• Three Connick Tree Care Arborists smiling. What Qualifications Should a Tree Surgeon Have in the UK

What Qualifications Should a Tree Surgeon Have in the UK?

Published On: 27 May 2026

When you invite a tree surgery company onto your property, whether it’s for a small domestic pruning job or large-scale commercial works, you want confidence that you’re dealing with experienced, qualified professionals.

At Connick Tree Care, qualifications, training and continuous professional development are a core part of how we operate. They help ensure our clients receive professional advice, safe working practices and high-quality tree care delivered to recognised British Standards.

They also reflect the standards we set for ourselves as an award-winning arboricultural business.

In 2026, Connick Tree Care was proud to be named Arboriculture Business of the Year at the Pro Landscaper Business Awards, recognising our long-standing commitment to professionalism, quality and investment in people.

The Qualifications Required to Become a Climbing Arborist

Tree surgery is a highly skilled profession that requires specialist training and practical experience.

To work as a climbing arborist, team members typically complete a series of industry-recognised NPTC or LANTRA qualifications. These qualifications cover everything from the safe use and maintenance of chainsaws through to advanced aerial tree work techniques.

Training commonly includes:

• Chainsaw maintenance and cross-cutting
• Tree climbing and aerial rescue
• Using a chainsaw from a rope and harness
• Aerial pruning techniques
• Aerial rigging techniques

Becoming fully qualified takes significant commitment. Achieving all the relevant qualifications can take several years and represents a substantial investment in training and development.

At Connick Tree Care, we believe that investment matters.

Why Continuous Professional Development Matters

Qualifications are only part of the story.

Arboriculture continues to evolve, whether through changes in legislation, health and safety requirements, best practice guidance or advances in tree management techniques. That’s why ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is such an important part of professional tree care.

Connick Tree Care invests heavily in CPD to ensure our teams remain appropriately trained and qualified for the work they undertake.

For our clients, this provides reassurance that the staff arriving on site have the knowledge, experience and training required to carry out work safely, professionally and to the required British Standards.

For our employees, it creates clear opportunities for progression and long-term career development.

Supporting the Next Generation of Arborists

One of the ways we retain talented people is by continuing to invest in them.

If team members join Connick Tree Care without certain qualifications, we actively support them in gaining them through funded training, mentoring and practical experience.

That commitment to development helps create a strong culture within the business and is one of the reasons many of our staff build long-term careers with us.

For anyone considering a career in arboriculture, it’s important to look for a company that values training, professional standards and employee development.

Professional Accreditations and Industry Standards

When researching a tree surgery company, it’s worth looking for evidence of professional accreditations and recognised industry standards.

At Connick Tree Care, our accreditations and certifications reflect the standards we work to across both our operational and consultancy divisions.

These include:

  • Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor status
  • ISO quality management accreditations
  • Fully insured operations
  • Qualified arborists holding NPTC and LANTRA certifications

These are all clearly displayed across our website so clients can feel confident they are dealing with an established and reputable arboricultural company.

Professional Tree Inspection and Tree Management Expertise

Providing professional tree management advice requires more than practical experience alone.

At Connick Tree Care, our managerial team holds the LANTRA Awards Professional Tree Inspection (PTI) qualification alongside Level 4 arboriculture qualifications.

These qualifications enable our managers to appropriately assess trees, identify potential issues and provide accurate specifications for tree maintenance and tree management works.

For clients, this provides reassurance that recommendations and quotations are being prepared by qualified professionals with the technical knowledge required to assess trees correctly and specify appropriate works.

Specialist Arboriculture Consultancy Services

In addition to our operational teams, Connick Tree Care also has a dedicated consultancy division providing specialist arboricultural advice and reporting services.

Our consultancy team as a minimum holds LANTRA PTI, MArborA and either Level 3 or 4 in Arboriculture, with our Principal Consultant holding, PTI, MArborA, Level 6 Arboriculture and Chartered Environmentalist Status.

This enables the team to undertake specialist consultancy work including:

Connick Tree Care also provides consultancy services for prestigious organisations and public sector clients, reflecting the trust placed in our expertise and professional standards.

Choosing a Tree Surgery Company with Confidence

Qualifications and accreditations are not simply logos on a website. They represent investment, commitment and professional standards.

At Connick Tree Care, they form part of a much bigger picture, creating a business where clients know they are receiving professional advice and quality workmanship, and where employees know they are supported to develop long-term careers in arboriculture.

Whether you require domestic tree surgery, commercial arboricultural services or specialist Arboricultural Consultancy, our focus remains the same: delivering professional tree care to the highest standards.