Climb your way to an exciting career in urban forestry with the Arboriculture Technician Certificate. Led by the guiding principles of tree management in sustainable urban ecosystems, this four month long program will equip you with current industry safety standards and practices while you hone your skills in the trees.
Led by industry trained instructors, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the life of trees by conducting ground and aerial operations, pruning and performing tree risk assessments. As the only program of it’s kind in Alberta, you’ll have the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience practicing your skills in our 12,000 square foot on campus Landscape Pavilion, along with the College’s urban forest.
Accreditation: Graduates are eligible to pursue a ISA credential or qualification through the International Society of Arboriculture.
Program Intakes: Winter Intake (January program start)
Applications Open: First Wednesday (9 a.m.) of February for the Winter Intake
Length of Program: Four Months
Method of Delivery: On-Campus
Credentials: Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will receive an Arboriculture Technician certificate from Olds College.
- “I feel very ready and confident going into the industry. The program was great, the instructors were friendly and we had many fun times.”
- Ian Zylicz
Admission Requirements
- 50% or better in English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2
- 50% or better in Math 20-1 or 20-2
- 50% or better in two of Biology 20, Chemistry 20, Science 20, OR One of Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Science 30
- Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement
Academic Upgrading and High School Applicants: Applicants currently in high school or who are completing academic upgrading must submit proof of enrollment and any available interim/midterm marks. Final marks must be submitted within one month following the completion of the course(s) and no later than one month prior to the program start date.
Alternate Admission Option: Alternate Admission status may be offered to applicants who have not or will not complete one of the academic admission requirements. To be considered under Alternate Admission Status, applicants will be asked to provide the following:
- (Required) Transcript(s) showing any completed high school and post-secondary courses
- (Required) Letter of Introduction and Intent, outlining the following:
- Introduce yourself
- Indicate why you wish to enrol in the program
- Elaborate on your career goals
- Detail your experience relevant to this program and the industry
- (Required) A resume of your work history, extracurricular activities, volunteer service, etc. for the last 5 years
- (Optional) Include copies of any tickets and/or certificates you currently hold (e.g.: first aid, safety tickets, etc.)
- (Optional) Letter(s) of reference from current or past employers/coaches/etc. (maximum of two letters)
*Submitting Alternate Admission material does not guarantee admission*
Out of Province Applicants: Please refer to the Provincial Equivalency Chart for course equivalencies.
International Applicants
Olds College welcomes applications from international applicants and those who have completed their high school education outside of Canada. Please note, it is still necessary to meet all of the noted admission requirements, including English Language Proficiency. Further information can be found on our website under International Students.
Transfer Options: Olds College has developed agreements with other educational institutions to allow for transition to Olds College, or to another institution to continue your education. Articulations & Agreements
Out of Province Applicants: Please refer to the Provincial Equivalency Chart for course equivalencies.
International Applicants: Olds College welcomes applications from International Applicants and those who have completed their high school education outside of Canada. Please note, it is still necessary to meet all of the noted admission requirements, including English Language Proficiency.
Tuition & Fees
- Tuition: $2,510 / Fees: $965 / Books & Supplies: $500
Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for complete details.
* Please note that international students pay 3.5 times the domestic tuition amount. These fees are provided as estimates only for the purposes of budgeting. All students should refer to the Fee Schedule for the most accurate information and all fees are subject to change.*
Scholarships & Student Awards
Olds College offers over 450 awards, valued at $500,000+ in scholarships, bursaries and prizes. Thanks to our industry partners, alumni, and friends of Olds College we are fortunate to offer a generous student awards program to students.
For additional information on scholarships, bursaries and prizes at Olds College, visit Scholarships & Awards
Entrance Awards Available!
Entrance awards range from $250 - $1500 for students applying for the 2022-2023 academic year and have a paid tuition deposit by June 15, 2022.
Awards are selected randomly from those that have applied and qualify based on the criteria.
Award will be applied as a tuition credit to the student's account after the add/drop course deadline, confirming full-time attendance.
Not all that apply will receive an entrance award.
Student Funding
For information on how to apply for government student loans, financial aid or for help with financial planning, visit our Student Funding page.
Course Details
For course descriptions and requisites, view the Academic Calendar.
Academic Calendar: Arboriculture Technician
Career Opportunities
Olds College has a solid reputation working with employers in the industry! This directly translates into jobs for our graduates. Opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Landscape firms
- Contracting for landscape services
- Grounds maintenance services
Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!
Admitted Student Information
Program Dates
Find out when your term start and end dates are, so that you know when you are expected to be in attendance. For more information, please review the Program Dates & Fee Schedule.
Class Registration
You will be registered into your classes automatically. This will happen approximately 1 month prior to the start-date for your program. You will be notified once you have been timetabled into your courses. You will be able to see your class schedule in your My Olds College account. If you need to make any changes to your class registration, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
Technology Recommendation
It is strongly recommended that you come to Olds College with the following technology:
- A laptop is preferred
As part of your student accounts, all students have access to Office 365 for the duration of their time with Olds College. To access this you just need to follow these steps:
- Go to portal.office.com
- Enter your Olds College email address and password
- Once logged in there is a button on the right that says "Install Office Apps"
This will give you access to the full Office suite on your computer, for both Windows and Mac based platforms.
Materials & Supplies:
The following items are required to be purchased before the program starts:
- Pair of CSA approved safety-toed boots
- Adequate clothing for outdoor activities
- Pair of good quality safety glasses
Information on required textbooks and any further supplies will be provided as you attend each class. All books and supplies will be available during the first few weeks of classes in the College Campus Store.
Other Important Information:
- Safety Regulations: Wearing safety equipment and abiding by industry safety standards is mandatory within our program.
- Time Requirements: Students are typically in class or on field trips for up to 3-8 hours a day, on each weekday, with normal class hours ranging from 8 am to 12:15 pm. Occasionally, overnight and weekend trips will occur. Ample forewarning of overnight stays and field trips, their times and dates will be provided along with the necessary requirements for attending them. You will also be expected to complete numerous assignments outside of regularly scheduled classes that will vary in terms of their demands upon your time. This amount of time will vary with each course that you take, but a reasonable estimate would be 50 hours per week of effort inclusive of class time.
- Additional Skills: Basic computer skills are recommended for all and it is certainly beneficial to have some prior experience with computers before you arrive at college. A familiarity and comfort in the use of Google products, word processing, spreadsheet and e-mailing software will be a definite asset. Students have the ability to take notes directly into their devices as the class proceeds. You will be schooled in other systems once you arrive and as need dictates. For example, the learning management system ‘Moodle’ is commonly used in the School of Animal Science and Horticulture and you will be introduced to its use and application in your very first classes.
- Student Clubs: The Horticulture and Turf Clubs are examples of groups that offer an additional dimension to your Olds College experience. There are also a number of college sports teams, some of which participate at the inter-collegiate level while others are purely recreational.
Lockers: Lockers are available in the Land Sciences Building. All you need to do during your first few days at Olds is to select one without a lock and it’s yours for the duration. It is strongly recommend that you select a locker in the first week of classes because of high demand. You are required to provide your own lock and to register your locker
For More Information
Our Admissions office can help navigate you through the admissions process and answer any questions you have about your program of study.
