Certified Arborist - What Does it Mean?

The International Society of Arboriculture's Arborist Certification program is a voluntary effort among professionals in the tree care industry to establish a meaningful standard of quality in arboricultural work, promote and encourage continuing education, and provide the public with a mechanism for identifying qualified arborists.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Certified Arborist exam, individuals must have:

* three years practical experience (or two years plus a college degree) in arboriculture,

* must submit a signed application and

* pay the certification fee at least two weeks in advance of a scheduled exam.

Exam Schedule & Fees

The Pacific Northwest ISA holds numerous exams throughout the year all over the Chapter region (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia). The exam schedule is kept current on the Calendar Page.

The Certified Arborist Exam costs US $150 for members of both the ISA and the PNW-ISA and US $250 for nonmembers or those who hold membership in only one of the organizations.

PNW-ISA Tree ID Lists for the Certified Arborist Exam

Tree Identification is just one domain on the certification exam. The Tree ID list for the Pacific Northwest ISA has recently been revised to include three distinct lists. Exam proctors must specify a list when scheduling an exam with ISA. These lists can help narrow down which trees are most likely to be referenced on the certification exam.

PNW Tree ID List - Alaska

PNW Tree ID List - Coastal

PNW Tree ID List - Interior

Study guides and reference books are available through the PNW-ISA office; click here for a list of publications.