Utility Arborist
Section B.17 7/28/2017 705.759.6700 : 1.800.461.2260 : www.saultcollege.ca : Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Utility Arborist Level One and Two Apprenticeship program consists of a twelve-week basic session and
a twelve-week advanced session, both starting in January (alternating years). The program focuses on
advanced topics in the maintenance and removal of trees, equipment use, tree climbing and utility
arboricultural sciences with a strong emphasis on safety and working in a team environment.
The Utility Arborist Level One Apprenticeship program consists of a twelve-week basic session starting in
January. The program focuses on maintenance and removal of trees in various settings with a strong
emphasis on safety.
The Utility Arborist Level Two Apprenticeship program consists of a twelve-week advanced session starting
in January. The program focuses on advanced topics in equipment use, tree climbing and utility
arboricultural sciences with a strong emphasis on safety and working in a team environment.
A Utility Arborist prunes or clears woody plants in proximity to exposed electrical apparatus or in the
course of utility line clearing operations, prunes, fall or removes trees which could come into contact with
energized power lines.
Utility Arborist is a non-restricted certified trade regulated by the Apprenticeship and Certification Act. On
successfully completing the apprenticeship program, a person working in this trade is entitled to a
Certificate of Apprenticeship and can challenge the trade examination to obtain a Certification of
Qualification.
CAREER PATHS
Apprentices in the utility arborist trade may be employed in the utility, municipal or commercial tree care
sectors; as well as tree services, golf courses, public utilities or self-employment.
Recent ice storms in major city centres have led to increased need for forestry care for the tens of
thousands of damaged trees.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
Level One (6560)
ARB600 - 3 Utility Arborist Workplace Safety I
ARB601 - 5 Utility Arborist Theory I
ARB602 - 12 Utility Arborist Practices I
ARB603 - 3 Utility Arborist Hand Tools I
ARB604 - 1 Utility Arborist Equipment I
ARB605 - 3 Utility Arboricultural Science I
ARB606 - 3 Utility Arborist Tree Identification I
Level Two (6561)
ARB701 - 2 Utility Arborist Workplace Safety II
ARB702 - 3 Utility Arborist Theory II
ARB703 - 12 Utility Arborist Practices II - Tree Climbing
ARB704 - 3 Utility Arborist Practices II - Aerial Device
ARB705 - 2 Utility Arborist Practices II-Brush Chippers/Aerial Devices
ARB706 - 2 Utility Arborist Sciences II
ARB707 - 1 Utility Arborist Hand Tools II
ARB708 - 3 Utility Arborist Tree Identification II
ARB709 - 2 Utility Arborist Transmission Line Clearing II
Course Descriptions
Level One (6560)
Utility Arborist Workplace Safety I (ARB600) (3 credits)
This course will provide the student with the skills, tools and knowledge necessary to demonstrate a
working knowledge of pertinent safety and related legislation as they apply to utility arboriculture safe
workplace practices; and deal with potentially dangerous on- site conditions, emergencies, hazards and
materials.
Utility Arborist Theory I (ARB601) (5 credits)
This course will provide the student with the skills, tools and knowledge necessary to describe how to plan
work safely, identify electrical hazards, identify other hazards outside of the electrical environment,
removing of trees, rigging principles, and how to manage fire and dangerous goods.
Utility Arborist Practices I (ARB602) (12 credits)
This course will provide the student with the skills, tools and knowledge necessary to demonstrate a
knowledge of how to plan work safely, utilizing safe work practices, pruning and removing of trees in
proximity of electrical conductors, ascending, descending, and performing an aerial rescue, inspect, adjust
and maintain personal protective equipment, and fall protection equipment utilized in the Utility
Arboricultural trade and managing fire, waste and dangerous goods.
Utility Arborist Hand Tools I (ARB603) (3 credits)
This course will provide the student with the skills, tools and knowledge necessary to select adjust,
maintain and store tools and equipment commonly used in the utility arboriculture trade.
Utility Arborist Equipment I (ARB604) (1 credits)
This course will provide the student with the skills, tools and knowledge necessary to demonstrate a
thorough working knowledge of brush chippers.
Utility Arboricultural Science I (ARB605) (3 credits)
This course will provide the student with the skills, tools and knowledge necessary to identify various
woody plant parts, growth factors, compartmentalization of decay, diseases, disorders and pathology that
could be harmful to the integrity of the electrical system, evaluate the condition of anchor points used in
fall protection, and evaluate work operations within environmentally sensitive areas.
Utility Arborist Tree Identification I (ARB606) (3 credits)
This course will provide the student with the skills, tools and knowledge necessary to demonstrate a
working knowledge of tree genera, species and cultivars by identifying 52 plant species commonly found in
Ontario.
Level Two (6561)
Utility Arborist Workplace Safety II (ARB701) (2 credits)
Demonstrate a working knowledge of pertinent safety and related legislation as they apply to Utility
Arboricultural safe workplace practices; and deal with potentially dangerous on-site conditions,
emergencies, hazards and materials.
Utility Arborist Theory II (ARB702) (3 credits)
Describe how to plan work safety, identify electrical hazards, identify other hazards outside of the
electrical environment, use of various knot and hitches in the Utility Arboricultural trade, pruning and
removing trees in proximity of electrical conductors, ascending, descending and performing an aerial
rescue, rigging principals and hot to manage fire and dangerous goods.
Utility Arborist Practices II - Tree Climbing (ARB703) (12 credits)
Demonstrate a knowledge of how to plan work safely, utilizing safe work practices, pruning and removing
trees in proximity of electrical conductors, ascending, descending and performing aerial rescue, inspect,
adjust and maintain personal protective equipment and fall protection equipment utilized in the Utility
Arboricultural trade and managing fire, waste and dangerous goods.
Utility Arborist Practices II - Aerial Device (ARB704) (3 credits)
Demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of aerial devices used in Utility Arboriculture practices.
Utility Arborist Practices II-Brush Chippers/Aerial Devices (ARB705) (2 credits)
Demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of brush chippers and aerial devices used in Utility
Arboricultural practices.
Utility Arborist Sciences II (ARB706) (2 credits)
Demonstrate a knowledge of how to identify various woody plants, growth factors of woody plants,
compartmentalization of woody plants, diseases and disorders of trees that could be harmful to the
integrity of the electrical system, evaluate the condition of the anchor points in trees used for fall
protection, evaluation of work operations within environmentally sensitive locations.
Utility Arborist Hand Tools II (ARB707) (1 credits)
Demonstrate knowledge of how to select, adjust, maintain and store, tools and equipment commonly used
in the Utility Arboricultural trade.
Utility Arborist Tree Identification II (ARB708) (3 credits)
Demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of tree genera, species and cultivars by identifying 45 plants
commonly found in Ontario.
Utility Arborist Transmission Line Clearing II (ARB709) (2 credits)
Describe and demonstrate how to manage vegetation along transmission voltage corridors and right of
ways.