Becoming ISA certified

[Butterz]

Hi,

I am studying to become an ISA certified arborist. I plan on taking the computer based exam with a testing facility called "Pearson Vue".

I am wondering if there are any arborists' who became certified via a computer based exam? If so, what did you think of it? I would like to hear your feedback!

Thanks!

 

[stltreedr]

I took the BCMA test at Pearson Vue, and I took the CA exam the old fashioned way. If you have the most basic of computer skills it is no big deal. If you know the material, the venue really doesn't matter. Study the book and review some of the ANSI standards and you should be in good shape.

 

[Butterz]

Thanks for the reponse! Yeah, I am almost done reading the ISA study guide. I plan on going over it a second time before I take the test. Good advice on the ANSI standards. I will make sure those are engrained in my memory

 

[Butterz]

stldreedr - Can you tell me how much of the test is devoted to tree identification?

 

[Mikecutstrees]

Tree ID to my personal dismay has become a rather small part of the exam. When I took the exam about two years ago the tree ID part was pitiful. Should be more difficult in my opinion. In college we had to ID trees to species by just a stump, twig etc. The ISA exam has gone soft.

Mike

 

[mr. holden wood]

stldreedr - Can you tell me how much of the test is devoted to tree identification?

The tree I.D. portion was removed last year, but you can take the test in spanish now.. All you need know for the test is in the hundred dollar study guide. Isa is a money making machine, I stick with my C.A. cred stictly for the purpose of sales.

 

[Pelorus]

I plan on going over it a second time before I take the test.

Good grief, don't overdo it, A baboon could probably pass the exam now.

 

[mckeetree]

Isa is a money making machine, I stick with my C.A. cred stictly for the purpose of sales.

About come to that, hasn't it.

 

[mckeetree]

Good grief, don't overdo it, A baboon could probably pass the exam now.

Well said.

 

[arborjockey]

Dont take the test test its to much $ . Dont join they're club its a joke. The more that join the more power they have to push their agenda. otstir:

 

[treeseer]

Good grief, don't overdo it, A baboon could probably pass the exam now.

This is an insult to those who have trouble with words and tests. Not easy for everyone; not all are as smart as you. umpkin2:

yes ISA's bloated, but their agenda is knowledge of better tree care. What agenda is better than that? :confused2:

 

[Pelorus]

This is an insult to those who have trouble with words and tests. Not easy for everyone; not all are as smart as you. umpkin2:
QUOTE]

If someone cannot understand the terminology of their chosen profession (arboriculture), then they shouldn't be writing a basic exam that tests their understanding. Period. And if everyone is not as smart as me, then I would hope that they are not as dumb as you.

The first time I wrote the exam, (in the '90s), I studied my azz off, and took a three day workshop at Humber College (Toronto) to prep for the exam. (which was awesome). Even with all that, I still found the test somewhat of a challenge, and wasn't sure whether I had passed or not. Back then you had to pass each of the domains to achieve an overall pass. And tree ID was part of it.

Did the exam last September, with very minimal studying. And it was a Complete Joke. If the previous Certification could be regarded as a High School Diploma in Arboriculture (being generous), then the difficulty level of the current exam would be equivalent to finishing primary school.

 

[Pelorus]

yes ISA's bloated, but their agenda is knowledge of better tree care. What agenda is better than that? :confused2:

The ISA's agenda is to Make Money, money, money, and more money, under the guise of promoting better tree care.

I don't know if they operate in the USA, but up here in Canada we have an organization called MADD (Mothers against drunk driving). Sounds like a real good agenda, and I suppose it is, except that about 90 something percent of the money they raise disapears into administration, and 10% goes to actually getting the message out.

The kids that sell chocalate bars or oranges or whatever to raise money for school programs, (like eg, a school band trip to Tasmania, or whatever). How much of the $$$ they raise do you suppose the school actually gets to keep?

 

[Pelorus]

I sound like LXT, and I dunno if that's a real good thing.
These ISA threads are like offering hemlock to Socrates, or flying lessons to Icarus.

 

[treeseer]

If your retake seemed a lot easier, how much of that was due to your advancement in the 12-22 years since your first test? Hard to say; that's a big shift in perspective, and knowledge.

These ISA threads are like offering hemlock to Socrates, or flying lessons to Icarus.

Or parenting lessons to Daedalus.

So we agree that their administrative costs are rising, and their priorities are shifting. But where is the alternative to finding credibility, recognizability, and systematic professional development in this line of work?

"If someone cannot understand the terminology of their chosen profession (arboriculture), then they shouldn't be writing a basic exam that tests their understanding."

It's not just terminology. Reading comprehension and abstract reasoning is not everyone's forte'. How about cutting some slack for those who have tried hard and failed to pass?

"And if everyone is not as smart as me, then I would hope that they are not as dumb as you."

Yes I would hope that as well! :jester:

 

[Pelorus]

Probably 99% of the public doesn't know the difference between an ISA Certified Arborist, and a "Certified Arborist" or just a plain ole "Arborist" Maybe it's 97%; whatever. If the exam gets any simpler, for all intents and purposes there will be no difference.
I think that given the current direction the ISAis going, fewer numbers of "real" arborists who take this profession seriously are going to remain affiliated with an organization becoming addicted to mediocrity. Perhaps the TCIA will become their choice re. credibility, peer recognition, and professional development.

Making the credential easier to obtain diminishes it's value. Like wanting to join a volunteer FD, where as long as you have two legs and a beating heart, you're in! 'Cause Volunteer FDs are having a harder time finding and retaining recruits, so the basic requirements to join get easier. I don't think it is necessarily a good thing to allow a physically unfit person with trouble comprehending basic concepts to become a firefighter, neither do I think the same individual should be successfully challenging an ISA CA exam. No matter if they have "tried "hard" and really wanna become one.

If we go down the slippery slope (just a slight grade), perhaps the ISA should look into lowering the pass requirement for the exam to say 60% to accomodate a minority of aspiring mediocre wannabe arborists that somehow can't meet the current standard. Perhaps the exam questions should become even easier, and there should be less of them. Make it just a one hour multiple guess test with 50 questions. Eventually give a blank pass to anybody that forks over the exam fee?

 

[arborjockey]

Not everybody can be arborist. Im a beautiful painter I just have a problem with the brush strokes. The paintings in my head but everytime I touch my brush on the canvas I shake like I've got to have a drink. That makes me a sh.itty painter

NOT A GOOD TEST TAKER.......YOU MEAN THE PART WHERE WE FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOU KNOW. They have a pretest and a study guide. What else can they do?

A guy here in Hawaii paid for the airfare to fly to another island so 5 guys could take the isa test only my buddy passed. He took the municipal part.....or whatever it was. Anyway we hired one of the other yeahoo's. He tells my boss that I need to prune different. He went to one of the trees i pruned and started pointing at the cut marks. I came flying out of the tree, smoke coming ot of my friction hitch, I verbally abused him for 10 min. straight on proper pruning. Couldn't pass that test but then tell the boss im pruning wrong. IDIOT

 

[Pelorus]

Hoping someone can explain how lowering the standards is gonna raise the bar and be good for arboriculture.
Letting little Suzy Q graduate even though she can't barely spell her name or tie her shoes makes everybody feel better I guess.

Singer used to be highly regarded for making good sewing machines. They used to have a good name. Nowadays, they produce mostly plastic disposable junk. Boat anchors. Is the ISA headed in the same direction? Should I wait a couple more years till the ISA lowers the criteria to make the BCMA easier to pass?

 

[arborjockey]

Im a certified general climber, expert climber, and master rigger. These are a few of many certs Ive acquired through my short career. The ones above were awarded by a company that's been out of business for ten years. Want to be an arborist? Let me print you a diploma for $65 . Worst hacks on my island are isa certified couunty and state employees.