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Education & Training
At BC Plant Health Care, arboriculture is our passion. As lifelong learners, educators, and environmental stewards with years of practical field experience, we're committed to teaching people how to maintain and preserve trees in the urban landscape, and how to do it safely.
Our programs are built for real skill development, not just credentials. That includes our five day Arborist Training Intensive and its individual component days, Tree Climbing Foundations, SRS Climbing, Applied Climbing and Work Positioning, and Emergency Preparedness and Aerial Rescue, alongside standalone courses in Chainsaw Operations and Safe Work Practices, Advanced Chainsaw Techniques and Storm Response, Pruning Woody Perennials, and Advanced Tree Risk Assessment Techniques. Every course is led by a team of trainers who are ISA Certified Arborists and TCIA Certified Tree Care Safety Professionals, built around WorkSafeBC, ANSI Z133, and industry safety standards.
Whether you're an arborist advancing your career, a company upskilling your crew, or someone in a related field, from urban forestry and municipal parks to emergency response, research, or a career change into tree care, we've built a program to meet you where you are.
Private & Custom Training
Looking to grow your team? Most of our courses are available as private, on demand sessions, fully scalable to your group size and customizable to your needs. For municipalities and tree companies, this includes SWP reviews, tree climber safety assessments, cabling and bracing workshops, aerial lift orientation, operations, and rescue training, and basic and advanced rigging courses, alongside private sessions in tree climbing, chainsaw safety, and aerial rescue. BC Plant Health Care carries full WCB, Liability, and Errors & Omissions insurance, so you can train your team with confidence.
If you have a large group interested in taking a course, we will happily customize classes, seminars, and lectures to meet your needs.
Don’t see the course you’re looking for? We are always open to creating new programs. Call us at 604-575-8727 to book a private course or ask about building a new program for your organization.
Featured Public Courses
Public Courses
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CA$580.00
Advanced Chainsaw Techniques and Storm Response — Hands-On Intensive
For operators who've got the fundamentals down and want to go further.
Running Friday February 26, 2027
Ready to go further than basic chainsaw safety training? Day 1 teaches you to run a saw safely. This is the day you build real skill: filing your own chain sharp enough to matter, cutting confidently through oversized wood, and knowing exactly what to do when a piece of wood is holding enough stored energy to hurt you. Then, in the afternoon, we hand you rope and rigging tools and start building the skills that separate a competent operator from an advanced one.
This is an intensive, small-group day. Almost all of it is hands-on.
[Enroll Now — $580]
Who This Is For
This course is built for operators who are ready to move past the basics:
Graduates of our Chainsaw Operations and Safe Work Practices course (or an equivalent safety course), completed within the last 18 months
Arborists, municipalities, landscapers, and horticulturalists looking to sharpen advanced technique
Industry professionals in mining and natural resources
Anyone who wants serious, coached repetitions on advanced cuts — not just a refresher
Because this is an advanced, hands-on day, we ask that participants come in with demonstrated chainsaw safety competence. For safety reasons, instructors reserve the right to hold a participant back from a practical exercise if they assess that the participant isn't yet ready to perform it safely.
Why This Day Is Different
Only 8 spots. We cap this course at 8 participants — far smaller than a standard class — so you get significantly more one-on-one coaching, more reps, and more time actually running a saw.
Built around practice, not lecture. You'll spend the vast majority of the day in the field, working through real cuts and real problems rather than sitting through theory.
Course Highlights:
Substantially More Hands-On: This day is built around reps, not lecture — expect to spend the vast majority of your time with a saw in hand.
Small Group Size: Limited to just 8 participants, giving you significantly more one-on-one coaching time than a standard course.
Advanced Curriculum: Filing and sharpening, notches, bore cuts, managing oversized wood, and relieving stored energy in the morning; rope work and ground-based rigging in the afternoon.
What You'll Work On
Morning — Filing Clinic & Advanced Cutting
An extended, hands-on filing and sharpening clinic: proper technique, chain maintenance, and tuning your saw to actually perform
Notches, bore cuts, and other advanced cut sequences
Techniques for safely managing oversized wood
Identifying and relieving immense stored energy in wood — and understanding the domino effect of altering that stress
Real-world scenario work: uprooted trees, large peelouts, and logs across the road
Afternoon — Rope Work & Ground-Based Rigging
Introduction to rope work fundamentals
Ground-based rigging tools and techniques
Putting it together: applying rigging alongside the cutting techniques from the morning session
Equipment Requirements:
Personal Protective Equipment (chaps rated at 3600 FPM threshold speed or greater, hard hat with face screen, ear and eye protection, steel-toed boots). *If you don't have chaps, hard hat with face screen, or hearing protection, let us know! We can supply these.
Your chainsaw, maintenance tools, and wedges. Given the advanced nature of this course, a saw in the 70cc+ range equipped with all WSBC-required safety features and bumper spikes is recommended. We can supply a limited number of chainsaws — let us know in advance if you need one.
Rope and rigging equipment for the afternoon session will be provided for training purposes.
Certificate of Achievement:
There's no paper test. Successfully work through the hands-on learning material with your instructors and you'll receive a Certificate of Achievement — recognition of advanced, safe chainsaw operation, not just attendance.
Enroll Today: Spaces are limited, so don't miss your chance to embark on a day of immersive learning where safety and proficiency are our top priorities. Enroll now for an enriching experience that will elevate your chainsaw operation skills!
Program Details:
Duration: One-day intensive course (7 hours)
Location: BCPHC Training Facility - 18465 53rd Ave, Surrey, BC
Date: 8:00am - 4:00pm, February 26, 2027
Investment: $580 per participant
With only 8 seats, this course sells out fast. [Enroll Now — $580]
Booking for a Team or Organization?
Private and commercial group courses are available. Contact us for rates and we'll arrange a session tailored to your crew.
Our 1-day Chainsaw Operations and Safe Work Practices course builds the foundation. This is where you sharpen the edge.
[Enroll Now — $580]
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CA$2,500.00
Arborist Training Intensive Program
Running March 8 - 12, 2027
Build real, employable climbing and rope access skills with BC Plant Health Care's Arborist Training Intensive, a five day, hands on program grounded in WorkSafeBC standards and current industry practice. Whether you're a company sending an employee to upskill, an arborist refining advanced technique, or new to climbing altogether, you'll leave with a complete, practical skillset, not just a certificate. No prior climbing experience is required to start on Day 1.
Who This Program Is For
Arborists building on their existing skillset
Companies upskilling employees in safe climbing and rope access
People learning how to climb trees safely for the first time, no experience needed
Forestry professionals transitioning into arboriculture or another tree focused career
Naturalists and biologists who need canopy access for field work
Fire and rescue, police, and military personnel building technical rope and aerial rescue skills
Anyone ready for a genuinely new challenge and a memorable week outdoors
Course Overview
Each day builds directly on the last, so you finish the week with a full, integrated skillset rather than one isolated technique.
Day 1: Foundational Climbing Safety
Introduction to tree climbing equipment and safety standards
Personal protective equipment and gear inspection, application and use
Knot tying and rope system fundamentals
Safe rope ascent and decent
Practical skills development
Supervised hands-on practice
Day 2: MRS Skills (Moving Rope System)
Tree selection and hazard assessment
Moving rope system setup and inspection
Ascent and descent techniques using MRS
Body thrusting, footlocking, and other in canopy movement methods
Repositioning and traversing between anchor points
Supervised hands on climbing practice
Day 3: SRS (Single Rope System)
MRS vs. SRS climbing systems overview
SRS gear application, inspection and use
SRS setup and anchor types and limitations
Mechanical and friction based ascent devices
SRS specific descent and positioning techniques
Transitioning between SRS and MRS systems
Supervised hands on SRS climbing practice
Day 4: Applied Climbing and Work Positioning
A culminating skills day that brings everything from the week together through the lens of rigging, applying your climbing and work positioning technique in a real rigging context.
Rigging equipment identification, inspection, and use
Rigging specific knots and hitches
Accessibility considerations for rigging work
Applying climbing and work positioning skills to rigging tasks
Hands on, instructor guided application combining climbing, positioning, and rigging technique
Day 5: Aerial Rescue
Aerial rescue theory and planning
Rescuing a climber with a functioning climbing system
Rescuing a climber without a functioning climbing system
Spar pole rescue techniques
Building rescuable basal anchors for SRS and MRS
Aerial lift ground control and self rescue procedures
Why Train With Us
This program is led by a team of trainers who are ISA Certified Arborists and TCIA Certified Tree Care Safety Professionals with years of instructional experience, delivering technical rope, rigging, and rescue instruction to municipal and industry clients across BC, including the City of Vancouver, City of Coquitlam, and the City of Delta. Every day is built around current WorkSafeBC requirements and real world work practices, not just classroom theory.
Certification:
Participants receive a certificate of achievement for each day of training they complete, recognizing their progress through the Arborist Training Intensive.
Program Details:
Duration: Five day intensive program
Location: BCPHC Training Facility - 18465 53rd Ave, Surrey, BC
Date: March 8 – 12, 2027. 8am - 3pm.
Investment: $2500 per person
No climbing gear yet? No problem. Bring your own equipment if you have it, or let us know ahead of time and we'll supply what you need for the course.
Not ready to commit to the full week? The two day Foundational Climbing Safety package is also available on its own for $1,500, a lower commitment way to start building your skills before you take on the full program.
Enroll Today
Our 2024, 2025 and 2026 sessions sold out to their final spots. Build the technical foundation, rope skills, and rescue competency that set skilled arborists apart, and reserve your seat before this session fills.
Group Rates:
Have a group to train? This program is available as a private booking, with instructor numbers scaled to fit your group size. Contact us for available dates and pricing.
Contact Us: Learn@bcplanthealthcare.com | 18465 53rd Avenue, Surrey, BC | 604-575-8727
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CA$1,500.00
Foundational Tree Climbing Safety
A Two Day Course for Beginners
Running March 8 and 9, 2027
Need tree climbing skills for the arboriculture or forestry industry? For scientific research? For tactical applications in fire and rescue, police, or military work? For a recreational or creative pursuit? Build the foundational skills and confidence to safely start climbing trees in this two day course, designed for beginners and built by working arborists. No prior experience is necessary, just curiosity and a willingness to learn.
What You'll Learn
Day 1: Foundational Tree Climbing Safety
Introduction to tree climbing and its industry, scientific, and recreational applications
Personal protective equipment and gear inspection standards
Tree climbing equipment, its application, and use
Ropes, textiles, knot tying and rope system fundamentals
Fundamentals of tree climbing rope ascent and decent
Setting up modern climbing systems
Evolution of tree climbing techniques
Supervised hands on practice and application
Day 2: MRS Tree Climbing Skills and Techniques
Moving rope system (MRS) setup and inspection
Tree assessment and hazard analysis
Choosing anchors, installing cambium savers and setting ropes
Ascent and descent techniques using MRS
Footlocking, body thrusting, ascenders and other in canopy movement methods
Movement in the canopy, repositioning and traversing between anchor points
Supervised hands on climbing practice
Why Train With Us
Built for true beginners. You'll be supported step by step regardless of your fitness level or prior experience, with instruction paced to get you climbing safely and confidently by the end of Day 2.
Trained by real professionals. Led by a team of trainers who are ISA Certified Arborists and TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professionals, teaching current WorkSafeBC standards and real world practices, not just theory.
Instruction that scales with you. We adjust the number of instructors to match group size, so you get hands on guidance and personalized attention no matter how large the class.
A purpose built training facility. Train in a dedicated facility equipped with climbing structures designed to simulate real world tree climbing scenarios.
Who Can Join
This course is built for beginners and enthusiasts starting their journey into tree climbing, alongside arborists, foresters, biologists, researchers, and fire, rescue, police, or military personnel who need foundational rope access skills. No prior climbing experience is required.
Certification
Participants receive a certificate of achievement for the 2 days of training they complete.
Program Details:
Duration: Two-day intensive course.
Location: BCPHC Training Facility - 18465 53rd Ave, Surrey, BC
Date: March 8 and 9, 2027. 8am - 3pm
Investment: $1500 per person
No climbing gear yet? No problem. Bring your own equipment if you have it, or let us know ahead of time and we'll supply what you need for the course.
Ready for More?
These two days are also Day 1 and Day 2 of our five day Arborist Training Intensive, which continues with SRS, applied climbing and rigging, and aerial rescue. Ask us about upgrading into the full program.
Enroll Today:
Build the foundational skills and confidence to start climbing trees safely. Reserve your seat today.
Group Bookings
Have a group to train? This course is available as a private booking, with instructor numbers scaled to fit your group size. Contact us for available dates and pricing.
Contact Us:
Learn@bcplanthealthcare.com | 18465 53rd Avenue, Surrey, BC | 604-575-8727
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CA$750.00
Introduction to Stationary Rope Systems Climbing Techniques
Running March 10, 2027
Day 3 of the Arborist Training Intensive
The Stationary Rope System (SRS) is a modern climbing technique where the rope stays fixed and the climber ascends and descends using mechanical devices or friction hitches. It offers greater energy efficiency, less physical strain, and more precise control in the canopy than traditional moving rope systems. This one day course is designed as the introductory companion to Applied Climbing and Work Positioning, giving experienced climbers the SRS foundation needed before putting those skills to work. It's built for arborists, foresters, and other experienced tree climbers looking to add SRS to their skillset, upskill, or validate technique they already have, in arboriculture and forestry, scientific research, or tactical fire and rescue, police, and military rope work.
This course requires prior tree climbing experience. It builds directly on the skills taught in Days 1 and 2 of the Arborist Training Intensive, Foundational Tree Climbing Safety and MRS Skills, or equivalent hands on climbing experience. This is not a beginner course and is not open to climbers without prior tree climbing training. If you're new to climbing, start with our Tree Climbing Foundations course first.
What You'll Learn
Advantages of SRS over traditional moving rope systems, including efficiency, reduced strain, and control
SRS mechanics: rope tension, load distribution, and how SRS anchors differ from moving rope systems
Equipment overview: static climbing ropes, rope wrenches, mechanical ascenders, friction devices, and backup systems like lanyards and prusiks
Anchor systems and forces, including how angles affect anchor strength
Ascent techniques and mechanical ascender setups
Descent techniques: managing friction and control with rope wrenches, descenders, and hitch based systems
An introduction to work positioning in the canopy, setting up the transition into Day 4
Supervised, hands on SRS climbing practice, including a direct comparison to MRS technique
Why Train With Us
Trained by real professionals. Led by a team of trainers who are ISA Certified Arborists and TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professionals, teaching current WorkSafeBC standards and real world practices, not just theory.
Hands on learning. This course prioritizes supervised, practical climbing time, so you leave with real, applicable SRS skill, not just notes.
Instruction that scales with you. We adjust the number of instructors to match group size, so you get hands on guidance and personalized attention no matter how large the class.
Who Can Join
This course is for climbers with existing tree climbing experience, including arborists and foresters upskilling their technique, and researchers or fire, rescue, police, or military personnel with a rope access background looking to add or validate SRS skill. Prior foundational tree climbing training is required.
Certification
Participants receive a certificate of achievement for completing the course.
Program Details:
Duration: One-day intensive course
Location: BCPHC Training Facility - 18465 53rd Ave, Surrey, BC
Date: March 10, 2027, 8:00am to 3:00pm
Investment: $750 per person
No climbing gear yet? No problem. Bring your own equipment if you have it, or let us know ahead of time and we'll supply what you need for the course.
Ready for More?
This course is built to lead straight into Day 4, Applied Climbing and Work Positioning, where you'll put SRS technique to work through the lens of rigging, and Day 5, Aerial Rescue. For the full experience, we encourage you to take this as Day 3 of our five day Arborist Training Intensive, which continues seamlessly from here. A discounted 3-day package covering Days 3 through 5 is also available if the full week isn't the right fit. Ask us for current pricing.
Enroll Today
Add modern, efficient SRS technique to your climbing skillset, and set yourself up for Day 4 and 5. Reserve your seat today.
Group Bookings
Have a group to train? This course is available as a private booking, with instructor numbers scaled to fit your group size. Contact us for available dates and pricing.
Contact Us:
Learn@bcplanthealthcare.com | 18465 53rd Avenue, Surrey, BC | 604-575-8727
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CA$750.00
Applied Climbing and Work Positioning
Day 4 of the Arborist Intensive Training Program
Running March 11, 2027
This one day course is the culminating skills day of the Arborist Training Intensive, bringing your climbing and work positioning technique together through the lens of rigging. Instead of treating rigging as an isolated technical skill, you'll apply it directly to real climbing and work positioning scenarios, learning to move, position, and rig with purpose rather than just for the sake of climbing.
This course requires prior tree climbing experience and is not a beginner course. It builds directly on Days 1 through 3 of the Arb Intensive, Foundational Tree Climbing Safety, MRS Skills, and SRS, or equivalent experience across all three.
What You'll Learn
Applying climbing and work positioning skills in a real rigging context
Advanced work positioning technique for canopy based rigging tasks
Rigging equipment identification, inspection, and safe use, including block and tackle systems
Positioning yourself and your equipment efficiently for rigging accessibility
Rigging specific knots and hitches, applied directly in climbing setups
Anchor selection and evaluation for rigging loads
Load force fundamentals: mechanical advantage and managing dynamic loads
ANSI Z133 and WorkSafeBC compliance for rigging operations
Rope selection, inspection, and maintenance for rigging setups
Extended, instructor guided application combining climbing, work positioning, and rigging technique
Why Train With Us
Trained by real professionals. Led by a team of trainers who are ISA Certified Arborists and TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professionals, teaching current WorkSafeBC and ANSI Z133 standards alongside real world practices.
Hands on learning. This course prioritizes extended, supervised application time, so you leave with rigging and positioning skill you can actually use on the job, not just notes.
Instruction that scales with you. We adjust the number of instructors to match group size, so you get hands on guidance and personalized attention no matter how large the class.
Who Can Join
This course is for climbers with significant prior tree climbing experience, including foundational, MRS, and SRS skills, who are ready to bring it all together in an applied, rigging based context. This includes arborists and foresters advancing their technique, and researchers or fire, rescue, police, or military personnel building toward advanced rope access capability.
Certification
Participants receive a certificate of achievement for completing the course.
Program Details:
Duration: One-day intensive course
Location: BCPHC Training Facility - 18465 53rd Ave, Surrey, BC
Date: March 11, 2027 from 8:00am to 11:30pm.
Investment: $750 per person
Ready for More?
As Day 4, this course sits between Day 3, SRS Climbing, and Day 5, Aerial Rescue, all part of our five day Arborist Training Intensive. A 2-day package covering SRS and Applied Climbing (Days 3 and 4) is available, as well as a discounted 3-day package covering Days 3 through 5. Ask us for current pricing.
Enroll Today
Bring your climbing, positioning, and rigging skills together in one culminating day. Reserve your seat today.
Group Bookings
Have a group to train? This course is available as a private booking, with instructor numbers scaled to fit your group size. Contact us for available dates and pricing.
Contact Us:
Learn@bcplanthealthcare.com | 18465 53rd Avenue, Surrey, BC | 604-575-8727
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CA$650.00
Emergency Preparedness and Aerial Rescue for Arborists
Day 5 of the Arborist Training Intensive
Running March 12, 2027
Aerial rescue is one of the most critical, highest consequence skills in arboriculture, and it's not optional. WorkSafeBC Part 26 requires that arborists working aloft have rescue capability on site. This course is built around that requirement, along with the Tree Care Industry Association's Aerial Rescue Training Program and ANSI Z133 safety requirements, giving you and your team the tools and confidence to respond when something goes wrong in the canopy, and helping your company stay compliant while doing it.
Course Format
We believe real rescue competence comes from repetition, not classroom time. This course starts with a gear check and a short theory session covering the essentials, then moves straight into the field for the rest of the day, running through real rescue scenarios again and again. The more times you've physically performed a technique, the more reliably you'll execute it under real pressure.
What You'll Learn
Gear checking and safety systems validation
Aerial rescue theory and planning for accident avoidance
Rescuing a climber who still has a functioning climbing system
Rescuing a climber who does not have a functioning climbing system
Spar pole rescues without a high anchor point
Building rescuable basal anchors for both MRS and SRS
Aerial lift self rescues
Stress Inoculum exercises to make the practice come to life
Why Train With Us
Practice, not just theory. We believe reps and repetition are what make a rescue technique reliable in a real emergency, so this course is built to maximize hands on practice time over classroom time.
Trained by real professionals. Led by a team of trainers who are ISA Certified Arborists and TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professionals, teaching to WorkSafeBC Part 26, TCIA, and ANSI Z133 standards.
Instruction that scales with you. We adjust the number of instructors to match group size, so you get hands on guidance and personalized attention no matter how large the class.
Who Can Attend
While experience in arboriculture is recommended, no formal certification is required, and this course is open to arborists and apprentices at any skill level, as well as emergency responders and anyone else who needs to be ready to respond to an aerial emergency. Since scenarios involve working aloft, participants should be physically capable of climbing and comfortable working at height.
Don't have equipment? Attendees are required to bring mandatory PPE and their standard tree climbing gear, and rental climbing kits are available for anyone who needs one.
Certification
Participants who successfully demonstrate an aerial rescue in one or more of the course scenarios receive a certificate of completion.
Program Details:
Duration: One-day intensive course
Location: BCPHC Training Facility - 18465 53rd Ave, Surrey, BC
Date: March 12, 2027, 8:00am to 3:00pm
Investment: $650 per person
Ready for More?
This is the final day of our five day Arborist Training Intensive, completing the arc that runs from foundational safety through SRS and applied climbing. Aerial Rescue has consistently been our strongest standalone day, session after session. A discounted 3-day package covering Days 3 through 5 is also available. Or sign up for the whole week. Ask us for current pricing.
Enroll Today
Be ready before an emergency happens, not after. Spaces are limited, so reserve your seat today.
Group Bookings
Have a group to train? This course is available as a private booking, with instructor numbers scaled to fit your group size. Contact us for available dates and pricing.
Contact Us:
Learn@bcplanthealthcare.com | 18465 53rd Avenue, Surrey, BC | 604-575-8727
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CA$360.00
The Art, Science, and Practice of Pruning
Most pruning courses teach cuts, not judgment. If you’re looking for professional pruning training in Surrey or Metro Vancouver, our one-day Pruning Techniques course focuses on making informed, defensible pruning decisions—not just where to cut.
This 8-hour, in-person course provides hands-on training for arborists, landscapers, and municipal staff responsible for pruning woody perennials in streets, parks, and managed landscapes. Instruction integrates plant biology, species-specific growth habits, industry standards, and supervised field practice.
Participants learn how to evaluate structure, health, risk, and objectives to apply species-appropriate pruning that supports long-term plant performance, longevity, and public safety. Training is aligned with ISA Best Management Practices and ANSI A300 (Part 1) – Pruning.
What You’ll Learn in This Pruning Course
Tree Pruning Science
How trees grow and respond to pruning over time
Photosynthesis, phenology, and energy allocation
Branch structure, compartmentalization, and tree defense systems
Seasonal timing and species-specific pruning considerations
Practical Pruning Techniques
Establishing pruning objectives based on species and site conditions
Identifying branch collars, bark ridges, and proper cut locations
Executing proper pruning cuts to minimize decay and structural damage
The three-step cut method
Pruning types: crown cleaning, crown raising, thinning, reduction, and restoration
Structural & Aesthetic Pruning
Reading tree architecture and growth habits
Balancing aesthetics, safety, structure, and performance
Why accurate species identification is critical to pruning success
Who This Pruning Course Is For
This professional pruning training is ideal for:
Certified arborists and arborist apprentices
Municipal parks and public works staff
Landscape professionals and crew leads
Groundskeepers and facility maintenance teams
Gardeners seeking professional-level pruning knowledge
Program Details
Location: BCPHC Training Facility, 18465 53rd Avenue, Surrey, BC (serving Metro Vancouver & Fraser Valley)
Date: March 17, 2027 from 8am until 3pm
Cost: $360 + tax per person.
Why Choose BCPHC for Pruning Training in BC?
Delivered by experienced consulting arborists and educators
Designed for real-world municipal and commercial work
Standards-aligned and defensible
Emphasis on safety, quality, and long-term plant performance
Trusted by municipalities and professionals across British Columbia
Group & Municipal Pruning Training
This pruning course can be delivered privately for municipalities, contractors, and organizations across Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Custom scheduling and group pricing available.
Register for Professional Pruning Training
Secure your spot in this one-day pruning certification course in Surrey, BC and give your team the skills to prune with confidence, consistency, and purpose.
📍 18465 53rd Avenue, Surrey, BC
📞 604-575-8727
Sold Out
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CA$495.00
ISA Certified Arborist® Exam Prep – Guided Study Series
Focused. Efficient. Built for Exam Writers.
Preparing for the ISA Certified Arborist® exam can feel overwhelming. The volume of material is large, the domains are broad, and self-study often leaves candidates unsure where to focus.
The ISA Certified Arborist® Exam Prep – Guided Study Series is a 6-week, instructor-led program designed specifically for individuals planning to write the ISA exam within the next 1–3 months. This course provides structure, clarity, and context—helping you study more efficiently and approach the exam with confidence.
This is guided exam preparation, not a general arboriculture course.
Who This Course Is For
Individuals actively preparing to write the ISA Certified Arborist® exam
Arborists and tree workers with field experience who want clearer exam focus
Candidates who prefer structured study over self-directed reading
Professionals who want to reduce study time and avoid unnecessary content
This course is not intended for casual learners or those new to arboriculture.
Course Format
6 weekly sessions
2 hours per session
Evening delivery (6:00–8:00 pm)
Hybrid format: in-person attendance or recorded access
Sessions are recorded for registered participants only
Designed to fit around full-time work schedules.
What You’ll Learn
This series focuses on high-value exam content, emphasizing clarity in commonly misunderstood domains and how ISA concepts are tested.
Topics include:
Tree biology, structure, and growth principles
Soils, water relations, and nutrition
Pruning theory and application
Diagnosis, disorders, and plant health care
Tree risk assessment and management concepts
Trees and construction
Urban forestry fundamentals
Tree worker safety principles
Instruction connects exam terminology to real-world practice, helping concepts stick.
How This Course Helps You Pass
Breaks down complex domains into manageable study blocks
Highlights where candidates commonly lose points
Provides exam-focused explanations—not just definitions
Encourages exam booking during the course to create momentum
Reinforces learning through discussion and guided review
Supplemental online study resources and practice materials are included.
Program Details
Duration: 6 classes across 6 weeks. 6pm to 8pm
Delivery: Hybrid (in-person + recorded)
Location:
BCPHC Training Facility
18465 53rd Ave, Surrey, BCDates: Late Summer / Early Fall 2026 (exact dates TBD)
Investment: $495 per seat.
Why Learn With Us
Instruction is delivered by experienced arborists and educators with extensive field and training experience. Our approach emphasizes clarity, professionalism, and practical understanding—helping candidates feel prepared, not rushed.
Planning to Write the ISA Exam Soon?
This course is designed for candidates planning to write the ISA Certified Arborist® exam within the next 1–3 months.
Registration is limited to maintain a focused, discussion-driven learning environment.
Featured Private & Custom Courses
Private & Custom Courses
Rigging fundamentals don't change based on how your team gets into position, but the technique does. This course builds foundational rigging skill delivered either from an aerial lift or from a climb, whichever matches how your crew actually works.
Your climbing crew is only as safe as the procedure they're following. We review and revise your Tree Climbing SWP against WorkSafeBC Part 26 and ANSI Z133, then rebuild it into a document your field staff will actually use.
Not every structurally compromised tree needs to come down. This full-day, hands-on workshop trains your team to recognize structural defects, decide when cabling or bracing is the right call, and install and maintain both static and dynamic support systems to ANSI A300 standards. Delivered wherever your team is, with real supervised installation practice, not just a walkthrough of the hardware.
Recognize hazardous trees before they become an incident, not after. This private, in-field course teaches your team the warning signs, defects, and failure patterns to watch for, and how to communicate what they see clearly enough to get it acted on. Scheduled around your team, delivered wherever you are.
Go beyond visual assessment and into the tools that quantify what's actually happening inside the tree, including decay detection with resistance microdrills and sonic tomography. Delivered in partnership with PNW ISA, this advanced Level 3 course is built for experienced assessors, not an entry point into the field.
The BCPHC Journey
Training with BCPHC is a real pathway, not a single course. Start with Chainsaw Operations and Safe Work Practices or Tree Climbing Foundations, build toward SRS, Applied Climbing and Work Positioning, and Aerial Rescue, and keep growing from there with advanced courses like Advanced Tree Risk Assessment Techniques and Advanced Chainsaw Techniques and Storm Response. We've also built long standing education partnerships with municipalities across the region, including the cities of Vancouver, Coquitlam, Delta, Surrey, Langley, and Richmond, so wherever you're starting from, there's a clear next step.
Our Commitment
Our core values are safety, quality, and efficiency. We measure success by whether you can actually perform the skill under real conditions, not just whether you sat through the material. Every completed course earns a certificate of achievement, plus ISA CEUs where applicable, documentation that holds up with employers and credentialing bodies alike.
We’ve got you covered. We carry full WCB, Liability, and Errors & Omission insurance as required by law.
Our Instructors
Our instructors are ISA Certified Arborists and TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professionals who run crews in the field, keeping their own teammates safe in a fast paced, real world environment. They lead our in-house crew training as well as the courses you'll take, so you're learning the same techniques they use to keep their own teams safe every day. They're down to earth, experienced, and skilled at meeting participants where they are, using a range of teaching methods to safely bring every participant to a new level, with class sizes and instructor ratios built around real learning outcomes, not just filling a room.
Our Facility
Our state of the art, purpose built training facility in Surrey, BC is built on green design principles, and it's the same place where our own field employees train and move up through the ranks, so you're learning in a space that's proven on our own crews, not just built for show. We furnish the equipment for every course, giving you the chance to try different gear and see what actually works for you, rather than being limited to whatever you already own.
The facility features a dedicated climbing tree, a spar pole log, and six rope access stations, alongside a full range of industry tools. Our on site arboretum is a living collection of more than 100 tree and plant species, where we climb real, living trees and use the collection directly in our pruning and tree identification courses.
While training at our facility offers a uniquely hands on experience, we also deliver full courses on site, bringing our training directly to you in the setting that works best for your team.
Custom Experiences
If you have a large group interested in taking a course, we will happily customize classes, seminars, and lectures to meet your needs.
Don’t see the course you’re looking for? We are always open to creating new programs.
Chainsaw Operations and Safe Work Practices
Running February 25, 2027
Welcome to a transformative chainsaw operation experience! Our one-day personal and professional development opportunity is crafted to equip you with the specific training needed to safely operate, inspect, and maintain chainsaws. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned professional, this course is designed for all experience levels and user groups, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience tailored to your needs.
This course is ideal for arborists, landscapers, and horticulturalists; industry professionals in mining and natural resources; hunters; homeowners and enthusiasts; and anyone looking to build safe, confident chainsaw skills, regardless of prior experience.
Private bookings are available upon request — contact us to arrange a session for your team or organization.
Course Highlights:
Theoretical and Practical Knowledge: Our course composition aligns with WorkSafe BC and industry standards, delivering both theoretical insights and practical hands-on sessions.
Interactive Learning: With a strong emphasis on interactive learning, with a 6:1 participant : instructor ratio, we ensure optimum student-to-teacher ratios for improved learner retention.
Added Value: While the core content remains consistent, we tailor each delivery to provide added value based on the unique characteristics of the group we are instructing.
Duration:
This day long course runs for approximately 7 hours, broken up into a 3 hour indoor theoretical seminar; and 4 hours outside for practical skills workshop.
Chainsaw Operations and Safe Work Practices Curriculum:
From power saw injury statistics and WorkSafe BC-required PPE to chainsaw safety features, lockout/tagout procedures, and proper starting technique, this course builds a complete foundation in safe operation. Hands-on practice is central to the day — using a "meet you where you are at" approach, instructors work individually with each participant on correct ergonomics, safe work positioning, and saw control, building confidence and safe habits at whatever your current skill level, while also covering worksite and work zone assessment and the physics behind binds, compression, and tension in wood. Cutting technique instruction covers releasing top, bottom, and heavy binds, additional cut sequences, and working with uprooted trees and sloped terrain. The day rounds out with basic field maintenance (chain tensioning, sharpening, filter and clutch cover care), troubleshooting, emergency and job-site planning, and the mental and physical preparedness that underpins a genuine safety-first culture.
Equipment Requirements:
Personal Protective Equipment (chaps rated at 3600 FPM threshold speed or greater, hard hat with face screen, ear and eye protection, steel-toed boots).
*If you don’t have chaps, hardhat with face screen, or hear protection, let us know! We can supply these.
Your chainsaw and maintenance tools. While we can supply a limited number of chainsaws and chaps, we encourage participants to use familiar equipment for optimal comfort and efficiency.
*If you don’t have a chainsaw, but are interested in taking this course, let us know so we can supply you the tools to learn!
Certificate of Achievement:
Testing and assessment provide timely feedback, and all successful candidates scoring 70% or higher receive a certificate of achievement, acknowledging their commitment to safe chainsaw operation.
Enroll Today: Spaces are limited, so don't miss your chance to embark on a day of immersive learning where safety and proficiency are our top priorities. Enroll now for an enriching experience that will elevate your chainsaw operation skills!
Program Details:
Duration: One-day intensive course (7 hours)
Location: BCPHC Training Facility - 18465 53rd Ave, Surrey, BC
Date: 8:00am - 3:00pm, February 25, 2027
Investment: $380 per participant
Eligible for 8 ISA CEUs.
Private/Commercial Group courses available - Contact us for rates.