TFTC #18 Arboriculture – Is it an Occupation or a Profession?

First, we have to understand the distinction between the two terms, and how these two words correspond to what we call “work.” Work is a common theme – we work to make money, we work hard to feel good about ourselves, we work to stay in shape. Yet not everything we work on is an occupation.

First, we have to understand the distinction between the two terms, and how these two words correspond to what we call “work.”

Work is a common theme – we work to make money, we work hard to feel good about ourselves, we work to stay in shape. Yet not everything we work on is an occupation.

For example, working on my fly-fishing hobby doesn’t mean it’s my occupation. It is agreed upon that the work we do as arborists is an occupation, but you can do an occupation professionally. Let’s walk through what determines a profession relative to an occupation:

I think 3 out of 4 is a strong number, considering the occupation we engage in as part of our profession, but let’s look at the third point in more detail.

We know that not every working arborist is certified. But we can all agree that the work we do requires a very specialized type of training, either in a formal or on-the-job setting. So why not become certified? Why not show your level of commitment to the profession of arboriculture and take the ISA or TCIA Tree Care Academy series credentials? The certificate of completion series is a great way to showcase and apply the knowledge you’ve worked so hard to obtain. It may also help you get an extra bump in pay from your employer!

Now, let’s challenge you on the topic of training, specifically on how we view the safety standards that our industry follows….. ANSI Z133 (or just Z133)!

We have concluded that arboriculture, and the work we perform every day, is in fact a profession, but that doesn’t mean we perform work professionally. What is the difference? One’s level of “professionalism” is often a subjective thing. Is it more professional if your equipment and people are presented in a clean and tidy appearance? Is it more professional if workers don’t cuss and yell at each other on the jobsite?

To better answer these questions, let’s look at “professionals” in other industries. For me, a doctor’s office that is sanitary and organized is more professional than a dimly lit and cluttered workspace. Pilots and flight attendants are more “professional” when wearing clean uniforms, smiling, talking in a positive manner, and generally being courteous to all passengers. These observations are general in nature, and may have zero influence on how the ultimate outcome of your doctor’s visit or flight, but don’t you feel better know that they performed their work in a “professional” manner, and more inclined to visit that doctor again or book another flight with that airline?

You might be reading this post and wonder, “Why does it matter if we are a profession or an occupation?”

Not every person can perform the tasks arborists perform every day. A professional should be paid for their knowledge and highly skilled abilities. But an occupation has no group identity, has no specific knowledge or training requirement to perform some type of work. An occupation literally translates into someone’s basic knowledge or general interest in a topic. The sooner we can elevate ourselves into the professional role within the arborist industry, the sooner we can be compensated correctly for the mixture of art and science our craft demands, and our clients want!

Professionals operate by working as a team to achieve the advancement of that specific profession for the overall benefit of the industry. We may not always see eye to eye on the “best” way to get the job done safely and effectively, we need to stand together as the arborist industry to show that being an arborist is more than just a hobby or occupation, but rather we are a profession of professionals.

Be safe.