Every day, arborists across the country work in one of the most dangerous industries. The need for comprehensive, professional safety training is essential. To meet this need, in 2013 the TCIA Foundation launched the Arborist Safety Training Institute (ASTI). ASTI was created to help prevent injuries and fatalities in the tree care industry by funding quality, local, and affordable safety training.

ASTI has awarded over $100,000 in training grants just this past year (April 2024-2025) to companies like Ahlum & Arbor Tree Preservation, City of Bay Village, Georgia Arborist Association, ISA Southern, Oak Bros, San Antonio Arborist Association, and Jackson Arborist Consulting to support and educate hundreds of tree care professionals nationwide.

“Although tree care workers receive some informal safety training, far too many professionals are at risk if they are not adequately trained,” said Erin Demers, Manager of Workforce Recruitment & Retention at TCIA. “ASTI-funded workshops expand access to essential safety training and ensure professionals receive the instruction they need—even if they can’t afford it.”

Apply for a Grant!

Individuals, companies, and organizations are eligible to apply for grants. That can cover a variety of training formats, tailored to suit different learning styles and scheduling needs:

• New!! CTSP Scholarships: TCIA’s Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP) program is the only individual safety credentialing program in the industry and is designed to address several of the safety challenges that tree care companies face. ASTI is now offering scholarships for tree care professionals to become CTSPs! (This scholarship is only available to individuals that are not currently enrolled in the CTSP program.)
• In-Person ASTI Workshop – applicants for these workshops must find a TCIA Qualified Trainer to host their workshop, and a location to hold it. These in-person workshops must be open to all, however, applicants may charge up to $35 per person to offset costs. ASTI will provide funding for instructor honorarium, travel costs, and course enrollments.
• Virtual ASTI Workshop – many of TCIA’s Qualified Trainers have the ability to host a workshop on TCIA’s Tree Care Academy education virtually through the Zoom platform. Applicants may apply for one of these to attend, or Qualified Trainers may apply to host a workshop. These workshops must be open to all, not just one company.
• Self-Paced Education – ASTI is pleased to offer self-paced education to applicants. Applicants may apply for a variety of Tree Care Academy (TCA) online courses for training for themselves or their employees. Read our explainer on the program.

You can learn more and apply for a grant here.

Check out all the training events here.

Empower Your Team with TCIA Training. TCIA’s Tree Care Academy (TCA) programs help arborists at every career stage grow their skills and enhance safety awareness. From online courses to advanced certifications, TCIA offers tailored training for safety professionals, crew leaders, and trainers. TCIA members also receive free access to the TCA Training Hub to manage and track team training. Learn more about TCIA training.