ISA announces expanded ISA Certified Arborist certification eligibility requirements

Thee International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) announced expanded eligibility criteria for the ISA Certified Arborist certification recognizing assessment-based programs to fulfill the education requirements to take the exam.

Much like a degree program, assessment-based programs provide training and test a student’s comprehension.  Those students then must successfully complete the testing in order to achieve the certificate/diploma.  The ISA Credentialing Council reviewed two- and four-year degree programs to determine the amount of hours and direct arboricultural learning that a student would achieve through those programs in order to determine an equivalent amount that could be achieved through an assessment-based program.

Once the review was complete, ISA was then able to apply assessment-based certificate program hours in comparison to approved degree programs and incorporate those into certification eligibility criteria. Updated education requirements are as follows:

Completed College/University Accredited Degree Programs

  • Two-year associate degree with a minimum of two courses directly related to arboriculture plus two years of practical full-time experience in arboriculture
  • Four-year bachelor degree with a minimum of four courses directly related to arboriculture plus one year of practical full-time experience in arboriculture

Assessment-Based Certificate Programs (Diplomas, Certificates)

  • 900 hours of assessed training with a minimum focus of 90 hours directly related to arboriculture plus two years of practical full-time experience in arboriculture
  • 1,800 hours of assessed training with a minimum focus of 180 hours directly related to arboriculture plus one year of practical fulltime experience in arboriculture

To encourage young professionals in pursuing ISA credentials, ISA will be communicating with colleges and universities, as well as assessment-based training organizations to provide them with a clear certification pathway for their students. Information provided will also include a listing of topic areas that ISA considers related to arboriculture to assist them in validating their program eligibility.

ISA and the Credentialing Council believe these updated eligibility requirements will help recruit more students and qualified professionals to consider certification. To get more information, individuals can review the ISA Certified Arborist Application Guide online at www.isa-arbor.com or contact at isa@isa-arbor.com.