ISA Cert. Is it worth it?

[Cbrexdogg]

I'm starting this thread because I'm taking my certification test this Sept. I along with one of my co-workers have a 4-year degree in Urban and Community Forestry and think that is much better than being certified. We spent well over a semester on everything in the study guide except climbing and cabling and bracing. The main reason we decided to get cert. is because one of our competitors advertises that he is the only cert. arborist working in the area. (He is old and fat, and in my 5 years working in the area, I have never seen him doing anything other than estimating.)

So I was just wondering what everyone else thought about this. And while we're at it, what about TCIA accreditation?

 

[S Mc]

With four years of college in this field you should cake walk the exam, then, shouldn't you?

I also didn't realize there was an age and weight criteria but I could have missed that.

Be that as it may, IMHO, Yes it is worth it. I received certification over a year ago after being in the industry for over 20 years. It has inspired me to pursue my education further.

I am assuming that in the last 5 years of being in the business you have become more familiar with the climbing, rigging, cabling and bracing that you missed out on in college?

Please try to broaden your mind and get away from the "my accomplishment is better than theirs" and just realize that any furthering of your education will benefit you in the long run. You are at the beginning of your career and life, make the most of it.

Sylvia

 

[sharkfin12us]

certification

I am certified now arborist i think it helps for advertising your skills versues other companies that dont have it.I would like to pursue CERTIFIED TREE EXPERT NEXT but i will start to study in winter.I find it to something to add to your experience.

 

[mckeetree]

I'm starting this thread because I'm taking my certification test this Sept. I along with one of my co-workers have a 4-year degree in Urban and Community Forestry and think that is much better than being certified. We spent well over a semester on everything in the study guide except climbing and cabling and bracing. The main reason we decided to get cert. is because one of our competitors advertises that he is the only cert. arborist working in the area. (He is old and fat, and in my 5 years working in the area, I have never seen him doing anything other than estimating.)

So I was just wondering what everyone else thought about this. And while we're at it, what about TCIA accreditation?

Well sure it's better than being certified. I have an associates degree in aboriculture. It took me two years to get it. I am a certified arborist. It took me study time, test, and all, four hours to get it. Why then did I pursue the certification? Because it was becoming a buzz word in this industry. That's all. There are guys walking around that are CA's that know very little about trees. This forum if nothing else should show you that. I hired one last spring and the guy couldn't mix chemicals right even after 15 days of intense spoon feeding. And as far as the TCIA accreditation goes I'm not impressed with it.

 

[Dillweed]

anyone can pass it

I roll my eyes when I say I'm an arborist. I read the manual two days before the ISA test and passed. I know little to nothing about trees. You are a real arborist with a forestry degree. People just don't know any better, so take the test so you too can say "I'm a Certified Arborist", and roll your eyes.

 

[treeseer]

You are a real arborist with a forestry degree.

 

[OLD CHIPMONK]

Well, I'm off to Court this Wed.. An old tree loss (C.O.R. ) or anything else they decide to settle on. My time is unpaid, as I charged the plaintiff for the written tree loss appraisal ( nearly 5 yrs. ago ). I would certainly hope Wed. brings closure to this suit. I explained to the plaintiffs' attorney that I was no longer ISA Certified. He subpoenaed me ,stating I was Certified at the time.It should be interesting. The plaintiff had 5 Pecans 18-24" D.B.H. 40-60 ft. tall ,shading her place of business. She closed for vacation & her neighbor removed them ( without her knowledge ), leaving 5 ugly stumps. It seems the neighboring business needed more parking area. The trees shaded her building & afforded an outdoor eating area ( with picinic tables ) for her patrons. This should be a battle of the Titans . The method I used was developed by the Southern Chapter-ISA , Appraised Tree Value. A worksheet was only used as a guide. I verbally mentioned mine would be sustantially less than appraised value. All she said " write it up, were going to court & they are going to pay ". I mentioned she should go for Cost of Replacement C.O.R.. Oh well !!

 

[mcdonaldchris]

Well.... its additional training which never hurt anyone. It makes me continue to train myself to get CEU'S and what not so I can keep up with new techniques and ideas out there.

But if u have no xp and u just study for the test and pass it, then expect to be taking down 60ft oaks or doing hazard tree evaluations. Your living in a very dangerous dream world.

 

[Job Corps Tree]

ISA Cert. Is it worth it

Absolutely. Take it

 

[joehusker]

are you sure he is not the only board certified master arborist in the area? if so, i know who you are talking about and your four year degree will not hold a candle to his experience. learn in-tree work then run your mouth.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

What so many fail to realize is that ISA cert is an accreditation of MINIMUM required knowledge.

Hey Guy, how hard was the BCMA testing?

 

[S Mc]

Hey Guy, how hard was the BCMA testing?

I'm waiting with baited breath for the answer.....

Sylvia

 

[treeseer]

I took the pilot version in 2004. It was harder than I'd imagined it would be. I took the full 3 hours.
Maybe someone who's taken it recently knows more.

This seems to be a derail of the thread--the original poster was not taking the bcma, right?
Anyway, I hope the CA does him well.

Why would a college course on cert not include cabling and bracing? Anyway, if Tagtow runs the curriculum I'm sure it's good. No disrespect to that urban forestry degree program, but a lot of others are way deep into planning and not so much field training.

o and no "i" in bated; kind of a funny image, baiting one's breath...for what? with what?? :censored: :jawdrop:

 

[mckeetree]

I took the pilot version in 2004.


Yeah but that was for pilots. It is hard to tell much about a tree from way up there.

 

[treeseer]

I took the pilot version in 2004.
Yeah but that was for pilots. It is hard to tell much about a tree from way up there.

Harharhardeehar!

Atually, it's a great perspective to see DED flagging, and scorch, and dieback, if you fly low enough.

 

[mckeetree]

Harharhardeehar!

Atually, it's a great perspective to see DED flagging, and scorch, and dieback, if you fly low enough.

Well you got me there.

 

[Cbrexdogg]

Joe i wasn't talking about Ralph. I know a little about your company and I know that you do things correctly. And the guy I am talking about does know his stuff. I just think that if you are claiming to be the only CA in town, you should actually be doing some work. The guys doing the work are not CA and do alot of things contrary to what a CA should/would do. I don't think there is much training going on.