Careers in Arboriculture

Due to growing populations in urban and suburban areas, there is a need for many services which focus on revitalizing and maintaining our precious natural resources. Since trees and shrubs contribute significantly to the overall quality of life in these environments, Arboriculture, the profession dedicated to the care of trees and shrubs, is undergoing a period of rapid expansion to meet those needs, and that means jobs!

Signs of this "arboricultural renaissance" are visible all over the world. For instance, one of the most prominent industry organizations, The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), has seen tremendous increase in its membership. It has grown from 36 members in 1924 to over 11,000! Although Arboriculture has been practiced for centuries it is a relatively young profession which only began gaining momentum at the end of World War II. Before that time, most professional management of natural resources focused on the Forestry industry relative to producing paper, timber and other wood products.

Today, Arboriculture is recognized as a major discipline at many universities which, until recently, may have only offered a class or two on a related subject. After graduation, most students find that the employment opportunities in Arboriculture are plentiful and diverse: ranging from field specialists and consulting arborists to operations and management. A trademark of companies such as SavATree is the extensive training programs which enable new hires to gain hands-on experience while applying the skills they have learned in the classroom. We have found this to be the most effective way to help trainees become familiar with the principles of tree culture, mechanical injury to trees, plant health care, fertilization, pruning, tree restoration and tree removal as well as customer service, management and administration. In fact, education and certification is the key factor which distinguishes tree care professionals from "fly-by-night" companies which employ untrained, inexperienced personnel.

Fortunately, the growth of this profession has created increased awareness and regulation which has resulted in enhanced safety and quality. At SavATree, we take this one step further by insisting that our arborists be certified by the ISA and that they rigorously adhere to the standards set forth. Just as important, we seek to employ individuals who possess the skills, knowledge and motivation necessary to work together as a team. If you have an opportunity to influence someone's career choices, consider letting them in on the best kept secret: tree doctors are in demand!