How Does the ISA Arborist Certification Process Work?
When you hire someone to prune, remove, or evaluate your trees, you want them to understand what they’re doing. A qualification you’ll see when comparing tree professionals is the “ISA Certified Arborist” certification. ISA stands for the International Society of Arboriculture. In this blog, we’re going to explain what it means to be an ISA Certified Arborist and why you want your tree professionals to have this certification.
What is an ISA Certified Arborist?
An ISA Certified Arborist is a tree professional who has met the ISA’s eligibility requirements and passed its certification exam. In other words, it means they have the skills and knowledge to properly care for your trees. For homeowners, this certification is a great way to identify knowledgeable tree professionals when choosing someone to work on your property. The credential demonstrates a broad level of knowledge on subjects like:
- Tree biology
- Pruning
- Soil management
- Tree disease diagnosis
- Tree risks
- Safe work practices
What are the Requirements to Become an ISA Certified Arborist?
Not everyone can just take the certification exam and become an ISA Certified Arborist. Before someone can take the certification exam, they first have to meet ISA’s eligibility requirements.
One way to qualify for the exam is to have at least three years of full-time practical experience in arboriculture. This experience can include professional work in pruning, planting, disease diagnosis, tree health, and other areas related to tree care. Sometimes you can mix education and practical experience to meet this three-year requirement.
In other words, this certification isn’t for someone outside of the industry. The ISA qualifications require applicants to have real-world experience, education, or a combination of the two before moving forward.
How Do You Apply for the ISA Exam?
Once an arborist meets the eligibility requirements, the next step is to submit an exam application. The ISA offers an online application through its credentialing system. If you want to become an ISA Certified Arborist, you should review the candidate application handbook or application guide before submitting your information because it explains the eligibility rules, documentation, application fees, enrollment fees, and other policies.
After your application is reviewed and approved, you can move on to exam enrollment. ISA exams are offered through local ISA Certification Partners or at Pearson VUE testing centers. Only approved and enrolled candidates can sit for an exam. One more note on a common misconception: ISA membership is not the same thing as certification. You don’t become an ISA Certified Arborist by just joining the organization. However, members do receive discounts on some certification fees.
What Does the Certified Arborist Exam Cover?
The arborist examination currently has 200 multiple-choice questions on these topics:
- Tree biology
- Tree identification and selection
- Soil management
- Tree installation and establishment
- Pruning
- Tree disease diagnosis and treatment
- Trees and construction
- Tree risks
- Safety and safe work practices
- Urban forestry
This broad test approach makes sense because as arborists, we run into many different situations in the field. We may need to understand why a tree is dying one day and determine the safest way to prune a healthy tree the next.
The ISA Certified Arborist title is just one of the credentials ISA offers. Each credential has a different exam, eligibility rules, and areas of focus. They also offer the ISA Board Certified Master Arborist certification, a more advanced credential you can obtain after becoming an ISA Certified Arborist.
What Online Study Materials Can Arborists Use?
Are you an amateur arborist who wants to become an ISA Certified Arborist? The ISA offers plenty of online study materials.
The ISA’s Online Learning Center has a 25-course Introduction to Arboriculture Training Series. The chapters are self-paced and have quizzes, exercises, reviews, images, videos, and plenty of other tools to help reinforce important concepts. There are also online practice exams you can take to see if you’re ready for the real thing.
These online study materials make preparing for the exam more convenient, but we want to emphasize that they don’t replace the experience requirements for certification. You’ll still need to qualify for the exam through full-time arboriculture work before taking the exam.
Contact Joseph Tree today to inquire about arborist job openings on our team. We may be able to help you gain the experience you need to become a tree specialist.
Do ISA Certified Arborists Have to Renew Their Certification?
Yes, ISA Certified Arborists have to renew their certification every three years. To keep the certification, certified arborists have to either:
- Earn the required continuing education units (CEUs): Complete at least 30 CEUs during the three-year certification period and pay a recertification fee.
- Or retake the exam: Take and pass the ISA Certified Arborist exam again before their certification expires.
Most arborists choose the continuing education option so they can stay current on new research, techniques, safety practices, and other developments in the industry. It’s always valuable to keep learning even after passing the exam.
Why ISA Certification Matters for Professional Tree Care Services
There’s a lot more to caring for a tree than cutting off branches now and then.
As arborists, we need to understand how pruning and other tree services will affect trees in the long run. We need to be able to spot signs of disease and decay, evaluate soil conditions, and recognize tree risks around a home. Without proper training, you can hurt trees and create safety issues.
The ISA Certified Arborist Certification gives homeowners a way to identify arborists who have met specific knowledge and experience standards. But this certification isn’t the only thing you should look for in a tree company. As a customer, you should also consider the company’s experience, insurance, reputation, equipment, and the services the company offers.
Contact Joseph Tree Today
Tree Care Services in Columbus Ohio
Your trees are a valuable part of your property, so it pays to have experienced professionals caring for them. At Joseph Tree, we have several ISA Certified Arborists on our team. Our experts can help you with everything from routine pruning to complicated tree removals.
Do you need professional tree services in Columbus, Ohio? Call us today to schedule a tree inspection and get a free estimate.