URBAN FORESTRY ARBORIST APPRENTICE

Introduction

The Urban Forestry Arborist Apprenticeship is a three-and-a-half-year

program that includes 5,400 hours of on-the-job learning and 440 hours of paid

instruction encompassing all aspects of tree care, from planting and pruning to

managing diseases and insects. This comprehensive program prepares Arborist

Apprentices for promotion to Urban Forestry Specialist (Journey Worker

Arborists).

More information about the Arborist Apprentice opportunity,

selection process, and upcoming information sessions can be found at the

following link : milwaukee.gov / ufaa.

Testing dates are scheduled as follows (subject to

change) : Application Period

December 1, 2025—January 23, 2026

Written and Performance Examination :

February 2026

Purpose

Urban Forestry Arborist Apprentices (UFAAs) participate in a

prescribed curriculum in which they learn to plant, maintain, and remove trees,

landscape, and turf growing on the City of Milwaukee’s boulevards and green

spaces, with an emphasis on arborist duties.

Essential Functions

Apprentices will be trained to perform the following duties :

Tree, Plant, and Boulevard Maintenance :

• Prune trees by means of safely climbing and using a rope and saddle while working at heights of 60 feet and higher in accordance with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 Pruning Standards and ANSI Z133 Safety Standards.
• Prune shrubs from the ground according to accepted horticultural practices.
• Perform tree rigging on the ground and aloft.
• Plant, maintain, and remove trees, shrubs, and other landscape plants on City boulevards and green spaces.
• Perform plant health care activities, such as treating trees and shrubs to prevent common pests and diseases.
• Operate large vehicles, such as aerial lifts and 2½-ton dump trucks.
• Operate specialized power equipment and hand equipment on the ground and aloft, such as mowers, skid steers, small tractors with buckets or forks, stumpers, chainsaws, chippers, trenchers, backhoes, pipe pullers, sprayers, tree injection equipment, and other hand and motorized equipment.
• Perform field maintenance on some power equipment.
• Construct, repair, and maintain concealed irrigation systems.
• Adhere to ANSI, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), and departmental safety standards at all times.

Emergency Response :

We welcome qualified individuals with disabilities who are

interested in employment and will make reasonable accommodations during the

hiring process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of

1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA)

of 2008.

Conditions of Employment

Urban Forestry Arborist Apprentices serve in an emergency

capacity, removing broken branches and fallen trees and participating in the

City’s snow and ice control operations. As an employee of the Department of

Public Works (DPW) Forestry may be directed to assist other DPW sections during

natural disasters or other events that place an undue burden on any single

section.

Urban Forestry Arborist Apprentices must be willing and able

to do the following :

By law, persons in these positions are required to pass

pre-employment drug tests and are subject to random drug and alcohol testing

during employment. Candidates must sign a release authorizing the City to

receive the results of any drug and alcohol tests conducted by previous

employers during the past two years if those tests were required by the U.S.

Department of Transportation (DOT).

Urban Forestry Arborist Apprentices will be required to

enter an apprentice contract with the State of Wisconsin and with the

sponsoring organization, which is the City of Milwaukee.

The preplacement testing required for this title includes :

Minimum Requirements

1. Valid driver's license at time of application closing; valid

Wisconsin driver’s license at the time of appointment and throughout

employment.

2. Good driving record at the time of application closing

and throughout employment.

3. At least 18 years of age at the time of application

close.

4. Graduation from an accredited high school or one of the

following at the time of appointment :

A) completion of a Wisconsin General Educational

Development (GED) (or GED from another state that meets Wisconsin GED

standards),

B) High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED), or

C) completion of a home-based private educational

program, provided the applicant can provide copies of the State of Wisconsin

Form PI-1206. NOTE :  The anticipated start date will be in March

2026.

5. Respond to

emergency call-outs and report within 60 minutes or fewer at any time during

the day or night, any day of the week, for tree damage operations, snow and ice

control operations and other emergencies

6. Possess a Class B or higher Commercial Driver’s License

(CDL) without Air Brakes Restriction within six months of appointment and

throughout employment.

7. Obtain the State of Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator 3.0

Turf and Landscape Certification within one year of appointment and maintain

throughout apprenticeship.

8. Urban Forestry Arborist Apprentices must meet all other prescribed

certification and licensing requirements during the apprenticeship.

NOTE :  Driver’s license number must be listed on the application.

NOTE :  Driving records will be checked during the

selection process and prior to a job offer.

Desirable Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Other Characteristics

Ability to learn the following :

Ability to learn how to do the following :

Demonstrated ability to do the following :

Current Salary

The current pay range is Pay Range 7DN within the

City of Milwaukee Salary Ordinance. The following chart indicates the salary

progression for the Apprenticeship.

Wage Rate Advancement

Recruitment

After probation

After another 2080 hours worked

After another 2080 hours worked

Annual

$50,130

$53,473

$56,814

$60,157

Resident Incentive Advancement for City of Milwaukee

Residents Only

Recruitment

After probation

After another 2080 hours worked

After another 2080 hours worked

Annual

$51,634

$55,077

$58,518

$61,961

The City of Milwaukee provides a comprehensive benefit

program that includes the following :