ETW – European Tree Worker ENGLISH 2026

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Exciting news: we have new dates for the next English-speaking ETW prep course

ETW preparation course in English 2026

European Tree Worker
Cutting edge education for international arborists 

The European Tree Worker (ETW) and European Tree Technician (ETT) certifications developed by the European Arboricultural Council (EAC) are recognized throughout Europe and beyond.

The European Tree Worker carries out operations on and in amenity trees with the aim of keeping the trees healthy and safe. They act on the basis of arboricultural knowledge and take conservation matters, environmental protection and safety regulations into account. Tree care operations require a profound and highly qualified training with a special focus on work safety.

Objectives

• To ensure high quality work and training in tree care operations.
• To ensure a safe working environment according to best working practice and European standards
• To promote the international exchange of employees.
• To enable each country to have a good chance of getting Europe-wide invitations to tender in fair competition within the field of arboriculture.
• European Tree Worker certification proofed and controlled by the European Arboricultural Council.
• Each ETW certification is supervised by an international EAC-supervisor.

Tree maintenance comprises of the planting, monitoring and maintenance of trees. The European Tree Worker has, according to the curriculum, to know:

• Elements of tree maintenance
• Safe working practice
• Arboricultural matters with practical experience
• Legal and social regulations.

Conditions of entry

Open access to the examination is offered to all those who possess the technical skill to carry out the mentioned operations. Potential candidates must provide:

• Proof of physical and mental ability to carry out tree care operations safely, with a medical certificate (For Austria max. validity is: 3 years or otherwise specified by physician).
• Proof of a valid qualification in first aid, according to the national regulations (For Austria max. validity is: 4 years; refresher courses are eligible).
• Proof of training in the use of chainsaws (either on the ground or in the tree), and if required in their own country, a qualification or a license for the use of a chainsaw in the tree. The certificates for the aerial chainsaw use, provided by the professionally recognized organizations are also accepted.
• Proof of a minimum of one year practical experience in tree care must be provided.
• For the climber: Proof of skills in aerial rescue must be provided; not older than 1 year. If no proof of aerial rescue training is available, the candidate will be required to carry out simulation 3 (aerial rescue) as part of the examination, which will involve extra costs for the candidate.
  alternatively: attendance of our SKT-B course week* or one-day Climb Update! to freshen up your climbing skills and prepare for the exam.
• For the MEWP operator: Proof of skills in the use of a MEWP/Platform and emergency situations must be provided.
  alternatively: attendance of our platform course.

Additional information regarding the entry conditions, the examination rules & regulations and the examination procedure, etc. can be found on the website of the EAC: here.

*If you have not attended climbing courses in your home country, you are welcome to join our SKT A/B/C courses. All our SKT courses are conducted bilingually in German and English, and course materials are also available in English. Dates you find in the online calendar: here.

We have put together international lecturers with lots of expertise in the arboricultural field:

• DI Christian Seibert (Austria)
• Ing. Jaroslav Kolařík, PhD. (Czech Republic)
• Goran Huljenić (Croatia)
• Stefan Knöpfer (Austria)

These professionals will cover the following topics:

• tree biology
• pruning techniques
• plant protection | detection & treatment of pests & diseases
• selection of quality of trees
• tree planting
• tree ID
• bracing/cabeling
• tree soil
• tree protection on construction sites
• tree inspection
• work safety
• species protection & ecology
• brief climbing + platform prep for the exam

The preparation course consists of 2 block weeks (10 days) and the exam.
Dates 2026:

• Zoom video call Meet & Greet: January 7th, 2026; 10am-12pm
• Week I (in person): January 19-23, 2026 (5 days)
• Week II (in person): March 09-13, 2026 (5 days)
• Exam: March 19+20, 2026

Course & exam location: Arbor Technical Institute Kreitl | A-2281 Raasdorf, Die Marchfelder Strasse 13

There will be an online meeting (via Zoom) at the beginning of January for a quick meet & greet and to work through some organizational stuff and questions.

Investment course + exam:
Prep course fee (10 days): € 2.120,00 excl. Austrian VAT (€2.544 incl. Austrian VAT)
Exam fee Climbing: € 475,00 excl. VAT (€570,00 incl. VAT)
Exam fee Platform: € 620,00 excl. VAT (€744,00 incl. VAT)
Exam fee Climbing & Platform: € 860,00 excl. VAT (€1032,00 incl. VAT)

Exam fee without attending the prep course:
Exam Climbing: € 950,00 excl. VAT (€1.140,00 incl. VAT)
Exam Platform: € 1.240,00 excl. VAT (€1.488,00 incl. VAT)
Exam Climbing & Platform: € 1.715,00  excl. VAT (€2.058,00 incl. VAT)

Click here to register

Re-certification:

The European Tree Worker certificate is valid for three years and has to be renewed.

ETW recertification can be obtained by submitting the following documents:

• Proof of practical tree care work in 24 of the previous 36 months
• Proof of a valid qualification in first aid
• Proof of physical and mental ability to carry out tree work at height, with a current medical certificate
• Proof of participation in seminars/workshops/courses applicable to the ETW curriculum (30 hours over the previous 36 months).

The national board can refuse recertification or take away the certification status due to unsafe, unprofessional work and unprofessional conduct.

An expired certification means that the entire exam must be retaken.