Arborist Certifications:
What are they and why you should consider hiring a credentialed arborist
The trees on your property are valuable, not just for timber or wildlife habitat, but also for the ecological services like shade, wind protection, erosion control, and water filtration. The aesthetic benefits of having trees on your property can enhance your property's value (in some cases by $50,000 to $100,000!) and can improve your well-being and enjoyment of your property.
One of the ways you can ensure that your resources are being taken care of by knowledgeable and devoted professionals is by hiring someone with an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) certification. All holders of ISA and ASCA certifications are bound to a code of ethics and have been tested on their knowledge of arboricultural practices. This means not only are you hiring someone who has proven their understanding of the latest research and practices related to the care of trees, but who is bound to give you the safest, most competent, and truthful recommendations on how best to care for your trees. There are seven certifications offered by the ISA and two offered from the ASCA. They are as follow:
ISA
Certified Arborist
The ISA Certified Arborist is the first of the seven credentials offered by the ISA. It is the most common certification for arborists and requires a candidate to have a minimum of three years of full-time experience in arboriculture or a combination of education and practical arboricultural experience. The Certified Arborist has
● Demonstrated the basic knowledge required to inspect trees and perform tree care
● Required state arborist statute designations or licenses
● Demonstrated basic knowledge to perform tree care with required minimum qualifications (individual and/or business) to meet statute requirements for the specific jurisdiction.
Tree Risk Assessment Qualification
The ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (ISA TRAQ) is a voluntary qualification program designed to train and assess candidates in a specialized field of arboriculture. When a professional earns the ISA TRAQ credential, they should be recognized by their peers and the public as a tree care professional who has specialized knowledge in tree risk assessment. To earn the qualification, eligible candidates must complete a training course, and pass both a comprehensive written assessment and a performance-based assessment. To maintain the qualification, current credential holders must retrain and retest every seven years.
The program offers tree care professionals the opportunity to learn a standardized, systematic process for assessing tree risk and providing information to tree owners and risk managers when making decisions that will promote the safety of people and property and enhance tree benefits, health, and longevity.
Certified Urban Forestry Professional (formerly Certified Municipal Arborist)
ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional (formerly called ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist®) credential holders are recognized by their peers and the public as tree care professionals who have attained a fundamental level of knowledge in core areas of the arboriculture practice within an urban forest context and management of trees as a community providing societal benefits. Areas of knowledge measured include communication skills, public relations, policy and planning, administration, risk management, and arboricultural practices.
Board Certified Master Arborist
The ISA Board Certified Master Arborist® credential is the highest level of certification offered by ISA. This credential recognizes ISA Certified Arborists® who have reached the pinnacle of their profession. In addition to passing an extensive scenario-based exam, candidates must abide by a code of ethics, which ensures quality of work. Fewer than two percent of all ISA Certified Arborists® currently hold this certification.
ISA Specialist Certifications
The ISA offers three specialist certifications: Certified Tree Climber Specialist, Certified Utility Clearance Specialist, and Certified Aerial Lift Specialist. These certifications are typically used for showing proficiency or as a stepping stone to other certifications in the industry, whether for utility line clearance or training programs within their companies. These specialist certifications typically do not test for proficiency in the care of trees, but rather in how to perform the respective skills or jobs safely. To obtain the specialist certifications one must pass both a written and skill-based exam.
ASCA
Registered Consulting Arborist
Consulting Arborists are authoritative experts on trees and bring an objective, comprehensive viewpoint to their clients—ensuring the safety, health, and preservation of trees. They serve a wide variety of clients, including property owners, municipalities, contractors, attorneys, insurance professionals, landscape architects, developers, engineers, other arborists, and more.
Tree and Plant Appraisal Qualification
The Tree and Plant Appraisal Qualification is a voluntary program that teaches individuals how to accurately assign value to trees and landscapes. Typically, this qualification is obtained by either Board-Certified Master Arborist or Registered Consulting Arborists who create reports to be used in testimonies or other legally binding documents where the value of the landscape is under question and needs to be precise, or for large/numerous sites where the value of the landscape and trees can be quite extensive.
So, what type of arborist should you hire? Of course, your specific needs will dictate what you should look for. If you need an expert report you can take through litigation, consider working with a Registered Consulting Arborist;if you have a very sensitive and demanding site, consider a Board-Certified Master Arborist. However, the arborist you should hire is one who is knowledgeable about your situation and that you can trust to safely and competently take care of your trees, not only achieving your desired look, but also ensuring the health and longevity of your trees.
To find or check the credentials of arborists in your area, visit:
