Arborist Classes

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Front Range Community College is the related learning partner for a two-year apprenticeship program through participating tree care companies. Apprentices hired by one of these participating tree care companies complete two years of learning (October – April) at Front Range Community College through online and in-person learning while being paid through the tree care company to complete 2000 hours per year of on-the-job learning.
Apprentices are trained in a variety of skills needed to become an arborist, including:

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

At the end of the program, apprentices receive a portable, nationally-recognized credential, which signifies to employers that you are fully qualified for the job.

Contact our partners at the Colorado Tree Care Sector Partnership to learn more about the apprenticeship program as a whole, as well as to learn more about about becoming aa Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor.

Arborist Apprenticeship Year 1

The Arborist Apprenticeship Program at Front Range Community College leads students through the related instruction portion of your apprenticeship. Completion of these online learning modules and in-person classes complements the on-the-job training and mentorship you are receiving at your Tree Care Company. Note, all apprentices must be employed as an apprentice by a tree care company that is a Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor.

Learning Objectives:

  • Introduction to Arboriculture Safety: Understanding ANSI Z133 Standards, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Communication on the Jobsite, Work Site Setup, Tree and Site Inspection, & Job Briefing
  • Ground Operator Fundamentals: Ground Worker Responsibility, Assisting the Climber, Emergency Response Basics, Working with and around Vehicles, Ladders & Basic Hand Tools
  • Chipper Specialist: Chipper Types and Hooking up the Truck, Safety/ Inspection of Chipper, Starting and Operating the Chipper, Chipper Maintenance, Using a Mounted Winch on the Chipper
  • Chainsaw Specialist: General Chainsaw Safety and PPE, Preparing the Saws for the Job, Chainsaw Operation, & Cutting Techniques
  • Tree Rigging and Removal: Basic Principles of Rigging, Understanding Forces, Mechanical Advantages, Equipment and Rope, Rigging Knots, Limb Removal, & Felling Trees
  • Tree Biology and Tree/Shrub Identification: Basic Plant Structure and Identification
  • Aerial Lift Operator Fundamentals: General Lift Safety, Inspection and Preparation, Work Site Set Up, Aerial Lift Operation, Chainsaw Use Aloft, Tricky Situations, & Compact Lifts
  • Aerial Lift Operator Rescue: Emergency Preparedness & Response, Aerial Rescue Protocol, Aerial Rescue Precautions, Aerial Rescue Techniques, First Aid and Working with EMS
  • Electrical Hazards Awareness Program (EHAP): OSHA Requirements for Training, History of Utility Services, When Does Shock Happen, Properties of Electricity, Risk of Injury and Death, Common Utility Terms, Electrical Utility Systems, Hazard Recognition and Job Site Inspections, Minimum Approach Distances, PPE and Tree Trimming Procedures.
  • Tree Care Specialist - Fundamentals: Tree Biology, Botany, Soil, CODIT and Tree Defense

Dates: October 2024 through April 2025

Schedule:

  • Orientation: October 15 from 9 am to 11 am with Ryan Bartlett
  • Introduction to Safety: November 12 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Chris Miller
  • Ground Operator 1: November 19 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm with Chris Miller
  • Tree Basics: November 19 from 1 pm to 5 pm with Ryan Bartlett 
  • Ground Operator 2: December 10 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Chris Miller 
  • Ground Operator 3: January 7 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Chris Miller
  • Tree Care Specialist 1, Day 1: January 21 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Ryan Bartlett 
  • Ground Operator 4, Day 1: February 11 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Charlie Pearson
  • Aerial Lift Operator 1: February 18 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Alex McIntosh
  • Aerial Lift Operator 2: March 11 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Alex McIntosh 
  • Ground Operator 4, Day 2: March 25 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Charlie Pearson
  • Tree Care Specialist, Day 2: April 8 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Ryan Bartlett 

Location: Westminster Campus, Room TBD
Cost: $2500

Register

Arborist Apprenticeship Year 2

The Arborist Apprenticeship Program at Front Range Community College leads students through the related instruction portion of your apprenticeship. Completion of these online learning modules and in-person classes complements the on-the-job training and mentorship you are receiving at your Tree Care Company. Note, all apprentices must be employed as an apprentice by a tree care company that is a Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor.
Learners can skip Year 1 if their tree care company has determined that they meet the learning objectives outlined based on their previous experiences

Learning Objectives:

  • Tree Climber Specialist - Fundamentals: Tree Climbing Safety, Equipment and Ropes, Knots and Hitches, Tie In and Anchor Points, Ascent, Work Positioning, & Use of Climbing Spikes
  • Tree Climber Specialist - Aerial Work: Climbing Techniques, Intro to Stationary Rope, Working on a Spar, Proficiency in Working a Tree
  • Tree Climber Specialist - Rescue: Emergency Preparedness & Response, Aerial Rescue Protocol, Aerial Rescue Hazards and Precautions, Aerial Rescue Techniques, First Aid and Working with EMS
  • Tree Climber Specialist - Rigging and Removal: Rigging Fundamentals, Managing Rigging Forces, Mechanical Advantage, Positioning Aloft and Saw Cuts, Rigging Techniques
  • Tree Care Specialist - Fundamentals: Tree Biology, Botany, Soil, CODIT and Tree Defense
  • Tree Care Specialist - Trees and Shrubs: Lightning Systems and Protection, Supplemental Support Systems
  • Tree Care Specialist - Tree Risk Assessment: Tree Transplanting and Planting, Tree Risk Assessment
  • Plant Health Care Technician: Advanced Tree Biology and Pathology, Monitoring for Plant Health Diseases, Diagnosis, Disease and Management Strategies and Controls, Pesticide Application Guidelines, Abiotic Disorders, Wildlife and Insect Damage, Soil Health and Fertilization

Dates: October 2024 through April 2025
Schedule:

  • Orientation: October 16 from 9 am to 11 am with Ryan Bartlett
  • Tree Care Specialist, Day 1: October 30 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Ryan Bartlett 
  • Tree Climber Specialist 1: November 13 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Alex McIntosh / Ashley Fox
  • Tree Climber Specialist 2, Day 1: November 20 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Alex McIntosh / Ashley Fox
  • Tree Care Specialist, Day 2: December 11 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Ashley Fox
  • Plant Health Care, Day 1: January 8 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Ryan Bartlett
  • Tree Climber Specialist 2, Day 2: January 22 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Alex McIntosh / Ashley Fox
  • Plant Health Care, Day 2: February 12 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Ryan Bartlett
  • Tree Climber Specialist 3: February 26 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Alex McIntosh / Kyel Ciufi
  • Tree Climber Specialist 4, Day 1: March 5 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Charlie Pearson
  • Tree Care Specialist, Day 3: March 19 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Ryan Bartlett / Ashley Fox
  • Tree Climber Specialist 3, Day 2: April 9 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Alex McIntosh / Kyel Ciufi
  • Tree Climber Specialist 4, Day 2: April 23 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Charlie Pearson
  • Tree Care Specialist, Day 4: May 7 from 8:30 am to 5 pm with Ryan Bartlett / Ashley Fox
  • Related Learning Graduation: May 7 from 5 pm to 7 pm

Location: Westminster Campus, Room TBD
Cost: $2500

Register

Questions?

Feel free to reach out to our team.

970-204-8686 │ Email us