Arborists are known as tree surgeons. If you’d like to know what they do or looking to pursue a career as an arborist I recommend that you take the free online arborist classes curated in this article to prepare yourself for the next phase. You may also take the courses if you are already an arborist as it will help refresh your memory and present you with an updated skillset.
Free online arborist classes are the last thing I expected to see on the internet. I can admit now that I was surprised to see some free online courses on animal husbandry but online arborist classes were something I never expected but here we are.
I think this goes to show just how much online learning has evolved over the years because, from my research, I realized that the majority of the online arborist classes, both free and paid, were added recently and there a just a few of them. In the coming years, there is no doubt that online arborist courses and training programs will be more rampant and easier to find.
So, in the meantime get started with the ones listed here. This article will surely get updated as more and more online arborist courses circulate the internet.
Moving on, the free online arborist classes curated here are designed for those who simply want to satisfy their curiosity, arborists who want to polish existing skills and gain new knowledge, and individuals who are considering pursuing careers as arborists.
I’m sorry to break it to you but online arborist courses cannot make you a certified arborist. Just as I mentioned, they can only help in satisfying your curiosity about the field, equip you with a new skill set, or prepare you for studies in the career.
What Does Arborist Mean?
An arborist, also referred to as a tree surgeon, tree expert, or arboriculturist, is a professional that cares for trees. Arborist studies manage, cultivates, and cares for trees, shrubs, and other woody plants. The duties of an arborist are also to ensure that trees and woody plants are healthy and safe.
How do I Become an Arborist?
The only way to become an arborist is to get certified and for that to be possible, you must first earn an associate of science, bachelor of science, master of science, or Ph.D. degree in programs like horticulture, natural resources, and environmental conservation, botany, environmental science, forestry, or any academic program that is related to arboriculture to help you grow your career as an arboriculturist.
After you have earned your degree, then you will earn a state license by taking the necessary examination which is the ISA Certified Arborist Exam. Obtaining the license is what certifies you as an arborist and then you can begin practice. You can expand your skills further by enrolling in online and/or in-person arboriculture training programs or courses and attending workshops.
Where Does an Arborist Work?
As a certified arborist, you can work in the following places:
- Arborist firms
- Power companies
- Parks and gardens
- Urban forests
- Landscaping companies
- Tree nurseries
- Golf courses
- Recreational facilities
- Municipalities
What is the Salary of an Arborist?
The average salary of an arborist in the US is $22.53 per hour. In a year, the salary range is between $30,000 to $57,000. The average annual salary of an arborist in Australia is from $70,000 to $90,000.
The arborist courses curated here are taught online by experts with many years of experience. Since the courses are online, it presents the benefit of flexibility and self-paced learning to every participant. The things you need to enroll for the courses are a stable Wi-Fi connection, a PC or tablet, and your dedication to learning.

Free Online Arborist Classes
The free online arborist classes are:
- Introduction of Arboriculture Safety
- Introduction to Arboriculture
- ISA Online Tree Worker Safety Course
- Advanced Diploma in Forest Management
1. Introduction of Arboriculture Safety
This free course is offered by TCIA, it is a certificate program that is taught in English and Spanish and entirely free from start to finish. The course is designed for those exploring or new to a career in arboriculture. You will learn about general tree care safety to help you avoid accidents while working. Aside from theoretical skills, the course also equips you with soft skills that will help you land a job.
2. Introduction to Arboriculture
If I were interested in arboriculture maybe just to get the knowledge or to pursue it as a career, this is the first course I am taking. Since you are new to this field I suggest you begin with this course to develop a basic understanding of what arboriculture entails, learn with arborists do, and learn the terminologies used in the field.
The course is a short one that consists of only two modules that can be completed in 3 hours or less. You will learn things like tree care and maintenance, tree biology and planting techniques, and equipment and operation used in arboriculture.
3. ISA Online Tree Worker Safety Course
This is another safety course on arboriculture offered by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Texas Chapter to teach arborists about safety while working on trees and the field in general. The course provides information on hazards, personal protective equipment, hazards, and other useful guidelines to help keep you safe while working.
4. Advanced Diploma in Forest Management
A degree in forestry or forest management can prepare you for a career in arboriculture and this course, Advanced Diploma in Forest Management, will prepare you for a degree in forestry or forestry management. Whether you are already a certified arboriculturist or about to become one, you should endeavor to take this course and learn about the sustainable and scientific processes involved in managing forests.
You will also gain relevant knowledge on the different kinds of forests and their ecological benefits. These are knowledge that will shape you to become a fine arborist. The course consists of 16 modules that require about 30 hours to complete. Certification is issued upon completion of the course to participants.
The courses curated above are the only free arborist courses available online. There are still a handful of them but they are paid so I selected the ones that are cheapest. So, let’s continue with the list of cheapest arborist courses online.
7 Cheapest Online Arborist Courses
The following are the 10 cheapest arborist courses online:
- Employee Landscape Training: Planting, Mulching, and Watering
- Arboriculture Training
- Arboriculture Diploma
- Arboriculture Fundamentals and Techniques
- Forestry, Botany, & Arboriculture Diploma
- Employee Landscape Training: Symptoms and Signs of Plant Health Problems
- Arboriculture Management
1. Employee Landscape Training: Planting, Mulching, and Watering
If you are already an arborist looking to further your skills and become as job ready as ever you may want to consider the above-named course. Employers in the landscape business can also use this course to train new employers. The course will teach students how to inspect and handle nursery stock, dig, edge, mulch, water, and shake trees.
The course is designed for beginners and intermediates but professionals may also enroll if they think there is something new here for them to learn and add to their skill set. It takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the course and earn a certificate. The course is offered by the College of Agricultural Sciences at the Pennsylvania State University and cost only $19.
2. Arboriculture Training
Arboriculture Training is one of the cheapest online arborist courses taught by industry experts and available on Reed for everyone interested in arboriculture. Whether you want to pursue a career as an arboriculturist or you are already one and seeking courses that will improve your skills then this Arboriculture Training online course is the one for you.
The course is broken down into 8 lectures and discusses topics such as pruning trees, soil and tree growth, tree biology, arboriculture equipment, and operations, and many more. The course is open to everyone even those with no prior knowledge of arboriculture. It costs only £12, the duration is 6 hours, and you get a digital certificate upon completion.
3. Arboriculture Diploma
The Arboriculture Diploma course is a 4-hour online, self-paced program designed to improve your skills, equip you with industry knowledge, and lead you on the path to becoming a professional arborist. Even if you have no prior knowledge of the subject matter you can also enroll and learn about tree selection for arboriculture, soil and tree growth, tree biology, tree disease and management, and many more.
The course is £12 only and you have lifetime access when you purchase it plus a digital certificate and 24/7 tutor support.
4. Arboriculture Fundamentals and Techniques
This course, Arboriculture Fundamentals, and Techniques, is best for beginners and professionals who want to refresh their memory. It begins with the basics and gradually advances into advanced topics to equip you with the essential knowledge required to become well-versed in the field of arboriculture.
The course is 100% online and costs £10 which grants you lifetime access to the course, provides you with a CPD-accredited hard copy and PDF certificate, and an available tutor. Exams and assessments to test your knowledge are also included in the price.
5. Forestry, Botany, & Arboriculture Diploma
This is a 3-in-1 package course where you get to learn forestry, botany, and arboriculture all for only £12. This payment grants lifetime access to the course, exams to test your knowledge and an available tutor. You can join the course from any part of the world with any smart device of your choice.
The course is designed and taught by specialists and experts to ready you for jobs the instant you complete it. Upon completion of this course, you will receive a certification which h you can attach to boost your resume and stand above the competition.
6. Employee Landscape Training: Symptoms and Signs of Plant Health Problems
This online arborist course is offered by the College of Agricultural Sciences of Pennsylvania State University, so there is no doubt that you will be learning from experts and earning a certification from one of the top institutions in the US. It is a 2-hour course that trains students to recognize symptoms and signs of stress in plants, including damage and diseases.
The cost of the program is $19.
7. Arboriculture Management
Here is another cheap online arboriculture course taught by experts for forestry technicians, aspiring arborists, environmental enthusiasts, and landscapers. There are no entry criteria to enroll for the course, all experience levels are welcome to enroll.
The course is broken down into 4 modules that teach the fundamentals of pruning trees, soil and tree growth, tree diseases and management, and equipment and operations. The cost of the course is £12 and offers a digital certification upon completion. Tutors are also made available to students.
As an arborist, you must keep practicing and engaging in activities that will take your skill and career to the next level. Since you are likely to be tied down with work, then you should turn to online courses as they are flexible and offer self-paced learning. This way, you get to still learn enviable skills while working and apply them to your job.
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