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Arborist
Arborist licensing varies significantly by state. Some states require a specific tree expert license, while others rely on ISA certification as the professional standard. All states require a pesticide applicator license for chemical tree treatments. Compare requirements across all 50 states.
51
Total States
10
State License Required
1
ISA Legally Required
51
Pesticide License Req
Arborist licensing is a mix of state-specific requirements and industry credentials. Here are the three key areas you need to address.
Some states (CT, MD, NJ, CA, LA, OR) require a specific arborist or tree expert license. In most states, the ISA Certified Arborist credential is the recognized professional standard, requiring 3+ years experience and passing a comprehensive exam.
All states require a pesticide applicator license for applying insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides to trees. This involves passing a state-administered exam through the Department of Agriculture and renewing periodically with continuing education.
Commercial tree care requires robust insurance coverage — general liability ($1M+ recommended) and workers' compensation. Some states also require a contractor license for tree work. Business registration with the state is required for all commercial operations.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | State License | License Name | ISA Required | Pesticide License | Total Fees | CE Required | Confidence | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | No | — | No | Yes | $260-$685 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | No | — | No | Yes | $260-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | No | — | No | Yes | $460-$935 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | No | — | No | Yes | $260-$685 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| California(CA) | Yes | C-27 Landscaping or D-49 Tree Service Contractor License | No | Yes | $610-$1,715 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | No | — | No | Yes | $260-$485 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Yes | Arborist License | No | Yes | $430-$1,160 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | No | — | No | Yes | $285-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | Yes | Tree Care License | No | Yes | $435-$1,135 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | No | — | No | Yes | $335-$885 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | No | — | No | Yes | $260-$685 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | No | — | No | Yes | $330-$785 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | No | — | No | Yes | $310-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | Yes | Licensed Tree Expert (municipal ordinances vary) | No | Yes | $410-$1,135 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | No | — | No | Yes | $260-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | No | — | No | Yes | $260-$485 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | No | — | No | Yes | $260-$550 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | No | — | No | Yes | $250-$485 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Yes | Arborist License | No | Yes | $385-$985 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | No | — | No | Yes | $335-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Yes | Licensed Tree Expert (LTE) | No | Yes | $410-$985 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Yes | Certified Arborist (required for public shade trees) | Yes | Yes | $710-$1,385 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | No | — | No | Yes | $260-$485 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | Yes | Tree Inspector Registration | No | Yes | $415-$835 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | No | — | No | Yes | $260-$635 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | No | — | No | Yes | $260-$535 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | No | — | No | Yes | $280-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | No | — | No | Yes | $310-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | No | — | No | Yes | $610-$1,285 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | No | — | No | Yes | $310-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Yes | Licensed Tree Expert (LTE) | No | Yes | $435-$1,435 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | No | — | No | Yes | $260-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| New York(NY) | No | — | No | Yes | $410-$985 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | No | — | No | Yes | $335-$635 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | No | — | No | Yes | $310-$535 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | No | — | No | Yes | $309-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | No | — | No | Yes | $260-$485 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Yes | Landscape Contractor License (with tree care endorsement) | No | Yes | $485-$1,035 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | No | — | No | Yes | $335-$685 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | No | — | No | Yes | $360-$785 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | No | — | No | Yes | $320-$685 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | No | — | No | Yes | $360-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | No | — | No | Yes | $310-$685 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | No | — | No | Yes | $510-$1,135 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | No | — | No | Yes | $280-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | No | — | No | Yes | $335-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | No | — | No | Yes | $310-$635 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | No | — | No | Yes | $410-$985 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | No | — | No | Yes | $310-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | No | — | No | Yes | $340-$635 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | No | — | No | Yes | $310-$585 | Yes | medium | Mar 2026 |
Arborists often work alongside other licensed outdoor and environmental professionals. Explore related licensing requirements.
Study materials for ISA Certified Arborist exam and tree care licensing.
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See the full comparison table above for all 51 states.