Certified Treecare Safety Professional

Ready to Become a Safety Coach?

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. With more than 3,000 CTSPs in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, CTSPs are safety champions that are shaping the industry. Take your career to the next level and become part of an elite group of tree care professionals.

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Why Should You Become a CTSP?

For Employees: Advance your career as a CTSP! Gain expertise in leadership, hazard identification, and incident prevention while becoming a safety leader and coach. Equip yourself to build a culture of safety, accountability, and professional growth on every jobsite.

For Employers: Safety programs are a small investment in the longevity and profitability of your business and create the opportunity for you to take the best care of your employees.  Having a CTSP on staff will help you:

  • Increase production and reduce time lost to employee injuries and accidents.
  • Improve a favorable perception by insurers and regulatory entities for taking proactive safety measures.
  • Market your safety commitment to potential and current customers.
  • Create a safer place to work and attract quality employees.

TCIA members save on the enrollment fee and get discounts on online learning required for certification! Not a member, CLICK HERE to learn more!

Are You Eligible to Start the CTSP Process?

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: Although 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.

Municipal and Utility Arborists:

Although 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.

The CTSP Process

  1. Enroll
    Candidates should first log into TCIA website using the “SIGN IN” link located on the top, then return to this page and click “ENROLL INTO CTSP” button below to complete the Enrollment Application. Once you enroll, your application is reviewed within two business days.

    TCIA Member Non-Member
    Enrollment Fee & Study Guide  $170  $345

    ANSI Standard Z133 can be used during the exam as a reference. We highly suggest purchasing Z133 separately.

  2. Prepare
    Once enrolled, the candidate will receive an email with instructions on how to access the CTSP Study Guide and complete the homework assignments (Critical Thinking Exercises). The Study Guide and CTEs are designed to build your skills and knowledge of Safety Management. You will use Brightspace (TCIA Learning Management system) to study and complete the homework assignments.
  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. We are currently hosting virtual workshops only until further notice The Virtual Workshop is comprised of One Day – Three, 2-hour segments with Two One-hour Breaks. Multiple workshops are held throughout the year. See the schedule below.
  4. You must complete Two previous steps to become eligible to attend the CTSP workshop and exam. The CTSP virtual exam will be proctored online using the ProctorFree software.
    The Workshop Fee:
    TCIA member – $445
    Non-member – $625
    $57 Exam surcharge is included in the price.
  5. If you do not pass the exam, you are allowed two retakes. The exam will be proctored online using the ProctorFree software. Fill out the Proctor Registration Form and submit it to TCIA to schedule the exam
    The Exam fee – $57 per re-take
  6. Maintain + Renew Your CTSP
    CTSPs must always be developing their knowledge and expertise in safety through constant learning and growth, teaching others, implementing of CTSP’s teachings, and 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. To renew your CTSP.

If you have not yet earned your CTSP credential and need more time to attend the workshop and complete the exam, CLICK HERE to download the enrollment extension form.

Frequently Asked Questions

No! Membership is not a requirement. But TCIA members save money on enrollment and workshop costs. Learn more about what TCIA membership can do for you.

Please Note: If you are a municipal or utility arborist, your employers are ineligible for TCIA membership. However, 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.

Experience requirements may be satisfied by arboriculture-related or by non-arboricultural safety-related degrees and/or practical experience.

The following eight experience areas from disciplines outside of arboriculture are considered “safety-related”:

  • Safety & Health
  • Industrial Hygiene
  • Emergency Management
  • Fire & Rescue Service
  • Security Service
  • EMS and/or advanced life-saving training and/or experience
  • Risk Management
  • Occupational Health and Environmental Sciences

There is no waiting period to re-take the CTSP exam.

You must obtain 30 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) and submit a renewal fee every 3 years. This fee is payable every three years on the anniversary month of receiving your CTSP certification. Review the recertification requirements and fees HERE.

You will be kept up to date on your certification status in several ways. CTSP CEU reminders are emailed to all CTSPs quarterly. You may review your records and download your transcript online.

In addition, you will be notified three months and one month before your certification expires if you have not obtained the required CEUs.

If you fail to accumulate the necessary contact hours or fail to pay the recertification fee when it is due, then your certification is considered void. To regain your CTSP status, you must go through the study and examination again. You may appeal for re-certification to the CTSP Council. The Council considers appeals on a case-by-case basis.

Your certification is considered void if you do not accumulate the necessary CEUs or fail to pay the recertification fee when it is due. To regain your CTSP status you must go through the study and examination again. If you feel there are compelling reasons that you did not obtain CEUs or pay the fee on a timely basis, then you may appeal for re-certification to the CTSP Council. The Council considers appeals on a case-by-case basis.

CEUs take up to three weeks to be processed once they are submitted online.

If you have questions or would like more information about the CTSP program, contact the CTSP Department at 800-733-2622 or CTSP@TCIA.org