Both arborists and tree surgeons are tree care practitioners. The main difference comes down to qualifications. Arborists have formal education in arboriculture. They are certified by going through an examination by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISC). On the other hand, tree surgeons have some training in proper tree care, but not necessarily need credentials.
The majority of physical work – tree and stump removal, tree pruning, chipping – can be done by tree surgeons. An arborist can also execute the task of a tree surgeon. But they focus more on health assessment and proper management of trees.
Generally, arborists work together with tree surgeons to deliver services based on tree care needs.