Find an Arborist
What is an Arborist?
An arborist is a professional skilled in the art and science of caring for trees and woody plants. From planting and pruning to protection from insects and disease, arborists understand how to safely and properly care for trees across their life span with a focus on the health of the tree and the safety of people and property nearby.
Learn more below or go to our directory of NHAA Certified Arborists
Why care for trees?
Trees in our yards, gardens, and communities offer countless benefits—they filter the air we breathe, provide habitat for wildlife, reduce stormwater runoff, prevent erosion, moderate temperatures, and even support our mental well-being. On individual properties, trees can provide privacy, reduce noise, lower heating and cooling costs, and add significant value.
Trees are also complex organisms that can outlive us by hundreds of years with proper care and the right growing conditions, but they face a variety of challenges, both natural and human-caused. Proactive and routine care can help to promote tree health and longevity, maximizing the benefits and values trees provide for us.
Learn more about the Benefits of Trees and Tree Values from the Trees are Good.
Types of arborists
While it’s possible to find plenty of individuals and companies advertising “tree removal,” the services arborists provide go well beyond cutting trees down. Some of these include pruning, installation of structural support systems, tree planting and transplanting, tree risk assessment, diagnostics and treatment of pests and diseases, and more.
In addition, while many arborists are well-versed “general practitioners,” others may specialize in one or more niche aspects of tree care. Just as your primary care physician might send you to a specialist for certain illnesses or injuries, your trees may benefit from you engaging a consulting arborist or an arborist specializing in plant healthcare or integrated pest management.
Arborists in our directory are generally categorized by their/their company’s primary area of practice according to the descriptions below.
Commercial, Residential, Tree Service
Many arborists provide a variety of tree care services such as pruning, cabling and bracing, brush removal, chipping, stump grinding, tree planting or transplanting, tree removal, and more to residential and commercial clients. Some arborists may also offer diagnostics, plant healthcare and pest management, tree risk assessment, emergency tree care, and other services.
Consulting
Consulting arborists often specialize in providing expertise above and beyond what many commercial/residential/tree service arborists provide. Specialties and services may include diagnostics, tree risk assessment, tree appraisal, inventory, and designing tree protection plans for site development and construction. Some consulting arborists serve as an expert witnesses in litigation involving trees.
Utility, Vegetation Management
Utility companies such as Eversource, Unitil, and the New Hampshire Electric Coop employ or contract with utility arborists to manage trees and other vegetation adjacent to power lines and other infrastructure. These arborists are typically not available for hire by the general public.
Landscaping, Landscape Architecture, Nursery
Some landscaping companies employ arborists to handle tree-related aspects of projects and to provide more comprehensive services for clients.
Municipal, Urban Forestry, Public Works, Government
Cities and towns may employ arborists or appoint Tree Wardens who are responsible for caring for trees on public property.
Education, Training, Research, Extension
Some arborists may provide education or training for other green industry professionals, while others may be engaged in research or higher education. University Extension programs provide resources and programming for a variety of audiences and some Extension Educators may be trained as arborists.
Manufacturer, supplier
Arborists may also be employed by companies that make and sell arboriculture and other green industry equipment.
Arborist, forester... what's the difference?
Unlike foresters, who manage trees across a larger area with a focus on ecosystem health, timber production, wildlife habitat, or other goals, arborists specialize in the care of individual trees and shrubs with a focus on plant health, structure, and safety. Think of arborists as primary care doctors and foresters as public health specialists. Arboriculture and forestry come together in the field of urban forestry, which refers to the care of a population of trees in an urban setting. In this context, “urban” can mean any type of human-built environment, from a town park to a cemetery to parking lot “islands,” so many smaller towns have adopted the term “community” in addition to or instead of “urban.”
Arborist credentials
No single organization or governing body is responsible for training and certifying arborists and licensing requirements vary from state to state, so it can be helpful to have a basic understanding of the various certifications and qualifications an arborist might possess. Arborists in New Hampshire are NOT required to be licensed.
Several industry associations, including the NHAA, offer voluntary certification programs and other credentials that allow arborists to demonstrate a baseline level of experience and knowledge as well as a commitment to continuing education.
It is important to recognize that certification does not directly assess an arborist’s practical application of skills; certification measures knowledge but does not guarantee work will be carried out to a specific standards. In addition, while many tree care companies employ certified arborists, work may not necessarily be carried out by a certified arborist.
New Hampshire Certified Arborists are encouraged to join other industry organizations and pursue additional education and certification including those listed below.
International Society of Arboriculture
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is an international non-profit organization that promotes the professional practice of arboriculture and maintains the most widely-recognized credentialing program for arborists.
ISA Certified Arborists must have a minimum of 3 years of professional experience and pass an exam covering a broad range of tree care topics to be awarded certification. They must also adhere to the ISA’s Code of Ethics, and to remain certified, they must accumulate a minimum number of continuing education units or re-take the exam every 3 years. ISA also recognizes ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialists and Certified Arborist Urban Forester Professionals (formerly known as Certified Arborist Municipal Specialists), with both meeting the same qualifications as ISA Certified Arborists plus demonstrating more advanced knowledge and skills in utility arboriculture or urban forestry, respectively.
ISA Certified Tree Climbers and ISA Certified Tree Worker Aerial Lift Specialists may qualify for certification with 18 months of practical experience, but also need to demonstrate practical skills in tree climbing or aerial lift operation.
ISA’s Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA) credential is the highest level of certification offered by the ISA and requires more a more extensive level of professional experience, formal education, and related credentials, along with an extensive exam.
Finally, arborists may be ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ), indicating they have completed a training course to learn a standardized process for assessing tree risk and have passed both a written and skills-based exam.
American Society of Consulting Arborists
The American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) is a membership organization for consulting arborists. ASCA membership requires a minimum of 5 years of experience in arboriculture along with meeting other educational requirements. ASCA Registered Consulting Arborists (RCA) are ASCA members who have advanced skills and training in certain aspects of tree care, such as contracts, diagnostics, forensic investigations, risk assessment, insect and disease management, plant health care, tree appraisal, and more. ASCA also offers a Tree and Plant Appraisal Qualification (TPAQ) course open to consulting arborists and other green industry professionals.
Tree Care Industry Association
The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), formerly the National Arborists Association, is a national trade association for tree care companies in the US. TCIA supports companies with resources in advocacy and regulatory compliance, business strategy, sales and marketing, workforce development, safety, and training. TCIA’s Certified Treecare Safety Program (CTSP) provides training in leadership, hazard identification, and incident prevention to equip tree care professionals to enhance safety within their companies. TCIA Qualified Trainers are CTSPs who have taken an additional Trainer Qualification course and can teach TCIA’s Tree Care Academy and Electrical Hazards Awareness Program courses.
Other Qualifications and Credentials
Beyond ISA, ASCA, and TCIA credentials, you may also encounter arborists who are New Hampshire Certified Landscape Professionals, licensed or certified arborists in other states, certified foresters through the Society of American Foresters (SAF Certified Forester, SAF Certified Urban Forester), or state licensed foresters. Some arborists may be members of the Urban and Community Forestry Society (formerly the Society of Municipal Arborists). Finally, arborists who provide services that include the application of pesticides must be New Hampshire Licensed Commercial Applicators.
State-by-state requirements
Other states around New England have varying requirements for arborist licensure that may be important to consider for those considering hiring an arborist or company across state lines.