"Utility Arborist" means a person who undertakes any work required to prune or clear vegetation in proximity* to energized electrical equipment, structures and conductors or who in the course of utility line clearing operations, prunes, falls or removes trees which could come into contact with energized power lines. (*Proximity is defined as a distance of three meters or less from a primary conductor with a voltage of 750 volts or greater.)
Only certified Utility Arborists and Utility Arborist apprentices are permitted to perform tree pruning or falling work in proximity to energized power lines in British Columbia.
Note: The Utility Arborist challenge pathway is only open to challengers who have trade-related work experience from outside of BC.
Program Updates:
The exam weighting charts are available for the Cerificate of Qualification and level 1. They show the approximate percentage of weighting per General Area of Competency (GAC).
Program Information
The documents below offer detailed information specific to this program.
Challenge Certification/Recognize Prior Experience
If you have significant work experience in a trade but have never been certified in Canada, you may apply to challenge the certification.
OR
If you sponsor apprentices but have never been certified in Canada, you may request to supervise and sign-off apprentices when they are ready to be certified. Please refer to the application form on whether this trade qualifies.
- Instructions
- How to Apply
- Download(PDF 260.34 KB)
- Application Form
- Personal information and exams scheduling information (for challenge option)
- Download(PDF 173.84 KB)
- Employer Declaration
- Document of relevant work experience
- Download(PDF 226.62 KB)
- Statutory Declaration
- Attestation for self-employment/work experience when employer cannot be contacted
- Download(PDF 262.26 KB)
