Arborist apprentices, SCA pre-apprentices, Openlands staff and Illinois Arborist Association instructors pose under the training tree from the Beginner Climbing Training.

In 2024, TCI Magazine explored the growing role of Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) in addressing workforce challenges across the tree care industry. At the time, Department of Labor-approved RAPs were still an underutilized tool in arboriculture, even as employers nationwide faced labor shortages and rising production demands. As the tree care industry moves into 2026, the case for RAPs has only strengthened, and momentum around long-term workforce solutions has grown.

This update revisits why RAPs remain an important workforce strategy, and highlights outcomes and lessons learned from the Openlands’ Arborist Registered Apprenticeship program in Chicago, Illinois.

One of the 2025 apprentices works on tying knots during the Illinois Arborist Association Beginner Climbing Training. All photos courtesy of Openlands.

Why registered apprenticeship programs matter
Tree care is a skilled profession that centers on technical knowledge, physical capability and a strong safety culture – all of which require time and experience to develop. Across the industry, significant efforts are already underway to strengthen training and professionalism. Organizations such as the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), alongside educators and employers, continue to advance best practices, promote safety standards and invest in workforce development.

Yet, the industry remains highly decentralized. Training approaches vary by employer and available resources, making it difficult for the public – and sometimes even clients – to fully understand the depth of knowledge and skill required to perform tree care safely and effectively.

RAPs help address this challenge by providing a standardized framework that reinforces arboriculture as a skilled trade built through education and progressive skill development. They combine paid, on-the-job training with structure-related instruction, progressive wage increases and clearly defined, competency-based benchmarks aligned with industry standards. These features make apprenticeship uniquely suited to tree care, where experience, mentorship and safety are essential.

For employers, RAPs support long-term workforce planning by setting training expectations, improving retention and developing a production-focused workforce. For workers, RAPs provide clear career pathways and nationally recognized, transferable credentials.

By formalizing how skills are learned and measured over time, apprenticeships make visible the expertise behind the work. As clients and the public gain better understanding of the training, education and experience required in tree care – beyond physical labor alone – the profession gains credibility and respect. This recognition benefits the entire industry, from improved safety outcomes to stronger client trust and long-term business sustainability. As a workforce-development model, RAPs are flexible and customizable, allowing the industry to reflect regional conditions, employer needs and established standards, including those already promoted by organizations like TCIA.

Pictured are three of the apprentices who completed the ARA program in 2025.

Openlands Arborist Registered Apprenticeship program
The Arborist Registered Apprenticeship (ARA) program is one such adaptation of the RAP model, developed to support the Chicago-region’s tree care industry. Administered by Openlands, the ARA is a three-year, Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship that creates entry-level opportunities into arboriculture while building the skills, knowledge and professional competency needed to be successful in the tree care industry.

Openlands partners with regional tree care employers who employ apprentices and provide on-the-job training in urban forestry, production arboriculture and plant healthcare. Apprentices advance through structured competencies and related technical instruction that directly complement their day-to-day work.

As of 2026, the Openlands Arborist Registered Apprenticeship program has reached key milestones:

• Thirty-three apprentices enrolled.
• Five apprentices completed the three-year program.
• Five apprentices received their ISA certifications.
• Eight participating regional employer partners.
• Pre-apprenticeship program launched in 2025.

These outcomes reflect sustained apprentice engagement and strong employer support, while also highlighting the long-term investment required for a successful RAP.

Strengthening career pathways
One of the most notable program developments has been the introduction of the pre-apprenticeship program. Developed in partnership with the Student Conservation Association, Openlands piloted this program in 2025 after recognizing that many prospective apprentices benefit from early exposure to arboriculture before committing to a formal three-year RAP.

The pre-apprenticeship provides hands-on experience, orientation to safety and fieldwork and workplace readiness training, while introducing participants to career pathways in arboriculture. The initial cohort included three participants, all of whom successfully enrolled in the ARA program after completing the pre-apprenticeship. This outcome demonstrates the effectiveness of pre-apprenticeship as a bridge into registered apprenticeship.

Successes and lessons learned
As it enters its sixth year overseeing its Arborist Registered Apprenticeship (ARA) program, Openlands has seen meaningful successes, as well as opportunities for continued improvement. Developing a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) requires intentional planning, and Openlands’ emphasis on quality over quantity has resulted in strong outcomes for both apprentices and employers.

Participation from eight employer partners – Cantigny, Davey Tree, Emerald Tree Care, Kramer Tree Specialists, SavATree, Winkler Tree & Lawn Care, The Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Park District – reflects growing confidence in the ARA program as a workforce-development strategy. The pre-apprenticeship pilot has further strengthened entry-level pathways by reducing barriers for participation and helping individuals better understand the expectations and opportunities within arboriculture.

While progress has been meaningful, Openlands continues to make improvements to the ARA program. Standardizing training across employers remains complex, particularly as the program evolves and expands. While a related technical-instruction curriculum is in place, continued collaboration among employers, training providers and regional industry partners is needed to ensure consistency, quality and accessibility.

Conclusion
The long-term strength of the tree care industry depends on a skilled, well-trained workforce, and building that workforce cannot fall on individual companies or organizations alone. Registered Apprenticeship Programs provide a proven framework for developing talent, but their success relies on broad industry participation.

Tree care companies, industry associations, educators and workforce partners all have a role to play. Employers can explore how apprenticeship fits within their operations, experienced arborists can serve as mentors and industry leaders can continue advancing consistent training standards that support safety, quality and career mobility.

By investing collectively in workforce tools such as Registered Apprenticeship Programs, the industry can move beyond short-term labor solutions and toward a more sustainable workforce – one that supports workers, strengthens businesses and ensures the future of professional tree care.

Katie Fleming is an ISA Certified Arborist and director of conservation workforce at Openlands, a nonprofit organization with a mission to protect, preserve and restore land, water and wildlife in northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region.