Tree care professionals across the country now have a new advocate working on their behalf. The Association of Tree Care Professionals (ATCP) launches with a clear purpose to elevate the arboriculture profession by uniting practitioners around safety, ethics, and excellence. ATCP exists for the people who do the work every day. Climbers. Crew leaders. Owners who juggle payroll, training, insurance, and storms that do not check the calendar.
For years, small and mid-sized companies have pushed forward with grit and pride, often without the same level of support or representation enjoyed by larger operators. ATCP was created to close that gap. The association brings practical resources, credible standards, and a strong voice in policy to professionals who want to run safe, ethical, and respected businesses.
Why the Industry Needs ATCP
The profession faces familiar headwinds. Recruiting and keeping skilled workers is hard. Safety training must be constant and consistent. Equipment costs rise faster than rates. Regulations shift. Clients expect clarity, proof of competence, and work that stands up to scrutiny.
Small and mid-sized firms carry the bulk of that load. They do not always have a government relations department or a full-time training director. ATCP gives these companies a place to belong and a platform to be heard. The goal is simple. Give professionals the tools to work safer, operate smarter, and grow with integrity.
ATCP champions the professional arborist and the business they represent. The association was started by people who have been in the bucket and on the rope. That experience shows up in how programs are designed, how standards are applied, and how the community is supported.
What Makes ATCP Different
Professional first focus
ATCP exists for working professionals. The association’s priorities reflect the day-to-day needs of crews and companies in the field. The first 300 members are recognized as Charter Members and help shape policies, programs, and priorities from the start.
Practical value
Members receive immediate, tangible support. Vendor discounts on essential gear and services. Access to templates and checklists that save time. Training that maps to real tasks in the tree, on the ground, and in the office. Guidance that improves safety meetings, estimates, contracts, and client communication.
Ethics you can stand on
ATCP holds a clear Code of Ethics. Honesty in representation. Transparent pricing and written scope. Respect for clients and communities. Stewardship that protects the urban forest. Members commit to these standards because reputation matters, and trust fuels referrals.
Advocacy that fits the work
ATCP’s government relations team tracks legislation and engages policymakers with one goal: make sure rules consider professional realities, not just big-company resources. The focus is safety, workforce development, environmental stewardship, and small business protection.
The ATCP Mission
ATCP unites tree care professionals under the highest standards of arboriculture. The mission is to:
- Advance safety through ANSI Z133 training and practical implementation
- Promote ethical conduct and transparent business practices
- Support continuing education and mentorship
- Elevate professional credibility with clear standards and recognition
- Advocate for policies that reflect the realities of small and mid-sized businesses
- Protect people, property, and the environment
This is about raising the bar and making sure professionals have the support to reach it.
What Membership Includes
Joining ATCP is a decision to operate at a higher standard. Membership gives you access to resources that improve the way you work and how your business is perceived.
Vendor discounts
Save on equipment, safety gear, software, and services through trusted partners. For many companies, the savings alone cover the cost of membership.
Education and training
Learn with ANSI Z133 safety courses, ANSI A300 pruning workshops, and continuing education designed to fit field realities. Programs are practical, current, and ready to implement.
Networking and mentorship
Build relationships with arborists, crew leaders, owners, and suppliers who share your commitment to safety and ethics. Learn from peers. Find mentors. Share what works.
Business credibility
Signal to clients that your company follows recognized standards and a published Code of Ethics. That credibility helps win bids and keeps crews proud of the patch they wear.
Advocacy updates
Receive clear summaries of legislative and regulatory issues that affect your work. Know what is changing, what it means, and how to respond.
Charter Membership
The first 300 members are recognized as Charter Members. This is a one-time opportunity to be part of the founding class that sets the tone for the association. Charter Members receive all standard benefits and permanent recognition for helping build something the profession needs.
- Charter Membership: 550 dollars
- Limited to the first 300 members
- Recognition as a founding professional
Ready to help lead from the start?
Join as a Charter Member
Programs Built For Real Work
Safety that sticks
Safety is not a poster. It is training, repetition, and leadership. ATCP’s approach blends standards with practical delivery. Toolbox talks that crews understand. Checklists that get used. Field drills that make rigging decisions safer and faster.
Education that pays off
Courses are built to change how work gets done. That means better pruning decisions, cleaner work plans, smarter rigging, tighter job cost controls, and improved client communication. The measure is usefulness, not seat time.
Resources that save time
Members gain access to templates, scopes, and checklists for proposals, contracts, and safety documentation. These materials are designed to cut admin time and reduce mistakes.
Advocacy That Protects Professionals
ATCP engages with policymakers so decisions reflect the realities of the field. The priorities are clear:
- Safety standards that protect crews and make sense on the job site
- Workforce programs that recognize the skills needed in arboriculture
- Environmental policy that respects certified expertise and science-based practices
- Rules that do not create hurdles only large corporations can clear
Members receive brief, plain-English updates and opportunities to weigh in when it matters.
Looking Ahead: The ATCP Expo
Conferences are valuable when the content is practical and the cost is reasonable. ATCP is developing an annual expo tailored to small and mid-sized businesses.
What to expect:
- Hands-on training and equipment demonstrations
- Sessions led by instructors who have done the work
- Vendor relationships that deliver real savings
- Networking built around mentorship and problem-solving
The goal is to leave with skills you can use on Monday.
Who Should Join
- Tree care companies that want a stronger safety culture and cleaner operations
- Owners who want standards, templates, and training they can roll out now
- Crew leaders and climbers who take pride in doing the job right
- Vendors and suppliers who support professional arboriculture
- New businesses that want a credible foundation from day one
If you value safety, ethics, and excellence, you are the reason ATCP exists.
What Clients and Communities Gain
When professionals adopt strong standards, clients see the difference. Clear scopes and pricing. Safer work sites. Better protection for homes, people, and trees. Communities benefit from sound pruning, hazard reduction, and responsible plant health care. The urban forest is not an idea. It is where families live and workers climb. Professionalism matters.
How ATCP Measures Success
- More members trained to ANSI Z133 standards each year
- More companies using written scopes, transparent pricing, and clear contracts
- Fewer preventable incidents through better planning and communication
- Stronger representation for small and mid-sized businesses in policy decisions
- A growing network of professionals proud to wear the ATCP badge
FAQs About the Association of Tree Care Professionals (ATCP)
1. What is the Association of Tree Care Professionals (ATCP)?
ATCP is a national association created to support tree care professionals. It raises standards in safety, ethics, and professionalism while giving small and mid-sized companies a strong voice and practical resources.
2. Who can join ATCP?
Membership is open to tree care companies, crew leaders, climbers, owners, vendors, suppliers, and new businesses that want to build credibility and operate with stronger safety and ethics.
3. What makes ATCP different from other industry groups?
ATCP was built by professionals who have worked in the field. It focuses on practical resources, credible standards, and advocacy designed for small and mid-sized businesses, not just large corporations.
4. What does membership include?
Members receive vendor discounts, ready-to-use templates and checklists, ANSI-aligned safety training, networking and mentorship opportunities, credibility through a Code of Ethics, and plain-English policy updates.
5. What is a Charter Membership?
The first 300 members become Charter Members at $550. They receive all standard benefits plus permanent recognition as founding professionals who helped establish the association.
6. How much does membership cost?
Charter Membership is $550 and limited to the first 300 members. Standard membership pricing will follow once Charter Membership closes.
Start With One Step
You do not have to overhaul everything at once. Start with one improvement. Adopt a new pre-job briefing. Update your written scope. Schedule a safety session that includes every crew. Join ATCP and use the resources that move you forward. Progress builds confidence. Confidence builds culture. Culture keeps people safe and clients loyal.
Join the Movement
Tree care is essential work. It protects lives, preserves property, and strengthens communities. The Association of Tree Care Professionals exists to honor that work and help professionals thrive.
Be part of the founding generation that sets a higher standard.
Join the Movement Today
Be part of the association that puts small tree care professionals first.
Join ATCP