becoming a isa arborist?

[nitrousbaby]

I'm curious on becoming a certified arborist not only to add to my business but to also make sure I'm doing the right things in my industry. I've been doing tree work since I was 9 ( just raking for my dads crews) now at 30 I'm completley taking over my dads business of 24 years. I have all nessesary equipment to do the work safe and efficient and have my shop so I'm really seeing this arborist thing as the next step for us. I'm looking for input from you on what category to start with or just jump right in? Any idea on how long its going to take? Or just any info you guys have would be great. Thanks a lot!

 

[ATH]

A card in your wallet isn't going to "make sure you are doing the right things".

I don't say that to disparage the CA program. I am a Certified Arborist, and I absolutely know it adds significant value to my business. However, I make sure I do the right things. I go to training to keep learning. At those trainings I get hours to apply to Certified Arborist recertification. I'd still go if I didn't need to because they make me a better professional.

The designation is a communication to clients. It should communicate to them 4 things:
1) You passed a test.
2) You have met the at least minimum employment experience requirements.
3) You have agreed to a Code of Ethics (and it provides an avenue for them to "punish" you by reporting to ISA if you violate that code).
4) If you have been Certified for more than 3 years it says you have pursued the at least minimal amount of continuing education to maintain Certification.

Those last two should help you do the right things...but they aren't magic - you still have to make the right choices everyday.

I'd encourage you to just jump right in and apply for Certified Arborist. Buy the preparatory book. People who have been paying attention and who have gone to continuing education for a number of years generally don't have trouble passing the test after they go through the study guide. (I say that...but when I took the test, you had to pass each individual section. I did had retake the section on cabling/bracing because I didn't have experience in that, and didn't study well for it...had to drive 90 miles one way to take a 6 or 7 question test because of that!!!).

How long is it going to take? That depends on you and when you can take the test. If you get the book and it sounds like first grade reading because that is what your dad has taught you for the last 20-some years it will take no time. If you get the book and it is the first time you are hearing everything.....you might want to go through it a couple of times, get some other materials, and visit some seminars for a year or two before taking the test.

Good luck!

 

[2treeornot2tree]

There is prep classes for the test. Contact your local isa office. I am currently taking one every Thursday for the month of january. Learning some new stuff and reviewing some stuff I already new. They don't have you identify specific trees anymore but you need to know how to look at leaves and buds to figure it out.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

 

[nitrousbaby]

I appreciate everyone's input I know my questions were very open ended. I'm all about more education and it sounds like if I contact my local isa office I can find more on that. I took my EMT medical class last year for part time fire fighting. This years goal was my certified arborist. I just see they have so many different categories now to become certified in.

 

[sgreanbeans]

Get the Arb dictionary from the ISA book store.

 

[Pelorus]

I took the workshop years ago prior to writing the test for the first time.
Was well worth it - learned a lot that wasn't covered in the guide, plus it was during the winter, so the tree ID part if the test was based on twig samples. Instructors (Humber College - Toronto) were excellent.
I gave up on renewing the CA for a period of a couple years when I tried (unsuccessfully) to escape the tree biz and get into something else. When I wrote the exam again, it was almost a joke compared to the "original" test.
If you know what is covered in the Study Guide, you will pass, and it doesn't have to be a "new" guide, either. Get a cheap used one (with either the gold or green cover) off of EBay or Amazon or wherever.