Many career choices lie within the arboricultural profession. Scroll down to read about possible career areas. Click here to browse the Help Wanted Classified ads TCIA keeps a list of colleges and universities with arboricultural programs, along with other helpful career information. Enter here:

Commercial Arboriculture
Commercial arborists, plant, prune, cable, fertilize, inspect, protect during construction, reduce impacts of pest damage, and remove trees.

Municipal Arboriculture
Municipal, or "urban" foresters manage trees and green spaces owned by cities. This aspect of arboriculture deals mainly with trees along streets and boulevards, city parks and around public buildings. Urban foresters provide services similar to those provided by commercial arborists but also develop and enforce tree ordinances.

Utility Arboriculture
Utility arboriculture is more than just electrical line clearance to prevent power outages. It also involves planning tree maintenance, awarding contracts, and inspecting the work performed. Utility arborists work with property owners to teach them about the need for proper tree maintenance near utility lines. They also advise customers on tree species that are suitable for planting near power lines.

Private Consulting
Consulting arborists provide clients with information on diagnosing plant health, appraising plants for value, and other issues. As a consulting arborist, you may be contracted by homeowners, insurance companies, municipalities, lawyers, planners, developers, landscape architects, or others.

Research
There are opportunities in many aspects of arboricultural research. Universities, arboreta, and larger companies are the main employers of tree care researchers.

Potential Employers

• Commercial tree service companies

• Public utility companies

• City, county, and other government agencies

• Landscape maintenance firms, nurseries, and garden centers

• Arboriculture equipment and chemical manufacturers

• Cooperative Extension Service, universities, and community colleges

• Industrial complexes, private estates, theme parks, and resorts

• Arboreta, botanical gardens, and tree research centers

• Landscape architectural planning and development firms

• Professional associations and publishers of trade magazines

Check for Tree Care Industry Association Job Openings