Colorado Arborist Apprenticeship Program

Get Paid to Become a Certified Arborist

Get paid while you learn the skills needed to be successful in an arborist career. This is a two-year related learning program to accompany 2,000 hours per year of on-the-job-learning. An apprenticeship is a great way to learn. You will gain skills working one-on-one with a skilled professional on the job. You are paid and get promotions as your skills progress!  

Arborist Skills You'll Learn

This apprenticeship includes 6,000 hours of training with your Tree Care Employer and 450 classroom hours at Front Range Community College in Westminster, Colorado over the three-year period. You will be trained in a variety of skills needed to become an arborist, including:

• Tree trimming
• Disease diagnosis and treatment
• Tree climbing
• Basic tree & shrub biology

Work Outdoors. Be Physically Fit. Learn an Exciting Trade.

Enjoy the majority of your instruction through active on-the-job training that truly prepares you for your chosen career. 90% of your time is spent on the job being taught and mentored by a Journeyman. The remaining 10% consists of classroom learning.

• Job sites are located throughout the Front Range.
• Work for small & medium-sized private businesses and municipality forestry departments.
• Receive a portable, nationally-recognized credential, which signifies to employers that you are fully qualified for the job.
• Attend classroom training at Front Range Community College in Westminster November-March.

Arborist Salaries

$17/hr Entry Level
$21/hr Average
$25/hr Experienced

Class Schedule 

Year 1 Student Schedule

Year 2 Student Schedule 

Apprenticeship Program Admission

• Limit of 15 seats per cohort each fall.
  
  
• Participants must be employed with a Tree Care Company. 
  If an individual is not currently employed by a Tree Care Company but would like to be, visit Colorado Tree Care or email Colorado Tree Care Sector Partnership.
  
  
• Registration
  Tree Care companies who have registered their apprenticeship with the Department of Labor can register the participant with a credit card. Register for BICT 2095.601 for Year One, or BICT 2096.601 & BICT 2096.602 for Year Two.
  
  Apprenticeship not registered? Tree Care companies can email the Department of Labor to register an apprenticeship program.
  
  
• If a company wants to arrange a third party billing, email Laurie Rue.

Request Program Information

To be added to our interest list and/or request additional information.

I am Interested