Branchline 01 6 min read Guide
How to tell a qualified arborist from a tree lopper
Five checks to make before you let anyone near the tree, so you hire on qualification and insurance, not the lowest number.
Short answer: Five checks separate a qualified arborist from the bloke with a chainsaw. Get the AQF level in writing. See the insurance papers. Read the last ten reviews on your council area. Ask how they price, line by line or one round number. And ask what happens if the scope changes once they are on site.
The five checks, in order
You do not need to be an arborist to hire one well. You need to ask five questions, and walk away politely if any answer is vague. Most cowboy operators do not survive the first two.
Before you book any tree contractor
- Ask for the AQF level of the person doing the work, not just the company. Level 3 to cut, Level 5 to consult and report.
- Ask for the public liability certificate of currency in writing. $10M is baseline, $20M is professional.
- Read the most recent 10 Google reviews. A pattern of "left the site clean" and "on time" matters more than the star count.
- Ask how they price. An itemised quote (report, permit, removal, cleanup, stump as separate lines) is the standard. One vague number is not.
- Ask what happens if the scope changes on the day. The honest answer is "we stop and re-quote", not "she'll be right".
Why qualification matters up a tree
Tree work is one of the highest-risk trades in the country. The decision to make a cut at 12 metres, with a rope and a chainsaw, near a roof, is not a chainsaw decision. It is an engineering decision about where the weight will go when the cut releases. AQF Level 3 is the floor to make that call safely. Anything less is improvisation.
AQF Level 3
minimum qualification to cut. Anything less is a "tree lopper", not an arborist.
Arboriculture Australia industry guidance
$20M
public liability we carry. $10M is the modern baseline; below that, your insurer is wearing the risk.
Branchline cover, indicative industry minimum
AS 4373
the Australian Standard for pruning. Ask if the quote is to AS 4373. If they look blank, that is the answer.
Standards Australia AS 4373-2007
Ranges for the trade. Always ask for the AQF papers and the cover note in writing, before any work starts.
Red flag
A contractor who quotes over the phone without seeing the tree, will not name their AQF level,
cannot show a current insurance certificate, and wants cash. The price will look great.
The damage to your roof, your neighbour's car, or the contractor themselves will not be
covered by any insurance you have.
Good sign
A contractor who insists on an on-site assessment, names the AQF level of the person climbing,
sends the insurance certificate without you asking twice, and quotes line by line so you can
see what is and is not included.
Cheap lopper, qualified arborist: side by side
The cheap lopper
The qualified arborist
Quotes over the phone or by photo only.
Insists on an on-site assessment before quoting.
No AQF level named. "Years on the tools" is the only credential.
AQF Level 3 to cut, Level 5 to write reports. In writing.
Insurance is verbal or "with the office".
Certificate of currency emailed before the job.
One round number. Cleanup and stump are "extra if needed".
Itemised: report, permit, removal, cleanup, stump as separate lines.
Cash on the day, no GST receipt.
GST invoice with ABN, payment after the job is signed off.
What it looks like when we quote
We come to the tree. We identify the species, measure it, and confirm whether council approval is required for your address. We send you a written quote within one business day, itemised so you can see what each line costs. If the scope changes on the day (a hollow we could not see, a power line closer than expected), we stop and call you before we proceed. That is how a tree job stays the price you agreed to.
Common questions
What qualifications should a tree contractor have?
A qualified arborist holds at minimum AQF Level 3 (Certificate III) in Arboriculture. AQF Level 5 (Diploma) is the consulting tier that can write reports for council. A "tree lopper" with no formal qualification is not the same job, and the difference shows up in price, safety, and what insurance will accept.
What insurance do they need to carry?
Public liability of at least $10M is the modern industry baseline. We carry $20M. Ask for the certificate of currency in writing, not a verbal "yeah we are covered". A cheaper quote from a contractor without current cover is a quote that puts the risk on your insurer, and then on you.
What is the difference between an arborist and a tree lopper?
An arborist is trained in the biology of the tree as well as the cutting, so the plan is to keep the tree alive where possible and remove it safely where not. A lopper cuts. The difference matters most when the tree is close to a building, a power line, or a tree you wanted to keep.