Tree work07884 274693Training01772 369694
Tree surgery can be a rewarding career if you enjoy practical outdoor work, problem-solving and working as part of a skilled team. It is also a role where training matters. Tree surgeons use specialist equipment, often in challenging environments, so employers need to know that you can work safely and competently.
There is no single route into tree surgery. Some people start through an apprenticeship, some move across from grounds maintenance, landscaping or forestry, and others begin by completing basic chainsaw training before gaining experience on site.
This guide explains how to become a tree surgeon in the UK, what training you may need, which qualifications employers usually look for, and how you can progress from ground-based work into climbing and aerial tree work.
A tree surgeon carries out practical tree work. This can include pruning, dismantling, felling, crown reduction, deadwood removal, stump work and emergency tree work. Depending on the job, a tree surgeon may work from the ground, from a rope and harness, from a mobile platform, or as part of a wider site team.
The role is physically demanding, but it is not just about strength. Tree surgeons need to understand risk, equipment, communication, tree condition, access issues and safe working methods. They also need to work carefully around buildings, roads, services, gardens, public spaces and other people on site.
If you are researching the role, it is worth looking at tree surgeon salary in the UK as well as the training route. Pay can vary depending on experience, location, whether you climb, and whether you are employed or self-employed.
You do not usually need a university degree to become a tree surgeon. In most practical roles, employers are more interested in whether you have the right training, safety awareness and competence for the work you will be doing.
That said, qualifications and certificates are important. Tree surgery involves chainsaws, climbing equipment, machinery and work at height. Employers may ask for evidence that you have completed recognised training or achieved relevant competence certificates before allowing you to carry out certain tasks.
For example, HSE guidance on working with chainsaws makes it clear that chainsaw operators need appropriate training and competence. In tree surgery, this is one of the reasons why chainsaw tickets, NPTC assessments and practical course certificates are so commonly discussed.
If you are at the start of your research, our tree surgeon qualifications guide explains the qualifications you may come across. You can also learn more about NPTC certification and why it matters in arboriculture.
Every career path is slightly different, but many people follow a route like this:
For many beginners, the first practical step is chainsaw training courses. These help you understand safe handling, maintenance, cross-cutting and the basic skills needed before moving on to more advanced work.
Some learners then progress into CS30 and CS31 chainsaw courses, which are often associated with chainsaw maintenance, cross-cutting and felling small trees. The exact route depends on your starting point, your employer’s requirements and the type of work you want to do.
Chainsaw training is often the starting point for people who want to enter tree surgery. It gives you a foundation in safe chainsaw use before you progress into felling, climbing or aerial work.
Beginners are often confused by phrases such as chainsaw licence, chainsaw ticket, certificate of competence and NPTC qualification. In everyday language, people may use these terms loosely. In practice, what matters is whether you have completed appropriate training and, where required, achieved the relevant assessment or certificate for the work you are doing.
Our guide to getting a chainsaw licence explains this in more detail. We also have a separate guide covering what a chainsaw ticket means and why employers may ask for one.
If you are completely new to chainsaw work, a course covering chainsaw maintenance and cross-cutting may be the right first step. This helps you build confidence with equipment before moving into more complex tree work.
It is common for people to think of tree surgery as climbing work, but many tree surgeons start on the ground. Ground-based work is a valuable part of the job and gives you the chance to learn how sites operate before adding the extra risks and responsibilities of working at height.
Ground staff support climbing teams, prepare equipment, manage ropes, help with brash and timber, operate chippers where trained, and maintain communication across the site. This experience helps you understand the rhythm of tree work and the importance of teamwork.
It can also make you a better climber later. If you understand what is happening on the ground, you are usually better prepared to work safely and efficiently in the canopy.
For some learners, combined chainsaw and felling training can provide a more structured route into ground-based competence.
Climbing is usually a progression step, not the first thing a beginner should rush into. Tree climbing requires fitness, confidence at height, good communication and strong safety habits.
Before using a chainsaw in a tree, you need to be properly trained for aerial work. Many learners start with tree climbing and aerial rescue, which covers safe access, movement around the canopy and rescue procedures.
Aerial rescue is particularly important because tree surgery is team-based. If someone is climbing, the team needs the right skills and preparation to respond if something goes wrong.
Once you have the right climbing foundation, you may then progress to using a chainsaw from a rope and harness. This is a more advanced stage and should only be approached once you have the right experience and prerequisite training.
An apprenticeship can be a good route into arboriculture, particularly for younger learners or people joining an employer that is willing to support structured training. The Arborist apprenticeship standard covers practical work including planting, felling, pruning, dismantling, chainsaw work, aerial tree work and machinery use.
You can view the current Arborist apprenticeship standard through Skills England.
However, apprenticeships are not the only route. Some people enter the industry through trainee roles, grounds maintenance work, forestry work or landscaping, then complete specific training as they progress. Short courses can also be useful for employers who need existing staff to gain competence in a defined area.
If you are already working outdoors, you may not need to start from scratch. The question is usually which skills you already have, which qualifications you are missing, and what type of tree work you want to move into.
There is no fixed timescale. You can complete some introductory chainsaw training in a relatively short period, but becoming a confident tree surgeon takes longer.
The early stage is about learning safe equipment use and building practical experience. After that, you may move into felling, climbing, aerial rescue and more advanced chainsaw work. Each stage adds new skills and responsibilities.
A realistic way to think about the process is:
Some people move quickly because they are already working in a related outdoor job. Others take longer because they are changing career or fitting training around other work.
Tree surgeon pay varies. A trainee or ground worker will usually earn less than an experienced climber, team leader or self-employed tree surgeon. Location, employer type, qualifications and the type of work you can safely carry out will all make a difference.
For a fuller breakdown, including the factors that can affect earnings, see our guide to tree surgeon salary in the UK.
Salary is useful to understand, but it should not be the only factor. Tree surgery is physically demanding and safety-critical. The best route is to build your skills properly, gain experience and keep progressing into work that suits your strengths.
Tree surgery suits people who enjoy practical work and can stay calm, careful and focused. Useful skills include:
You do not need to know everything before you start. Many skills develop through training and experience. What matters at the beginning is that you take safety seriously, choose the right starting point and understand that tree surgery is a skilled trade.
Great Oaks provides practical arboriculture, forestry and chainsaw training for learners, employers and working professionals.
If you are at the start of your tree surgery career, you may begin with ground-based chainsaw training before progressing into felling, climbing, aerial rescue or chainsaw use from a rope and harness. If you are already working in a related role, we can help you identify the right next step based on your experience and training needs.
Our courses are designed to support real working skills, not just theory. We work with individuals looking to enter the industry and employers who need to train or upskill staff safely.
To explore your options, view our chainsaw training courses or contact Great Oaks to discuss the most suitable starting point.
Speak to Great Oaks about chainsaw, arboriculture and tree surgery training.
👉 Contact the Training Centre
📞 01772 369694
✉️ training@greatoakstreeservices.co.uk
Yes, but you will need the right training before carrying out practical tree work. Many people start with basic chainsaw training, then build experience through ground-based work before moving into climbing or more advanced roles.
What qualifications do I need to become a tree surgeon?The qualifications you need depend on the work you want to do. For many roles, employers look for chainsaw competence, felling qualifications, climbing and aerial rescue training, and further certificates for more specialist work. Our tree surgeon qualifications guide explains this in more detail.
Do I need a chainsaw licence to be a tree surgeon?People often use the phrase “chainsaw licence”, but in the UK the key issue is training and competence. Employers may ask for evidence of relevant chainsaw training, assessment or certification. Our chainsaw licence guide explains the terminology.
Do tree surgeons need to climb trees?Not all tree surgery work involves climbing. Many people start with ground-based work, and some roles focus heavily on support, felling, machinery or site operations. However, climbing can open up more career opportunities once you have the right training and experience.
Is tree surgery a good career?Tree surgery can be a good career if you enjoy outdoor practical work, physical activity and learning specialist skills. It can lead to climbing roles, team leader positions, self-employment or wider arboriculture work. It is also a safety-critical job, so proper training and experience are essential.
Our Training Centre in Preston is ideally placed for learners across Lancashire and the North West.
We regularly train candidates from:
Preston
Blackpool
Chorley
Lancaster
Blackburn
Southport
Courses take place in real woodland environments and are led by instructors with years of field and teaching experience.
Great Oaks Tree Services & Training Academy is based in Kirkham, near Preston, and delivers NPTC chainsaw courses to learners across the North West. Whether you’re searching for chainsaw training in Lancashire or need certification near Preston, we’re your trusted training provider.
Chainsaw Course Enquiries
01772 369694 ✉️ training@greatoakstreeservices.co.uk
01772 369694 ✉️ training@greatoakstreeservices.co.uk
Careers
Climbing, grounds maintenance and utility work.Climbing, grounds and utility work.
Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor.
Last minuteAvailability
Starts Monday 19 October 2026
3 days plus 1 for assessment
£9671 place
Entry requirements: Ground Based Chainsaw Operator and Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue
Book this date, Using a Chainsaw from a Rope and HarnessOr call the training office on 01772 369694
