The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) is proud to announce that the International Society of Arboriculture’s (ISA) Credentialing Council has approved the Eligibility Equivalency request as an Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program submitted for the TCIA Arborist Apprenticeship Training Program. This is done through rigorous documentation and review processes to ensure all program facets meet the eligibility requirements for the ISA Certified Arborist credential, a voluntary certification program accredited for compliance with ISO/IEC 17024 standards for personnel certification bodies. 

Arborist Apprenticeship Training Programs (AATP) are nationally registered with the US Department of Labor (US DOL) and provide tree care companies with an effective employee recruiting, training, and retention tool.   

“Meeting ISA’s eligibility requirements is a testament to the value of this apprenticeship program. It’s another recognized pathway that provides eligibility for journeyworkers to take the ISA certification and advance their career," said August Hoppe, chair of the TCIA Board of Directors and co-owner, president, and general manager of Hoppe Tree Service. "This is a great opportunity for employees and employers who want to build a qualified workforce."

The TCIA Arborist Apprenticeship Training Program includes three years of practical full-time experience in arboriculture and requires apprentices to complete between 5,400 and 6,000 hours of on-the-job training, ensuring comprehensive hands-on experience and expertise in the field. It also includes classroom/self-study instruction and has time-based and competency-based requirements.

Former ISA President Nicolaas Verloop shared, "The approval of the TCIA Arborist Apprenticeship Training program by the ISA to meet the eligibility requirements for the ISA Certified Arborist credential is an exciting step forward for future arborists. This new facet of the partnership between ISA and TCIA is a welcome one as both of our organizations are invested in the growth of a safe and qualified workforce."

In addition to meeting eligibility requirements for this ISA certification program, TCIA has been approved by the US DOL as an Apprenticeship Ambassador and has partnered with Husqvarna, a global leader in the tree care industry, to support companies that offer a three-year Arborist Apprenticeship Training Program. Funding from Husqvarna provides companies with an Apprenticeship Starter Pack that features state-of-the-art equipment for apprentices during their study, as well as access to the Apprenticeship Portal in TCIA’s Online Learning Center which features 440 hours of learning.

For more information about the TCIA Arborist Apprenticeship Training Program, please visit https://outsidecareers.org/ or contact TCIA at (603) 314-5380.