The employers are eligible as long as they can prove that they are undertaking active tree inspection and/or tree work related contract(s) for the private sector or the Government (or its contractors) of duration not less than one year.

There is no ceiling on the number of trainees to be engaged by employers, but in no case exceeding the maximum training tutor-to-trainees ratio of 1:3 for arborist training and 1:2 for tree climber training. If an employer has two staff eligible for the training tutors of arborist trainees, then the employer can engage up to six arborist trainees, while if it has three eligible staff, then the employer can engage up to 9 arborist trainees, and so on.

Employees who meet the eligibility requirements for trainee under the Trainee Programme can participate in the programme. Applications shall be made by employers for CIC’s approval.

There is no specified requirement on the duration of services of a training tutor in his/her current company. For a training tutor of Arborist Trainees, he/she should have at least 7 years of work experience in tree care, tree risk assessment and management. For a training tutor of Tree Climber Trainees, he/she should have at least 3 years of work experience in tree care and tree climbing.
The training tutor must be directly employed by the employer on a full-time basis, meets the academic, professional and other qualification requirements and complies with the ratio with trainees as required in the Trainee Programme. Employers must ensure that qualified training tutors are assigned to the trainees when conducting the training in the training period. Employers must seek CIC’s approval on the change of training tutors.

Given that the training tutor’s company meets the eligibility requirements on taking in both Arborist Trainees and Tree Climber Trainees and according to the required ratios of training tutor-to-trainees (i.e. 1:3 for arborist training and 1:2 for tree climber training), a training tutor for both arborist and tree climber training can train at most two Arborist Trainees and one Tree Climber Trainee, but not one Arborist Trainee and two Tree Climber Trainees.

In order to ensure that the trainees would be given suitable and sufficient guidance, the training tutor can only provide training to the trainees under his/her company. Being a training tutor for another company is not allowed. CIC will keep and review the records of training tutors and trainees. If employers are found violating this requirement, the training allowance may be forfeited.

If training tutor resigns from the employer company, the employer must notify CIC immediately upon the receipt of his/her resignation notification and apply to CIC for the change of training tutor of the respective trainee(s). However, if there is no more eligible training tutor available in that employer company, the training would be ceased upon the last working day of the training tutor and reimbursement of training allowances would be stopped. If the employer could not employ a replacement training tutor within three months after the receipt of such resignation notification, the Approved Project will be terminated. The concerned trainee(s) may choose to continue to work for the same employer and to continue the training upon the arrival of a new training tutor, or find a new eligible employer to continue his/her training. Stoppage of training with duration longer than nine months is not allowed by CIC and the previous training would be forfeited.

The employer can still apply for the programme, but can only apply for reimbursement of training allowances upon submission of valid graduation certificates or documentary proofs of the prospective graduates. If any trainees fail to graduate in the end, the approval on the application for the Trainee Programme will be invalidated and no training allowances will be reimbursed.

Value-added/Enrichment Programmes are part of the training under the Trainee Programme organised by the CIC or its designated institutes/organisations. Employers are not required to pay for such training programme. However, employers are required to release trainees to attend the Value-added/Enrichment Programmes with full pay as a normal working day. CIC will provide the attendance of the trainees to the employers for record or follow up if there is an unauthorised absence.

Trainees are eligible to apply for the bonus upon completion of training and passing in the assessment, with acquisition of relevant recognised professional qualifications during the training period or within one year upon completion of training. Except for the trainees who resign during the training period, the employers will still be reimbursed with the training allowance.

If a trainee resigns from the company or be dismissed by the employer during the training period, the employer must notify CIC immediately. If the employer/trainee withdraws from the plan with reasonable explanation and accepted by CIC, CIC will reimburse the training allowance in proportion according to the trainee’s last working day.

Participation to this programme follows the “first-hire-then-train” principle. Application to the programme shall be made by employers. However, employers must apply with the consent of its employees.

The applicant can still apply for the programme, but can only apply for reimbursement of training allowances upon submission of valid graduation certificates or documentary proofs of the prospective graduates. If any trainees fail to graduate in the end, the approval on the application for the Trainee Programme will be invalidated and no training allowances will be reimbursed.

To ensure appropriate and adequate training, an employee cannot join as an Arborist Trainee and a Tree Climber Trainee at the same time.

Trainees are required to achieve the required levels in the training plans established under the Trainee Programme. The employers and training tutors must provide appropriate and adequate training to facilitate the trainees to acquire the competency levels in different core areas as stipulated in the training plans.
Trainees are required to submit the monthly progress report. CIC will conduct visit or site inspection every 3 months to learn about the training progress and ensure the training is properly conducted.
Besides, trainees are required to attend the Value-added/Enrichment Programmes organised by CIC or its designated institutes/organisations during the training period, and required to attend the interim and final assessment and pass the final assessment for the completion of training.

Value-added/Enrichment Programmes are part of the training under the Trainee Programme organised by CIC or its designated institutes/organisations. Trainees are not required to pay for such training programme. Employers are required to release trainees to attend the Value-added/Enrichment Programmes with full pay as a normal working day.

To maintain the continuity and completeness of training, trainees are not allowed to switch to other employers during the training periods, unless with special reasons.

Trainees are eligible to apply for the bonus upon completion of training and passing in the assessment, with acquisition of relevant recognised professional qualifications during the training period or within one year upon completion of training. Except for the trainees who resign during the training period, the employers will still be reimbursed with the training allowance.