Professional arboriculturist
Level 6 · DegreeAgriculture, environmental and animal care 3 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
This Level 6 degree apprenticeship qualifies you as a professional arboriculturist with the technical and scientific knowledge to manage trees in urban, rural, and woodland environments. You will assess tree health and risk, plan tree management programmes, and apply specialist techniques to maintain trees for people and nature. It can lead to consulting arborist, local authority tree officer, or specialist tree management roles.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Tree biology, physiology, and how trees grow and respond to management
Tree surveys and risk assessment using methods such as QTRA or VALID
Tree surgery techniques to BS 3998 including pruning and dismantling
Planning law, TPOs, conservation areas, and trees in the planning system
Biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the role of trees in the urban environment
Arboricultural impact assessments and BS 5837 on development sites
Consultancy skills including report writing and client communication
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Carry out tree surveys and produce tree risk assessment reports
Specify and oversee tree surgery and management works to BS 3998
Advise clients, developers, and local authorities on tree matters
Prepare arboricultural impact assessments to BS 5837 for planning applications
Manage tree preservation orders and liaise with local authority tree officers
Identify tree defects, disease, and pest problems and recommend action
Develop and manage tree maintenance programmes for estates and sites
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 6 (Degree) - roughly Bachelor’s-degree level. Usually needs A-levels or a Level 3 qualification (employers set UCAS-point targets). You earn a full degree while you work - with no tuition fees to pay.
What’s next: Leads into professional roles, sometimes with a Level 7 (Master’s) apprenticeship after.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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