Certified Treecare Safety Professional

TCIA’s Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP) program is the only safety credentialing program in the industry and is designed to address several of the safety challenges that tree care companies face.

The ideal CTSP shares attributes of a coach, including:

  • Good communication skills
  • Strong instructional skills
  • Model behavior that leads to a safer work environment
Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP) program

Eligibility Requirements

To become eligible for the Certified Treecare Safety Professional program, you must meet at least one of following requirements: 

  • Three years’ of technical field experience in tree care with at least one year of assumed responsibility for safety (i.e., crew leader, trainer, safety committee member, emergency responder, certified CPR/first aid provider, etc.)
  • Six months’ technical field experience in arboriculture and one year in a professional safety position
  • Two- or four-year degree in Arboriculture, Forestry, Ornamental/Environmental Horticulture, Natural Resources, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Safety or other related field with an internship that provided technical field experience

Municipal and Utility Arborists: 
Because your employers are ineligible for TCIA membership, the CTSP program extends TCIA member pricing to you for enrollment and certification workshops as a professional courtesy.

Please call 800-733-2622 for details.

Why CTSP?

Employees

A CTSP does more than simply educate a team in safe work practices. As a safety “coach,” a CTSP works to develop and nurture a safe work environment in four key areas:

  • Leadership
  • Hazard identification
  • Incident control and prevention
  • Adult learning

This program provides you with a well-rounded education in safety concepts, plus the tools needed to effectively communicate on the job site.

Employers

Safety programs are a small investment in the longevity and profitability of your business. Having a CTSP on staff will help:

  • Increase production and reduce time lost to employee injuries and accidents
  • Favorable perception by insurers and regulatory entities for taking proactive safety measures
  • Market your safety commitment to potential and current customers

“Safety is not a component of this certification, it is the certification.”
- John Ball, CTSP

The CTSP Process

  1. Enroll
    Candidates should first fill out the CTSP Enrollment Application and return to TCIA (fax or mail) with the enrollment fee.

    TCIA will review the application and if approved, you will have 18 months in which to complete the remaining CTSP requirements and certification process.
  2. Prepare
    Once enrolled, the candidate will receive the CTSP Study Guide with Critical Thinking Exercises. Designed to build your skills and knowledge of Safety Management, these must be completed and submitted to TCIA. They will be reviewed, but not graded.
  3. Participate + Certify
    Candidates will attend an Advanced Safety/Behavioral Workshop, which will cover teaching safety concepts, plus help candidates’ develop a coaching style based on their own company’s needs.

    The Workshop is comprised of one full (8 hour) day and 2 hours of instruction the following morning, followed by a 3 hour time period allotted for the exam.  Multiple workshops are held throughout the year and in locations nationwide. See schedule below.
  4. If you do not pass the exam, you are allowed two retakes. There are several options:
    • Retake the entire workshop at a half price plus the exam administration fee of $25.
    • Retake exam only (admin fee $25) at a future workshop.
    • Visit one of over 40 proctored test facilities around the US to take the exam. Fill out the Proctor Registration Form and choose the Proctor Center from the link below.
    Find a proctored testing facility
  5. Maintain + Renew Your CTSP
    CTSP’s must always be developing their knowledge and expertise in safety through constant learning and growth, teaching others, the implementation of CTSP’s teachings, and through contributing to the intellectual property of the CTSP program. To maintain CTSP, candidates must also obtain 30 CEUs during their three year recertification period and submit a renewal fee every three years.
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Upcoming Workshops

CTSP Resources