Each registration and renewal will be valid for three years. The registration will be lapsed automatically if no renewal application is made. (Please also see de-registration below.)

Registered tree management personnel who wish to apply for renewal of registration have to produce:

1. a minimum of 1.5 years in-service records in the immediate past three years before expiry of the current registration and
2. records of compliance of the requirements on continuing education in arboriculture (“CEA”) during the same period.

Application for renewal can be made at the earliest six months in advance of and at least ten weeks before the expiry of the registration.

Registered Tree Risk Assessors who do not have recognised academic or professional qualification in the first time registration are required to acquire relevant recognised academic and professional qualifications and submit their documentary proof for renewal of registration.

Please read Application for Renewal of Registration - Notes to Registered Tree Management Personnel.

(A) CEA Hour Requirements for the First Time Renewal

The minimum CEA hours for the first time renewal of respective types of registered tree management personnel for compliance with the essential CEA hours in key job functions and optional hours are as follows –

Note:

QF3 denotes Level 3 in the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework QF4 denotes Level 4 in the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework QF5 denotes Level 5 in the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework

Optional CEA hours should cover course or seminar relevant to the work of the registered personnel type which can enhance their knowledge, skills and techniques necessary for providing quality arboriculture services.

Please also read Recognised CEA Courses and Hong Kong 2024 International Urban Forestry Conference to obtain the total number of essential or optional CEA hours.

(B) CEA Hour Requirements for the Subsequent Renewals

Upon successful renewal for the first time, the requirements on minimum essential CEA hours on key job functions will be changed to optional CEA hours. Apart from the requirement to produce a minimum of 1.5 years in-service records in the immediate past three years before expiry of the current registration, registered tree management personnel is only subject to optional CEA hours and they have to produce records of compliance of the requirements on optional CEA hours in the same period for the subsequent renewals of registration as follows –

All five types of registered tree management personnel attending the following session(s) of the Hong Kong 2024 International Urban Forestry Conference (IUFC) in person can earn essential continuing education in arboriculture (CEA) hours in specific key job functions. Please grasp the chance to earn essential CEA hours. For details of the programme and for enrolment, please click IUFC’s website. After attending the seminar, please complete the CEA Record Form for Other CEA Courses/Seminars and keep the attendance record.

A registered tree management personnel may apply for extension of the validity period of his/her current registration for specific personnel type(s) for six months by sending a written request to the Registration Unit at rstmp@devb.gov.hk or in writing stating the reason(s) for applying for the extension of validity period of registration for specific personnel type(s), the registration number and his/her name. Application for extension of validity period of registration can be made at the earliest six months in advance of and at the latest ten weeks before the expiry date of the current registration. The Registration Unit will normally process the application for extension of the validity of the current registration upon receipt of all necessary information within six weeks and will notify the applicant of the result of the application in writing.

After the grant of the extension and upon successful renewal of registration, the commencement date of the renewed registration will start from the day following the original expiry date of the last registration before the grant of the extension. Each registered tree management personnel may be granted one extension only for each registered personnel type in each term of registration.

The registration of a registered tree management personnel will be lapsed automatically if no renewal application is made or the registered tree management personnel fails to fulfil the renewal requirement(s) in one or more than one personnel type(s) (including after the expiry of extension of validity period of registration, if applicable). In such case, the registered tree management personnel will be de-listed from the register for the specific personnel type(s). Once delisted from a specific personnel type, he/she can only apply for registration on the same personnel type again one year after the date of de-list.