isa better or not

[hunthawkdog]

how did you guys become isa certified collage at home online what of commitment does it take . do you think you make more money becuse your certified . i grew up around the tree svc we dont spay or use chemicals and some diseas i have to look up . I speacilize in big uglys everone else is scared of. In the winter I always wonder if I could work on getting certified .My Dad who is responsable for the wood chips in my blood says I wont make any more money being certified . I cut and trimed about 1500 trees this year and cant remember one person asking if I was certified.what do you guys think !

 

[hunthawkdog]

well as long as i got ur approval . fire up the press print new cards and shirts were certified

 

[superjunior]

Some people aspire to become better, learn more and advance their careers. Some people are happy right where their at. Depends on the person. I'm studying to take my cert. Will it make me more money? I have no idea but that's not my motive anyway.

 

[ATH]

Here are a few opinions on your situation:
*First: I know I make more money being Certified...but that has a lot to do with my business model
*You said you don't get people asking if you are. That could be because the people who care didn't call you, or they may already know so they don't bother asking. (Picture this conversation: Client A to Client B "Do you know of a Certified Arborist, I need some tree work done?" Client B: "He is not Certified, but he does a great job...here is his number."
*Should you get Certified? It depends. If you goal is continuing going after the "big uglies" (and there is good money to be made there), than I am not sure it adds too much. I can tell a client why they want to hire somebody who understands the biology and physiology of trees, different options for pest control, how to manage soils to better improve trees (in addition to safety, rigging, bracing, etc...). ISA offers a program which verifies minimal standards have been met. I cannot tell somebody why all of that is important they just want their tree gone. Find somebody who can do it safe, is insured, pays worker's comp, and leaves the job site as you expect it then shop by price. If you do that better than anybody else in your market, and you don't intend to expand beyond, then I doubt there is more money to be made.

Some folks will disagree with me, and I am OK with that - I am only expressing my opinion. I am not intending to portray anybody 'better' then anybody else. We all have a role to play. There is good money to be made in all of those roles and they are all important parts of the industry. Some companies want to cover a wider list of services than others, etc... Figure out who you are and safely run with it!

 

[hunthawkdog]

isa

hw didyou get ur certifacation . where did you get a buisiness model and was she expensive

 

[hunthawkdog]

isa

I think i would like to get mt cert just not sure how to ge started and how long it takes . I ve also been thinkin about just buyin an isa certified arborist. then i could say isa cert on staff i aint about to mess those chemicals anyhow

 

[Carburetorless]

how did you guys become isa certified collage at home online what of commitment does it take . do you think you make more money becuse your certified . i grew up around the tree svc we dont spay or use chemicals and some diseas i have to look up . I speacilize in big uglys everone else is scared of. In the winter I always wonder if I could work on getting certified .My Dad who is responsable for the wood chips in my blood says I wont make any more money being certified . I cut and trimed about 1500 trees this year and cant remember one person asking if I was certified.what do you guys think !

I've looked into certification, because I thought it would be a good idea since I would get the latest in technique from the training involved, but after reading the training outline I got the impression that the people who were running the school were living in the dark ages.

The final test in the program is your climbing test, and they require you to use body thrusting as your method of getting into the canopy.

To me that seems like a step backwards, because 1) There are better methods of ascent and 2) I couldn't body thrust if my life depended on it.

 

[newsawtooth]

The final test in the program is your climbing test, and they require you to use body thrusting as your method of getting into the canopy.

To me that seems like a step backwards, because 1) There are better methods of ascent and 2) I couldn't body thrust if my life depended on it.

Certification is not training. The test evaluates very basic minimum competency, not new techniques. Lots of money has been made body thrusting and foot locking for that matter.

As for the cert, it is good stuff to know, especially if you do more than just removals. Whether or not the cert itself is useful is another story. It satisfies part of the requirements for me to get city tree service licenses which are required here, so for me it is worth it.

 

[derwoodii]

Did mine about 3 years ago at a ISA conference here in OZ. It took me less than 5 months of study and that was only about one evening a week to read though the chapters of the book and test myself. I found the Cert CD disc a great help as I'm in the ute a lot so they were subliminal in getting the concepts though. My OZ arb qualifications were pretty past the ISA cert ones but I still found the thing challenging and worth while. I'm pondering doing the Muni cert this year.
This is the motivation hurdle for your self and it may not pay up front now but as you age and look for other jobs than hanging off a rope or the back of saw the qualification & knowledge may lend a hand.

My advice find some one to do the reading and learning with, its good to have study buddy to set the tasks and push you along, hey perhaps even your dad, then both of you go to a ISA conference and enjoy the journey

FUTURE CONFERENCE LOCATIONS 2013 August 3-7, 2013: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

[ATH]

hw didyou get ur certifacation . where did you get a buisiness model and was she expensive

The 'how':
*You either need educational and experience credentials or just longer experience. I had both. Sounds like your experience is adequate if you haven't been through a program.
*You then apply for Certification, they review your credentials and you take the test. They now have some kind of computer test - I did a in-person test. The Study guide is helpful, but depending on your background/knowledge may or may not be necessary.

I couldn't find a business model I liked, so I made my own

 

[ATH]

I think i would like to get mt cert just not sure how to ge started and how long it takes . I ve also been thinkin about just buyin an isa certified arborist. then i could say isa cert on staff i aint about to mess those chemicals anyhow

It can go pretty quick if you are ready to take the test.

If you need to hire a fulll timer, that is not a bad route to go.

Just because you are (or are not) a Certifed Arborist, doesn't mean you have to (or must not) work with pesticides. Pesticide licensing is a state issue, has nothing to do with ISA.

 

[Carburetorless]

Certification is not training.

Did you think it was? Lol, I'll bet you were disappointed.

The test evaluates very basic minimum competency, not new techniques. Lots of money has been made body thrusting and foot locking for that matter.

I'm sure there has been a lot of money made that way, but why put in the extra sweat and muscle when there are more efficient methods to make the money. A tired climber isn't a safer climber, nor a more productive climber.

The course I looked into was training with certification testing at the end of the program, but I think I'll look for a better program before I invest the $$ and the time.

When I see a program teaching inefficient methods it tells me the program hasn't evolved much. I think my money would be better spent elsewhere.

I think being certified is a good thing, some people are more likely to hire you if you have it, I think most municipalities require some sort of certification. Even if you don't need it now, it's better to have it on hand if an opportunity comes your way that requires it.

 

[ATH]

I've looked into certification, because I thought it would be a good idea since I would get the latest in technique from the training involved, but after reading the training outline I got the impression that the people who were running the school were living in the dark ages.

The final test in the program is your climbing test, and they require you to use body thrusting as your method of getting into the canopy.

To me that seems like a step backwards, because 1) There are better methods of ascent and 2) I couldn't body thrust if my life depended on it.

First, there are plenty of training opportunities out there - every one I have seen is available to both Certified Arborists, and folks who never intend to become Certified. Certification provides some motivation to keep up with continuing education, but there is not some exclusive club for CAs. In fact, if you are doing it just to learn more, I suggest you do the learning without sending an extra check to ISA for Certification. (now, ISA membership is a different story.)

Secondly: You had a climbing test to become a Certifed Arborist??? There is a "Climbing Specialist" that is a subcategory of Certification, but you shouldn't need to climb for basic Certification (many argue that is one of the problems with the program...but it is broader than something just for climbers). (I do agree that requiring body thrusting is dumb - but maybe that is because I can't do it either...and I bet you and I can't do it mostly because we have never practiced, and we never practiced because we never saw the point because there are better ways!).

 

[formationrx]

...

to OP
listen to your old man....

 

[hunthawkdog]

isa

if your not moving foreward your getting left behind. does isa include aerial rescue . we ran into a deal wher you couldnt perfome without it. also dyall know about a free practice test a guy try. when i got my cdl i just took the test until i got it right it was less painful then reading. I briefly tried to sift out some info on the net but lets just say im better with a saw then computer. also we had alot of oak wilt this summer and i wonder how cert would have been better for that . does it teach you cures or teach you just how to prolong the inevitable .

 

[Carburetorless]

First, there are plenty of training opportunities out there - every one I have seen is available to both Certified Arborists, and folks who never intend to become Certified. Certification provides some motivation to keep up with continuing education, but there is not some exclusive club for CAs. In fact, if you are doing it just to learn more, I suggest you do the learning without sending an extra check to ISA for Certification. (now, ISA membership is a different story.)

Secondly: You had a climbing test to become a Certifed Arborist??? There is a "Climbing Specialist" that is a subcategory of Certification, but you shouldn't need to climb for basic Certification (many argue that is one of the problems with the program...but it is broader than something just for climbers).

Yes you're correct, there are categories, ISA Certified Arborist, Climber Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, ISA Certified Tree Worker, Municipal Specialist, Utility Specialist, and Board Certified Master Arborist.

(I do agree that requiring body thrusting is dumb - but maybe that is because I can't do it either...and I bet you and I can't do it mostly because we have never practiced, and we never practiced because we never saw the point because there are better ways!).[/QUOTE]

It's as if you've read my post.

 

[Carburetorless]

if your not moving foreward your getting left behind. does isa include aerial rescue . we ran into a deal wher you couldnt perfome without it. also dyall know about a free practice test a guy try. when i got my cdl i just took the test until i got it right it was less painful then reading. I briefly tried to sift out some info on the net but lets just say im better with a saw then computer. also we had alot of oak wilt this summer and i wonder how cert would have been better for that . does it teach you cures or teach you just how to prolong the inevitable .

It teaches you the value of looking like you know what you're doing. :biggrin:

 

[newsawtooth]

Did you think it was? Lol, I'll bet you were disappointed.



I'm sure there has been a lot of money made that way, but why put in the extra sweat and muscle when there are more efficient methods to make the money. A tired climber isn't a safer climber, nor a more productive climber.

The course I looked into was training with certification testing at the end of the program, but I think I'll look for a better program before I invest the $$ and the time.

When I see a program teaching inefficient methods it tells me the program hasn't evolved much. I think my money would be better spent elsewhere.

I think being certified is a good thing, some people are more likely to hire you if you have it, I think most municipalities require some sort of certification. Even if you don't need it now, it's better to have it on hand if an opportunity comes your way that requires it.

I knew it wasn't training. I relied on experience and self study for that. No matter what method you use, it is difficult to pass the climbing test or make money when you drop your climbing line. Maybe the basics would be a good place to start.

 

[Carburetorless]

I knew it wasn't training. I relied on experience and self study for that. No matter what method you use, it is difficult to pass the climbing test or make money when you drop your climbing line. Maybe the basics would be a good place to start.

Lol Drop your climbing line? :redface: Don't do that, it sucks.

 

[sgreanbeans]

It's as if you've read my post.

You ought to practice body thrusting, its as basic a climbing move as there is.


Skipping the basics is no way to the top.

EVERY arborist knows how to body thrust and if your training doesn't cover it you're getting bad training.[/QUOTE]

Totally agree, sure there are all kinds of fancy toys out there, but ya really should know the basics.