Fleming College: Learn | Belong | Become

Program Highlights

Love trees and want to help preserve our environment?

With Fleming’s Arboriculture Co-op program, it’s possible to live in an urban setting and contribute to the environmental effort. As a graduate, you'll maintain and preserve trees and shrubs in the urban landscape and green spaces of our communities – providing cleaner air and much needed “green” relief from the concrete jungle.

• The program offers theoretical knowledge for all aspects of urban tree care, as well as such practical skills as safe tree climbing techniques, aerial rescue, pruning techniques, tree removal, and the operation and maintenance of relevant equipment.
• You will be able to identify approximately 140 species of trees and shrubs in both summer and winter conditions, and to diagnose and remedy major pests, disease, and tree disorders using the latest integrated management options to promote plant health.
• In 2nd semester, you can take the Arborist and Utility Arborist exemption exams, to qualify you for the in-school portion of these MTCU apprenticeships (there is no additional cost to you for your first attempt at writing these tests).

Why Choose Fleming?

Simply put, students choose our program because of our reputation in the arboriculture industry. Employers look to our Arboriculture program to find well-trained graduates. The School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences has a long-standing reputation among professional organizations and employers working in the field. In 2007 the program received an Award of Merit from the International Society of Arboriculture, Ontario Chapter, for "advancing the principles, ideas and practice of Arboriculture in Ontario."

Work Experience

From start to finish, the Arboriculture program is hands-on - you'll be spending a lot of time working with trees and shrubs outside in addition to your time in the classroom.

There is a mandatory paid co-op semester from May to September.

Please note: In addition to paying tuition and fees for two semesters of study, students pay a $450 co-op fee for administrative costs associated with the co-op placement.

Read how a co-op experience can lead to job opportunities here.

What it Takes to Succeed

These are the skills and personality traits that will help you to be a successful arborist:

• love of the outdoors and working with trees/shrubs
• physical fitness
• good oral/written communication skills
• problem solving ability
• attention to detail
• ability/willingness to work in extreme weather conditions

NOTE: Tree climbing tests are timed and are proficiency-based. In order to be successful, you will need to achieve minimum standards for tree climbing.

Career Opportunities

When you graduate, you'll be qualified for jobs such as:

• tree climber
• municipal arborist
• commercial arborist
• utility arborist
• plant health care technician
• urban forest technician
• tree and shrub specialist
• urban parks manager

Employers include municipalities, private companies, line clearing companies, utility companies, and provincial ministries.

Minimum Admission Requirements

OSSD with the majority of credits at the College (C) and Open (O) level, including:

• 2 College (C) English courses (Grade 11 or Grade 12) 

When (C) is the minimum course level for admission, (U) or (U/C) courses are also accepted.

Mature Students
If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission.

Recommended:

• strong plant biology and/or horticulture background

Other Program Requirements

• valid G driver's licence
• excellent physical condition
• completion of Standard First Aid and Heart CPR is required for entry to the program

Related Programs

If you haven't decided on which program to take at Fleming College, and want to work with trees, also consider the Urban Forestry,  or Forestry  programs..

Additional Costs

In addition, plan to spend about $625 for books, supplies, additional courses (noted above) and personal safety equipment.

Course	Hours
Semester 1
Advanced Tree Climbing and Pruning	84.00
Basic Tree Climbing	84.00
Co-op Preparation	30.00
Operation and Maintenance of Equipment	90.00
Plant Health Care	45.00
Urban Forest Science	45.00
Semester 2
Arboriculture Co-op Placement	450.00
Semester 3
Arboriculture Practices	60.00
Dendrology	60.00
Forest Entomology and Pathology	45.00
Line Clearing	84.00
Tree Removal	84.00
General Education Elective

Semester 1

Advanced Tree Climbing and Pruning

Course Number: FSTY001

Through field labs, students will develop skills in the latest and safest methods of advanced tree climbing. The use of the split tail system as well as friction savers and Re-Directs will be learned. In this course, students will acquire experience in pruning woody plants. This course will be delivered in a concentrated format over seven weeks in the second half of the semester.

Units: 84.00
Hours: 84.00

Basic Tree Climbing

Course Number: FSTY005

Through practical field labs, students will develop skills in the latest and safest methods of tree climbing. The use of fall protection systems is mandatory. Students will learn the use, care, and maintenance of equipment and become safe and confident in pre-climb inspection, crotch selection, aerial rescue, and manoeuvring about in hardwood and coniferous crowns. Students will be required to purchase personal protective equipment (safety glasses, safety boots, chainsaw pants, safety gloves, hard hat, and hearing protection) as recommended, before the course begins.This course will be delivered in a concentrated format over seven weeks in the first half of the semester.

Units: 84.00
Hours: 84.00

Co-op Preparation

Course Number: APST089

This course consists of a weekly 2 hour seminar designed to prepare the student for a co-op work experience. Students will prepare a resume and cover letter, approach potential placement hosts, and complete the required paperwork and forms.

Units: 30.00
Hours: 30.00

Operation and Maintenance of Equipment

Course Number: MECH045

This course instructs students on the safe operation and maintenance of chainsaws and machinery associated with the arboriculture and line-clearing industry. Chainsaw operation, maintenance, and tree felling techniques are competency-based training standards set out by the Ministry of Education and Training (Program #750000). The techniques introduced in this course are transferable to other courses within the program. Students will be required to purchase items of personal protective equipment (safety glasses, safety boots, chainsaw pants, safety gloves, hard hat, and hearing protection) as recommended, before the course begins.

Units: 90.00
Hours: 90.00

Plant Health Care

Course Number: FSTY032

Students of the Arboriculture Program possess an excellent foundation in the 'normal growth' of trees. This course introduces students to the study of insects and diseases of forest and urban trees. Identification, classification, and control measures of commercially important insect and diseases are examined. The emphasis is on the pests of forest and urban trees and an appraisal of tree damage. Students are introduced to other insects and fungi from a plant health care perspective.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Urban Forest Science

Course Number: FSTY060

This course introduces the students to tree anatomy, tree physiology, urban soil conditions, tree installation and the impact of construction on tree health. Field trips deal with tree selection, tree pruning, tree reaction to wounding and an introduction to hazard tree assessment.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Semester 2

Arboriculture Co-op Placement

Course Number: APST086

The mandatory, paid co-op placement is intended to give students experience with real world organizations engaged in arboriculture activity. It provides the student the opportunity to apply existing knowledge and skills obtained in semester one of the program. The placement must be at least 450 hours, 11 to 15 weeks long, and takes place from the end of April until the end of August. The location of the placement is up to the individual, provided it meets the criteria outlined and is approved by the program coordinator. All expenses incurred during placement are the student's responsibility.

Units: 450.00
Hours: 450.00

Semester 3

Arboriculture Practices

Course Number: FSTY003

This course covers the value that trees have in urban landscapes and objective valuations of urban trees. Students will understand site and species assessment, tree installation, establishment and pruning of newly planted trees for improved urban settings. Shade tree inventory will be done in class and in the field.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Dendrology

Course Number: FSTY007

This course deals with the identification of approximately 125 tree and shrubs found in urban settings in Ontario. Tree features including leaves, twigs, bark and fruits are studied. The accuracy level for identification tests is 80 per cent. The lecture series includes the physiology of fall colour, fruit adaptations for seed dispersal, forest geography, vegetative reproduction and sexual reproduction. The cultural requirements of major urban tree species are studied.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Forest Entomology and Pathology

Course Number: FSTY011

Students of the Forestry, Arboriculture and Park's and Forest Recreation programs possess an excellent foundation in the 'normal growth' of trees. This course introduces students to the study of insects and diseases of forest and urban trees. Identification, classification, and control measures of commercially important insects and diseases are examined. The emphasis is on the pests of forest and urban trees and a collection of such specimens.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Line Clearing

Course Number: FSTY025

Students will learn proper line clearing procedures through practical field labs. They will become skilled at brush control on utility right-of-ways, safe tree trimming, and tree removal in close proximity of utility line conductors. Students will use safe tree climbing techniques and an aerial trim lift to accomplish desired results. Students will complete a Safety in Line Clearing course by Hydro One. This course will be delivered in a concentrated format over seven weeks in the second half of the semester.

Units: 84.00
Hours: 84.00

Tree Removal

Course Number: FSTY049

Through this course, students will gain knowledge in the latest tree removal techniques. They will combine their climbing and rigging skills for large limb and whole tree removal in a safe manner. This course will be delivered in a concentrated format over seven weeks in the first half of the semester.

Units: 84.00
Hours: 84.00