Credentials, Safety and Insurance

Verify the person, not just the logo

ISA credentials, Ontario trade certificates, Quebec qualification certificates and task training are not interchangeable. A useful claim states who holds the credential, who issued it, what it covers and whether it is current. The person assessing a tree may also have a different role from the crew carrying out the work.

If a formal arborist report or tree-risk assessment is required, confirm who will author it and whether the receiving municipality or client accepts that qualification for the intended purpose.

Insurance and workplace standing

Ask for current commercial liability evidence appropriate to the work and review the named insured, dates and relevant limits. Depending on the crew and jurisdiction, workplace standing may involve WSIB in Ontario or CNESST in Quebec. Subcontractors should be included in the same verification process.

A website summary is not a certificate. Current documents can be shared in a controlled way during quoting without publishing private policy or employee information online.

How a tree job is planned

Planning starts with the tree, targets, access, weather, overhead and underground services, equipment, exclusion zones, communication and rescue or emergency procedures appropriate to the job. Work near energized conductors belongs within utility rules and qualified roles; it is never ordinary trimming.

The written scope should match the plan at a level the customer can understand. If site conditions force a material change, stop and document the new scope before proceeding where practical.

Ontario and Quebec are not interchangeable

Ontario's Arborist 444A and Utility Arborist 444B trades are non-compulsory trades. ISA certifications are professional credentials rather than an Ontario business licence. Quebec has its own compulsory arboriculture qualification framework for covered workers, along with separate workplace and utility systems.

A cross-river job should not be booked on the strength of Ontario proof alone. Confirm the actual crew and documentation that will apply on the date of work.

Primary sources

Rules and requirements can change. Check the current source before acting.

Reviewed: August 14, 2026

Common questions

Does an arborist need an Ontario licence?

Ontario Arborist 444A is a non-compulsory trade, while ISA credentials are separate professional credentials. Ask which credential is held, by whom and for what role.

Can I request proof of insurance?

Yes. Ask for current evidence tied to the legal or operating business named in your quote. A website claim alone is not the full document.

Does Ontario qualification automatically cover Gatineau work?

No. Quebec has separate worker-qualification and workplace requirements. Eligibility must be checked for the actual Quebec crew.