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L2Apprenticeship1804 approved providers
The Level 2 Arborist, and the 4 providers delivering it.
Pruning, felling and maintaining trees.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Arborists at this level learn to carry out practical tree work safely and to industry standards. That includes chainsaw operation, aerial work (climbing and using platforms), pruning, tree dismantling, and operating machinery such as brushwood chippers. Apprentices also develop an understanding of tree biology, species identification, and the risks associated with working near highways, power lines, and watercourses. Health and safety legislation and the correct use of personal protective equipment are central to the programme.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Most working weeks involve outdoor site work in all weathers, supporting a tree work team on jobs for local authorities, private landowners, or utility clients. Tasks range from setting up exclusion zones and operating ground equipment through to climbing and carrying out aerial pruning or dismantling sections of trees. Apprentices work under indirect supervision, meaning they are expected to apply skills independently while a qualified arborist remains on site. Completing risk assessments and maintaining equipment are part of the routine.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship opens the path to roles such as tree surgeon, climbing arborist, or grounds operative with a specialist tree team. Many go on to the Level 3 Advanced Arborist apprenticeship, which covers inspection, surveying, and advisory work. Employers include local authority parks and highways departments, utility vegetation management contractors, private arboricultural companies, and country estate management teams. Experienced arborists with further qualifications often move into supervisory, consultancy, or self-employed roles.
4 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
Activate Learning
Employer: 4.0
Activate Learning is a UK education group that delivers apprenticeships and vocational training thro...
Askham Bryan College
Employer: 3.0
Askham Bryan College is a specialist land-based college offering apprenticeship training and wider s...
Bishop Burton College
Employer: 4.0
Bishop Burton College is a specialist land-based and technical education provider offering a wide ra...
City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation delivers apprenticeships and adult learning through its Adult Skills ...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to employment as a Junior Arborist or Arborist Operative, working as part of a grounds maintenance or specialist tree surgery team. Some completers move directly into roles with local authority tree teams or as arboricultural operatives with private contractors. The practical skills gained, including chainsaw operation, aerial rigging, and controlled dismantling, make completers job-ready for site-based tree work with a degree of independent working.
Progression paths
With a few years of site experience, arborists commonly progress to Senior Arborist or Climbing Arborist roles, taking on more complex dismantling and rigging work. The two main tracks that open up are operational leadership, moving towards Team Leader or Contracts Supervisor, and technical specialism, working towards tree inspection, risk assessment, and consultancy. Achieving a Level 3 arboriculture qualification or professional membership through the Arboricultural Association supports the consultancy route. Experienced practitioners often move into Tree Officer or Arboricultural Consultant roles.
Where these roles sit
Local authorities are significant employers, particularly within parks, highways, and urban forestry teams. Private tree surgery contractors, utility companies managing vegetation near power lines and railways, and country estate management operations all hire at this level. Housing developers, conservation bodies, and National Park authorities also maintain arborist capacity. The workforce is a mix of small and medium private contractors and public sector teams, with a well-established self-employment route for experienced operatives.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Learning happens on the job, with the apprentice working alongside experienced arborists to build practical competence in tree work activities such as chainsaw operations, aerial work, pruning, and machinery use. Before the final assessment, a readiness check (the gateway) confirms that the apprentice and employer are satisfied the required knowledge, skills and behaviours have been achieved to the standard expected for the role. Final assessment then confirms that competence independently. Assessment models across many standards are currently being updated as part of ongoing reforms, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Apprentices should record evidence of their practical work throughout the programme rather than leaving it to the end. This means keeping notes, photographs, and records of tasks completed across the full range of activities, from ground-based operations to aerial tree work. Working closely with both the employer and training provider to track progress against the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the standard will make the gateway readiness check straightforward and reduce pressure as the end of the apprenticeship approaches.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Providers worth shortlisting will have practical training facilities, including access to trees of varying species, size and condition, not just classroom sessions. On FATP profiles, look for achievement rates above 65% as a baseline; anything above 75% suggests apprentices are completing and being assessed successfully. Employer satisfaction scores matter here because arborist apprentices work in live environments from early on, so tutor and assessor industry experience counts. Providers should hold or deliver units aligned to NPTC/City and Guilds chainsaw and aerial rescue awards, as these are embedded in the standard.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers with high learner volumes but falling achievement rates, which can indicate overstretched delivery teams or poor employer coordination. Vague answers about where practical training takes place, or providers who rely solely on the employer's own site without any supplementary training ground, are a concern. For a physically demanding, safety-critical occupation, providers who cannot clearly explain how they assess chainsaw competency or aerial work technique, and who have no assessors with current industry experience, should be avoided.
Questions to ask before you commit
- Where does the practical chainsaw and aerial tree work training take place, and do you have your own training site?
- Do your assessors hold current NPTC or equivalent chainsaw and aerial rescue qualifications?
- What is your achievement rate for this standard over the past two years?
- How do you coordinate off-the-job training around seasonal work pressures, given tree work demand varies through the year?
- Can you put us in contact with employers who have used you to deliver this apprenticeship?
- How do you handle progression to end-point assessment, and who delivers it?
- What happens if an apprentice is injured or unable to complete aerial work during training?
Common questions
What entry requirements do employers and training providers typically expect for an arborist apprenticeship?
There are no nationally fixed entry requirements set by the standard itself, so individual training providers and employers set their own criteria. Most will expect a reasonable level of physical fitness given the demands of outdoor, hands-on tree work. Some providers ask for a basic level of English and maths. Applicants must be in paid employment for the duration. Employers should confirm specific requirements directly with their chosen training provider before recruiting.
How long does an arborist apprenticeship take and how is the learning structured?
The typical duration is 18 months, though this can vary depending on the apprentice's prior experience and how quickly they develop competence. The apprentice remains employed throughout, applying their learning on real tree work jobs. A portion of contracted hours must be spent on off-the-job training, though the precise percentage is subject to ongoing policy updates. Check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education page on gov.uk for the latest requirements.
How is an arborist apprentice assessed at the end of their programme?
Before taking end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm that the apprentice has met all knowledge, skills and behaviour requirements. Assessment models for many standards are currently being reviewed under Skills England reforms. For the most accurate picture of what the end-point assessment involves for this standard, check the current assessment plan on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education section of gov.uk.
How does funding work for employers taking on an arborist apprentice?
The funding band for this standard is £12,000, which caps what the government will contribute towards training and assessment costs. Larger employers with an apprenticeship levy account use funds from that account. Smaller employers co-invest with the government, typically paying 5% of the training cost with the government covering the rest. Employers with fewer than 50 staff who take on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing. All funding arrangements are managed through the apprenticeship service account.
What does an arborist apprentice actually do during their working day?
Day-to-day work includes pruning trees, dismantling and felling, using chainsaws and aerial access equipment such as ropes and harnesses, and operating machinery like brushwood chippers. Apprentices work across a range of sites, from city parks and private gardens to roadsides and estates. They work under indirect supervision, supporting the wider tree work team. The role is physically demanding and involves working outdoors regardless of weather conditions.
Where can an arborist apprentice go after completing this level 2 qualification?
Completion opens routes into more specialised or senior arboricultural work. Progression options include moving into tree inspection and survey work, advising landowners on tree management, or supervisory and team-leading roles within arboricultural companies or local authority tree teams. Some arborists go on to achieve further qualifications such as the Level 3 arboriculture or forestry standards. Others move into self-employment once they have built sufficient experience and skills.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 180.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.