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Arborist Apprenticeship

Program Code: 06131

Program Availability

Please contact your local Apprenticeship Branch Office of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) for start dates.

Contact Information:

program assistant
416.675.6622 ext. 4392
apprenticeship@humber.ca

Arborist Apprenticeship

School of Applied Technology

Program Code:
  • 06131
Type:
Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship Certificate
Campus:
North
Length:

Twenty-four-week, in-school session

Basic – twelve-week session

Advanced – twelve-week session

Both sessions begin in January.

Program Availability

Please contact your local Apprenticeship Branch Office of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) for start dates.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

  • Our Program

    This Arborist Apprenticeship program consists of a twelve-week basic session and a twelve-week advanced session, both starting in January. The program focuses on the planting, maintenance, and removal of trees in urban surroundings. Emphasis is placed on safety, teamwork and the development of sound, up-to-date job skills, and workplace practices. Lectures and labs are balanced with a major practical fieldwork component.

    Your Career

    Your Career

    While all trees absorb carbon dioxide – one of the gases linked to global warming – urban trees provide greater benefits than rural trees. By providing shade that reduces the need for air conditioning in summer, and by serving as a windbreak that reduces heating needs in winter, properly located and managed trees reduce the demand for carbon-emitting fossil energy in the first place. Overall, researchers estimate that an urban tree can save five to 10 times more carbon than a rural tree. Help make the most of these important environmental assets with exciting opportunities in the utility, municipal, and commercial tree care sectors. Entry-level positions usually require strong climbing skills. After that, how high you climb is based on your skills and strengths, and the specific needs of the employer.

  • Professional Accreditation, Endorsement and Recognition

    Successful graduates receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship.

  • Admission Requirements

    • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status
    • Grade 12C or U English
    • Grade 12C Mathematics is recommended
    • Applicant must be working in the arborist/tree care industry

    Note: This apprenticeship is regulated by the Apprenticeship and Certification Act.
    Applicants are required to register through their local Apprenticeship Branch Office of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU).

    Additional Requirements

    Apprentices must understand/accept the following:

    • field practice sessions are two days a week, even under bad weather conditions
    • at least 50 per cent of field time involves tree climbing to heights of 60 feet or more
    • attendance at all classes is mandatory; unauthorized absences may result in expulsion from the program and/or cancellation of apprenticeship
    • apprentices must dress appropriately for scheduled activities and prevailing weather conditions
    • on a scheduled rotating basis, students are responsible for supervision of field practice sessions and transportation of tools and equipment to job sites.

    Note: All students entering this program must have received a tetanus injection or booster shot within the last 10 years.

  • Fees / Scholarships

    The 2013/2014 fee for this program is

    • Basic $650
    • Advanced $650.

    Fees are subject to change. For more information, refer to Fees and Financial Assistance.

    Additional Costs

    Apprentices must arrange and pay for their own transportation to field practice sessions at job sites throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) (most are off campus). Apprentices must buy the following personal protective equipment: The Canadian Standards Association (CSA)-approved Type 2 Class E hard hat preferred; work-rated Green Patch safety boots; safety goggles/glasses; hearing protection; chain saw gloves and chain saw pants. All of the above-mentioned equipment must be worn on the second day of classes.

    Alternative Course of Study

    Humber also offers the Urban Arboriculture – Tree Care certificate program 01991, which provides the same training as the Arborist Apprenticeship program, but does not require that the student be employed in the tree-care industry prior to joining the program.

  • Curriculum   (View the 2012/13 Curriculum)

    Basic

    Course Code Course Name
    ACAP 130 Arborist Practices 1

    Arborist Practices 1

    Course Code: ACAP 130

    This is a highly practical course covering the use of arboricultural safety equipment along with powered and manual tools and equipment. The course demonstrates how to plan work safely and utilize safe work practices while ascending and descending trees, pruning and removing trees including performing an aerial rescue. Promotion of safe worksite operations is used while pruning, removing and disposing of material produced from the skills developed in the onsite laboratory classes.
    ACAP 131 Arborist Workplace Health and Safety 1

    Arborist Workplace Health and Safety 1

    Course Code: ACAP 131

    This course examines pertinent safety and related legislation that apply to safe workplace practices for arboricultural operations. Potentially dangerous onsite conditions, emergencies, hazards and materials handling are also covered.
    ACAP 132 Arboriculture Science 1

    Arboriculture Science 1

    Course Code: ACAP 132

    This course will demonstrate how to identify various woody plants, growth factors of woody plants, compartmentalization of woody plants, diseases and disorders of trees that could be harmful to the integrity of the electrical system, evaluate the condition of anchor points in trees used for fall protection, evaluation of work operations within environmentally sensitive areas.
    ACAP 133 Arborist Hand Tools

    Arborist Hand Tools

    Course Code: ACAP 133

    This course concentrates on the care and use of gas powered chainsaws and a variety of tools and selected equipment commonly used in the utility arborist trade, including reading and understanding manufacturer's operator manual, identifying and inspection of all safety components, daily and routine maintenance, minor repairs, adjustments and performing operation testing.
    ACAP 134 Arborist Theory 1

    Arborist Theory 1

    Course Code: ACAP 134

    This theory course covers the planning component for arboricultural operations. It is closely aligned with ACAP 130 and TREE 130 Arboricultural Practices 1. Areas studied include job process components, legal and governmental requirements, potential job site hazards, subject tree location, pruning theory and methods of disposing of extraneous materials produced on the job site.
    ACAP 135 Arborist Tree Identification 1

    Arborist Tree Identification 1

    Course Code: ACAP 135

    This course requires the student to be able to identify 60 woody plants commonly found in Ontario, according to species and morphological characteristics, using the international system of plant nomenclature.
    ACAP 136 Arboriculture Calculations

    Arboriculture Calculations

    Course Code: ACAP 136

    This is a basic mathematics course covering the calculation of one, two and three-dimensional quantities typically necessary in the industry. Calculations of momentum and mechanical advantage are also presented.
    ACAP 137 Arborist Equipment

    Arborist Equipment

    Course Code: ACAP 137

    Students will develop a thorough working knowledge including but not limited to the safe operation and maintenance of brush chippers.

    Advanced

    Course Code Course Name
    ACAP 330 Arborist Theory 2

    Arborist Theory 2

    Course Code: ACAP 330

    This course is a continuation of ACAP 134/TREE 134 Arborist Theory 1. It consists of further study of safe arboricultural site practices; determination of tree wound/defect correction methods; and woody plant transplanting and installation. Also, the use and care of fertilizing, spraying and pneumatic arboricultural equipment is covered.
    ACAP 331 Arborist Tree Identification 2

    Arborist Tree Identification 2

    Course Code: ACAP 331

    This course is a continuation of ACAP 135/TREE 135 Tree Identification 1. The identification of an additional 100 plants commonly found in Ontario, according to species and morphological characteristics using the international system of plant nomenclature, is presented.
    ACAP 332 Arboricultural Science 2

    Arboricultural Science 2

    Course Code: ACAP 332

    This course is a continuation of ACAP 132 (TREE 132), Arboriculture Science 1. The natural environment and its impact on plant health and growth is the focus of this course. The main component centres on soils as a medium for plant growth, particularly from the perspective of treating chemical deficiencies. This includes soil testing procedures.
    ACAP 333 Arborist Plant Care - Pest Management

    Arborist Plant Care - Pest Management

    Course Code: ACAP 333

    Students will learn to diagnose and gather information on problems that affect woody plants, including biotic diseases and non-infectious agents. An integrated pest management approach, which includes cultural, physical and biological control measures, will be emphasized.
    ACAP 338 Arborist Practices 2

    Arborist Practices 2

    Course Code: ACAP 338

    This course is a continuation of ACAP 130/TREE 130, Arborist Practices 1, and involves further hands-on study of arboricultural practices including ascending to, and descending from work positions in trees; and safely completing standard tree removal techniques. Safety and the use of manual and powered tools, including chainsaws are stressed. Instruction is carried out in a work-site operations format.
    ACAP 339 Arborist Crane-Assisted Rigging

    Arborist Crane-Assisted Rigging

    Course Code: ACAP 339

    This course is designed to provide knowledge of crane-assisted safe worksite rigging operations including calculating load weights and distribution, determining balance point, assessing and determining choker locations, ascending to and descending from work points and performing tree and limb removal with rigging devices.
    ACAP 340 Equipment 2

    Equipment 2

    Course Code: ACAP 340

    This course is a continuation of ACAP 132 (TREE 132), Arboriculture Science 1. The natural environment and its impact on plant health and growth is the focus of this course. The main component centres on soils as a medium for plant growth, particularly from the perspective of treating chemical deficiencies. This includes soil testing procedures.
    ACAP 341 Arborist Calculations

    Arborist Calculations

    Course Code: ACAP 341

    This course builds on the basic introduction to calculations, from Arborist Theory 1. The student should be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of mathematics typically necessary in the industry for limb and large tree removals. Calculations of green log weight, shock loading and pull tensioning are some examples used within this class.
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