In an industry where every day brings new challenges and risks, the tree care profession demands more than just technical skill—it requires unwavering commitment to safety, continuous learning, and authentic leadership. The Tree Care Industry Association’s (TCIA) Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP) program stands as the only individual safety credentialing program in the industry, creating a community of more than 3,000 safety champions across the United States, Canada, and Mexico who are actively shaping the future of arboriculture.

The path to becoming a CTSP is a path to professional distinction—an investment in your future and your team’s. “CTSP certification sets you apart as someone who has made a conscious choice to lead by example and champion safety at every level,” said Irina Kochurov, Director of Credentialing Programs at TCIA.

Industry leaders

CTSPs represent the pinnacle of professionalism in tree care. They set the standards. As John Paul Sanborn, BCMA/CTSP, Crawford Tree & Landscape Services, Inc., shares, “We are the exemplars of the industry.” This distinction carries weight that extends far beyond the individual, influencing crew dynamics and raising expectations across job sites.

CTSPs model the behavior that defines professional tree care. Sanborn shares for the developing workforce, these credentials represent “the obtainable goal of professionalism for the new cohort.”

Navigating Constant Evolution

The tree care industry is in a state of perpetual evolution. Brandon Pankey, CTSP, Blue Pine Works LLC, shares: “I’ve watched as countless innovations in science, safety, equipment, tooling, and methods have evolved over the years.” For leaders in this dynamic environment, staying current isn’t optional—it’s essential.

“Staying on top of these changes while being able to articulate them to adult learners and implementing the safest, most effective processes for my team is integral to our growth. CTSP training helps wrap together educator, leadership, problem solving, risk management, and role processing tasks into a format that’s paletable, scaleable, and repeatable,” Pankey said. “Being a CTSP helps me to make sure I’m equipped to teach, lead, motivate, and grow my company in a safe and meaningful way. It means a lot about the industry’s ownership of past mistakes and the hard work being put in to advance our industry in a safer and more reputable future.”

A Commitment to Culture

Tyler A. Drown, CTSP, The Davey Tree Expert Company, emphasizes that earning this credential signifies “dedication and a commitment to improving safety throughout the entire tree care industry and creating a culture of safety that improves and encourages it for everyone on the job site.”

This perspective highlights a fundamental truth: CTSPs don’t just protect their own crews—they elevate the entire profession.

The CTSP designation represents the industry’s ownership of past mistakes and its determination to forge a safer, more reputable future. It’s about acknowledging where we’ve been while actively building something better. This commitment to cultural transformation makes CTSPs invaluable assets not just to their employers but to the broader tree care community.

An Elite Group

The CTSP program addresses the real-world safety challenges that tree care companies face daily. The training provides professionals with the tools, knowledge, and credibility needed to make meaningful improvements in workplace safety while advancing their careers.

By becoming a CTSP, you join an elite group of tree care professionals who are actively shaping industry standards and practices. You become someone who doesn’t just talk about safety, you embody it, teach it, and inspire it in others. You become a leader who can articulate complex safety concepts to adult learners and implement the most effective processes for your team.

Build a Culture of Safety: TCIA helps tree care companies build a strong safety culture, reduce risks, and protect their workforce through safety courses in the Tree Care Academy, certifications like the Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP) and other resources to create a culture of safety and a safer industry for all. Explore safety resources and certifications