How to Become a Field Arborist in British Columbia
Do you need certification?
Certification is voluntary
Field arborist is a voluntary trade in British Columbia. You can work in the trade without a certificate.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Bookmark Field Arborist”
From skilledtradesbc.ca/find-your-trade, checked October 11, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Voluntary certification See the source
- Routes
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- Trained in Canada: no separate route
- Licensed in another province: 1 step
- Trained outside Canada: 2 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
No separate route for this group. Source
“Please note that the Field Arborist Program is not available for registration at this time.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/field-arborist
Licensed in another province
0 of 1 done
- 1 step without a listed fee
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You must already hold a Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in another Canadian province or territory, which SkilledTradesBC will recognize.
Source
“If you hold a Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in Canada, SkilledTradesBC will recognize it. You will not have to re-certify or get a re-issued certificate.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-mobility
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with SkilledTradesBC
1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 2 done
- 2 steps without a listed fee
-
Visit the Find Your Trade page to search for your trade and review what is required to become certified.
Source
“Visit the Find Your Trade page to search for your trade. The Record Books and the Challenge a Trade section on each trade page may help you determine what is required to become certified in that trade.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons -
Apply to get certified in B.C. as an experienced tradesperson, known as a Trade Qualifier.
Source
“Experienced tradespersons who want to get certified in B.C. (also known as Trade Qualifiers)”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with SkilledTradesBC
2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Application fee: $120 (paid through the Portal when submitting the challenge application)
Source
“Pay the $120 application fee through the Portal and submit your application and declaration form(s).”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam - Out-of-province assessment fee: $120
Source
“$120 out-of-province assessment fee. You can pay online, by mail or with a cheque (payable to SkilledTradesBC) with your application.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders
Requirements
Experience
You must have the required hours and scope of hands-on work experience in the trade.
Source
“You have the required hours and scope of hands-on work experience in the trade.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
Other
Your references must be contactable by phone to verify your work experience, or the application will be denied.
Source
“Your references will be contacted by phone to verify your work experience. If references cannot be contacted, it will result in a denied application.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-examAll documents submitted with the application must be in English.
Source
“All documents submitted must be in English.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
SkilledTradesBC recognizes a Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in Canada, so you will not have to re-certify or get a re-issued certificate. Source
“If you hold a Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in Canada, SkilledTradesBC will recognize it. You will not have to re-certify or get a re-issued certificate.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-mobility
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Exams
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Certification exam
Source
“You can schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months of your application approval.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Demand and pay
No Job Bank wage or outlook data for this occupation yet.
Field arborists in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Not confirmed yet
- Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Not confirmed yet
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Find Your Trade | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/find-your-trade · fetched October 9, 2026
- Field Arborist | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/field-arborist · fetched October 9, 2026
- Labour Mobility | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-mobility · fetched October 11, 2026
- Newcomers and International Tradespersons | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons · fetched October 10, 2026
- Challenge a Certification Exam | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam · fetched October 11, 2026
- Canadian and Military Certificate Holders | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders · fetched October 9, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a field arborist in British Columbia?
No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in British Columbia. Certification is managed by SkilledTradesBC.
Which exams are required?
Certification exam.
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