Becoming Arborist Certified is a process that can take anywhere from six months to a year, depending on your previous experience and the requirements of the certifying agency. It’s important to understand that there are multiple agencies that certify arborists: the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Board of Certified Professional Foresters (BCFP), and the Arboricultural Association of Canada (AAC). Each agency has its own set of requirements, so we’ve broken down what you need to know about each certification below.
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
The ISA requires two exams: one general exam and one specialized exam for your area of expertise. The general exam covers topics like tree biology, soil science, pruning practices, and tree pathology. The specialized exam will be specific to your area of interest—for example, if you want to become certified as an ornamentalist or tree surgeon (two popular specialties). You have three years from when you pass both exams to complete a work experience requirement. Your work experience must include at least 1,000 hours working under the supervision of an ISA-certified forester in order for your certification application to be approved.
How To Become Arborist Certified
Certified Arborists
Arborists are responsible for the maintenance of the trees and shrubs on a public or private property. This maintenance includes overseeing the health and appearance of the plants, as well as addressing safety hazards plants may pose to humans. Organizations that employ arborists include golf courses, parks, universities, and utility companies, as do landscape companies catering to homeowners. So what does it take to be an arborist? A degree is not required but may be helpful, and certification is recommended. The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) offers an an arborist certification program (ACP), which includes a 3.5 hour, 220-question multiple choice test, with questions on soil management, safe work practices, tree biology, pruning, urban forestry, and tree protection, among others.
In addition to the education, certification, and experience requirements outlined in this article, the job requires physical fortitude, manual dexterity, and a love of the outdoors. The work of an arborist is physically demanding and may require operating dangerous machinery. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), grounds maintenance workers, including arborists, have a higher rate of illnesses and injuries than the average occupation. Keep reading for an overview of how to get certified as an arborist, make yourself competitive, and gain experience in the field.
Career Information
| Degree Level | High school diploma required; employers may prefer a certificate or degree |
| Degree Field | Arboriculture, forestry, horticulture or related field |
| Licensure and Certification | Licensure necessary for arborists who apply pesticides |
| Experience | None for entry-level positions; some employers want at least three years of experience |
| Key Skills | Knowledge of chippers, chainsaws, stump grinders, and safety procedures |
| Median Salary | $48,330 per year (February 2020)* |
| Job Outlook | 10% growth expected, 2019-2029 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Various job listings (December 2020), *PayScale.com
Job Duties
Arborists cultivate trees and shrubs in order to maximize their health and aesthetic appearance while minimizing risks they pose to the people who interact with them. Because one of an arborist’s main responsibilities is diagnosing and treating diseases in the trees under their care, they are sometimes referred to as tree doctors. Duties that fall under this job description may include:
- Safely removing dead or diseased branches
- Diagnosing and treating disease in trees and shrubs
- Clearing branches that may grow to obstruct power lines, roadways, or walkway
- Trimming or pruning branches into ornamental shapes
Alternative Careers
This article focuses on how to become a certified tree arborist or tree doctor, but many of the skills required for this profession are transferable to other careers in the plant sciences. Foresters, for example, focus on the management and maintenance of trees at a larger scale than arboriculture, that of forests. Other groundskeeping careers may also be compatible with an arborist’s skill set. Landscape works deal with the planning and installation of plants and ornamental features on a property, including planting trees. Pesticide, sprayers, and applicators maintain plantlife by applying chemicals to plant surfaces and to soils. These chemicals include herbicides and insecticides to protect the plants from pests, but may also include fertilizers to provide nutrients.
Steps to Become a Certified Arborist
Step 1: Earn an Arborist Degree
As shown in the table above, arborist education requirements do not always involve a postsecondary degree, but some employers prefer it. You may not have much luck finding a specialized arborist school, but there are some four-year and two-year degrees that will provide the basic arboriculture education foundational to becoming an arborist. Arboriculture itself may be available as an associate’s degree or as a minor along with a four-year forestry or horticulture program. Common bachelor’s degree options include:
- Forestry
- Environmental science
- Botany
- Biology
- Horticulture
Courses in these programs focus on:
- Soil science
- Plant pathology
- Community forestry
- Forest ecology
Success Tip:
Complete an internship. Some postsecondary programs offer internships that allow students to gain hands-on experience in arboriculture. Internships give students the chance to hone their skills and prepare for full-time work.
Step 2: Pursue Arborist Training
Arborists can receive on-the-job training from tree care companies, landscaping companies, nurseries, municipalities, and utilities. Once employed, they’ll have to interact with clients, identify trees, and clear debris by pruning trees and shrubs. Entry-level arborists learn how to use tree maintenance tools. Commercial, municipal, and utility ground workers also start in entry-level positions.
Success Tip:
Build leadership skills. Employers are looking for arborists who can manage a crew. Build your leadership ability by communicating effectively with peers, management, and clients.
Step 3: Get ISA Certification
In some cases, employers prefer arborists that are certified by the ISA. What does it take to become a certified arborist? To qualify for the ISA’s Certified Arborist credentialing exam, candidates need at least three years of experience. However, candidates who hold an associate’s degree need two years of experience. Applicants who have a bachelor’s degree only need one year of experience. Additional certifications are available for tree worker aerial-lift, tree worker climber, municipal and utility specialists. The ISA also offers a Master Arborist designation.
Success Tip:
Earn continuing education units. The Certified Arborist credential must be renewed every three years. To qualify for recertification, individuals must obtain 30 continuing education units and pay a fee.
About ISA Arborist Certification
To become an ISA certified arborist you will need to take an 220-question exam covering the following ten areas of knowledge:
- Soil Management
- Identification and Selection
- Installation and Establishment
- Safe Work Practices
- Tree Biology
- Pruning
- Diagnosis and Treatment
- Urban Forestry
- Tree Protection
- Tree Risk Management
The questions are multiple choice and must be completed within the 3.5 hour time limit. The test may be retaken as many times as you would like, but each attempt incurs an administrative fee of $100, plus additional fees ranging from $100-$250 depending on your ISA membership status. A score of 76% is considered passing and the arborist license is good for three years.
FAQ
What kind of work does an arborist do?
Arborists are hired by governments, corporations, and individuals to maintain trees and shrubs on their property.
Do I need to get certified?
It depends on the employer. Postsecondary education and/or certification are not required by law, but will make you more competitive in the field.
How do I become an ISA certified arborist?
To become a certified tree arborist, you will need to take the ISA’s Certified Arborist exam. ISA requires three years of experience before allowing you to take the test, up to two years of which can be substituted with a degree in a relevant field. Read the ISA Certification section in the article above for more information on how to get arborist certification.
