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How to Become a Certified Arborist


What's that up in your tree? An ISA Certified Arborist!Ryan Lawn & Tree has 25 ISA Certified Arborists on staff to ensure that all of our tree services provide maximum benefit to your trees. Our Certified Arborists routinely attend or lead training sessions and take classes to stay current as to the latest products and techniques used for keeping trees healthy and thriving.

Some of our customers have asked us, what does it take to become a Certified Arborist? In this blog post, we’d like to address that question.

To qualify to become an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist, one must have at least 3 years of full-time experience in arboriculture. This experience typically includes pruning, fertilization, installation and establishment of trees, diagnosis and treatment of tree problems, cabling and bracing, and/or climbing.

After showing evidence of the 3 years of full-time experience, the individual must then study and prepare for an examination that will cover the following topics:

  • Soil Management
  • Identification and Selection of Trees
  • Installation and Establishment of Trees
  • Safe Work Practices
  • Tree Biology
  • Pruning
  • Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Urban Forestry
  • Tree Protection
  • Tree Risk Management

A examination and continuing education are required to obtain and maintain ISA Certification.Upon taking and passing the examination, the individual agrees to a set of ethics that governs professional behavior for each applicant. The person is then granted a Certificate with the ISA seal by which the person is designated as an ISA Certified Arborist.

The Certification is valid for 3 years. Before or at the conclusion of 3 years, the tree professional must become recertified by taking the certification exam or by earning at least 30 continuing education units.

Ryan Lawn & Tree strives to provide only the most knowledgeable and best trained arborists and tree professionals for our customers. After all – isn’t that what our customers deserve?

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