Tree Surgeon/Arborist

Being a professional tree surgeon is a rewarding career that attracts many who enjoy the outdoor lifestyle. If you are considering training at the DTE Academy in order to become a tree surgeon/arborist, but are unsure what tree work entails, here is a quick rundown:

Tree Removal - This is a big part of being an arborist because all trees eventually reach the end of their life cycle and need to be removed in a safe and timely fashion. The responsibility to fell trees almost always falls to the tree surgeon.

Tree Pruning - Trees, especially in developed areas, can interfere with urban infrastructure if they are not managed on a regular basis. In other cases private homeowners often want their trees trimmed back for aesthetic purposes.

Stump Removal - Stumps result from old or damaged trees being removed. They're often left to linger for years, but in some cases, it becomes necessary to remove them. Stump removal is a common aspect of tree surgery.

As you can imagine, removing and pruning trees requires the arborist to be fully trained in tree climbing and aerial work. As such, if you are not comfortable working at height, you should consider a different profession. Arborist training also includes numerous chainsaw courses, as you cannot fell trees if you cannot properly handle a chainsaw.

The Benefits of Arborist Training at DTE

A career in Arboriculture comes with numerous benefits you might not find working in other industries:

Exercise - You won’t find many jobs that are as physically demanding as that of the arborist. If you want to stay in shape, being a tree surgeon is a good way to do that.

Adventure - While everyone else is shackled to their computer screen you will be going to new locations almost daily and dealing with a constant stream of new challenges.

Fresh Air - While there is something to be said for air-conditioned comfort, there's no substitute for breathing fresh country air on a regular basis.

Knowing You Make a Difference - In the wake of extreme weather events, the work of the arborist is often vital in getting communities back on their feet.

DTE provide the practical experience, City Guilds NPTC assessments, and forestry and arboriculture expertise necessary to take your place among the nation’s tree surgeons.

 Selection

Whether you’re funding your own development, or receiving training from your employer, it is our aim that every student gets the most from every course.

For this reason, each candidate must pass a selection questionnaire before being admitted. This may include a short telephone interview, but please rest assured, we only do this to ensure that we can deliver a course where each and every student has the best possible experience.

The Academy is an elite training organisation and if we get 100% from you, you’ll get 100% from our courses.

FAQs

What does a tree surgeon do?

Qualified tree surgeons perform a wide variety of procedures on existing trees as well as oversee the planting of new stock. The primary responsibility of a tree surgeon is to promote the health of the trees for which he or she cares. Specific procedures you may perform as a tree surgeon include hazard/safety inspections, pruning and the removal of trees that pose a threat to people or property in the area.

What personal qualities do I need to be a tree surgeon?

If you would like to pursue a career as a professional tree surgeon, you will need to be physically fit, enjoy spending a great deal of time outdoors and be capable of working alone as well as in a team. You should possess problem-solving skills and the ability to analyse situations and choose a course of action based on your analysis.

What courses are available?

At DTE Academy, we offer a variety of courses that are designed to equip you with the skills and qualifications you need to become a professional tree surgeon.

• City & Guilds NPTC Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-Cutting

• City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-Cutting and Felling and Processing Trees up to 380mm

• City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Manually Fed Wood-Chipper

• City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Tree Climbing and Rescue

• DTE Academy Qualified Arborist Suite

If you are starting from scratch and would like to learn all of the necessary skills, the DTE Academy Qualified Arborist Suite is perfect for your needs.

How much can a fully qualified tree surgeon earn?

Salaries for qualified tree surgeons range from £16,000 to £45,000 and more, depending on your level of experience, location and area of specialisation. If you start your own business in the future, your potential earnings could be much higher than this of course.

Why choose the DTE Academy?

We are fully qualified and experienced tree surgeons who have trained many people to start a career in this field. We can provide you with the knowledge, skills and experience you need to start a brand new career as a tree surgeon.