F. A. Q.

Source: https://www.isa-arbor.com/Portals/0/Assets/PDF/Certification-Applications/cert-Application-Certified-Arborist.pdf

What is the Value in Becoming an ISA Certified Arborist®?

ISA Certification is a voluntary program that tests and certifies your achievement of a professional level of knowledge and skill in the field of arboriculture. When you become an ISA Certified Arborist®, you are recognized by your peers and the public as a tree care professional who has attained a generally-accepted level of knowledge in areas such as tree biology, diagnosis, maintenance practices, safety, and other subject and practice areas within the tree care profession as identified through periodic job task analyses. Hiring a Certified Arborist provides tree owners and government decision makers the opportunity to become better informed about proper tree care and their selection of services based on the expertise represented by your credential.Achieving ISA Certification also builds your self-image. By studying for and passing the certification exam, you demonstrate a dedication to your own professional development and the advancement of proper tree care practices. The process of becoming ISA Certified and maintaining the designation provides you with personal incentive to continue your arboricultural education and training. Presenting your ISA credential to potential employers makes you more competitive in the job market, and for employers, encouraging ISA Certification is a tool to assist in training their existing tree care personnel.

Which Areas of Knowledge Will the Certified Arborist Exam Cover?

The certification examination is developed by a panel of industry experts representing all aspects of arboriculture. Questions are derived from a job task analysis survey filled out by arborists from around the world. Questions are continually analyzed by the ISA Certification Test Committee using the latest test statistics, and new questions are always being developed and tested for satisfactory performance. Updated examinations are created on a regular basis. The written exam content is divided into 10 areas of knowledge, and the percentage next to each area below reflects the percentage of questions associated with that area. These are subject to change when a new job task analysis is completed for the exam.1. Tree Biology—11% 2. Tree Identification and Selection—9% 3. Soil Management—7% 4. Installation and Establishment—9% 5. Pruning—14% 6. Diagnosis and Treatment—9% 7. Trees and Construction—9% 8. Tree Risk—11% 9. Safe Work Practices—15% 10. Urban Forestry—6%

What Are the Objectives of the ISA Certification Program?

ISA’s objectives for offering professional credentials are to: • Advance the knowledge and application of safe work practices in all arboricultural operations; • Improve technical competency of personnel in the tree care industry; • Create incentives for individuals to continue their professional development; • Provide the public and those in government with a means to identify professionals who have demonstrated by passing a professionally-developed exam that they have thorough knowledge and skill in tree care practices

Who Is Eligible to Apply for the ISA Certified Arborist® Exam?

The ISA Credentialing Council requires a candidate to have a minimum of three years of full-time experience in arboriculture or a combination of education and practical arboricultural experience. One year of full-time experience is equal to approximately 1,795 hours of work.Acceptable experience includes the practical use of knowledge regarding pruning, fertilization, installation and establishment, diagnosis and treatment of tree problems, cabling and bracing, climbing, or other services that directly relate to arboriculture. Examples of experience sources include, but are not limited to: • Tree care companies • Nurseries • Landscape companies • Municipalities • State forestry agencies • Utility companies • Academic arboriculture/horticulture departments (for instructors) • Horticulture/extension programs (for advisors) • Consultancies • Pest control providers (for advisors and applicators) Documentation of work experience is required with submittal of application. Letter(s) of reference from your current or previous employer(s) is acceptable. Applicable volunteer work may count towards eligibility if it is supervised and documentation detailing the responsibilities and the hours worked can be supplied. You may meet the eligibility requirement utilizing a combination of education and practical arboricultural experience through one of the following options: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 fulltime 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.Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs), Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs), and other formal training and accreditation programs that have been reviewed and approved by federal/national and state governmental agencies and/or are an accredited and/or recognized program as part of a national qualifications framework with formal assessment-based education and work experience may be considered for eligibility equivalency within the scope specified here for eligibility. Qualified third-party entities responsible for these programs may contact ISA for more information.Eligibility Documentation Multiple college/university degree programs cannot be utilized to equal requirements for longer programs. Assessment-based certificate programs can be combined to meet the hourly eligibility requirement. Educational experience must be a completed college/university degree program or assessment-based certificate program. A transcript indicating course/training title and the number of credit hours or hours of completed, assessed training must be submitted with the application.If you are self-employed or own your own company, you will be required to submit three letters of reference with your application. References may be in the form of copies of invoices, contracts, and/or business licenses. The documentation provided must include the practical experience and outline the dates of work required for eligibility. Please contact ISA for other possible forms of verification.By submitting your application, you authorize ISA to contact the practical experience reference(s) named on your application to substantiate your eligibility.

What Is the Process to Apply for the Exam?

Exam Dates and Locations ISA Certified Arborist® exams are sponsored by an ISA chapter or associate organization or offered through a Pearson VUE testing center. For information on dates and locations of certification exams in your area sponsored by ISA chapters or associate organizations, contact ISA or visit the ISA Events Calendar. To find out if a Pearson VUE testing center is close to you, visit https://www.pearsonvue.com/isa/locate/.Fees Candidates who are members of ISA and an ISA chapter or associate organization receive an exam discount. If the exam is sponsored by an ISA chapter or associate organization, the fee is $170 USD for members and $280 USD for nonmembers. For those who elect the computer-based testing option, there is a computer-based testing administrative fee of $125 USD in addition to the exam fee. The administrative fee applies each time a computer-based exam is scheduled.To be eligible for the discounted rate, a candidate must be a current member of ISA and a current member of an ISA chapter or associate organization. In the event that a local chapter or associate organization does not exist where you reside, you may receive member pricing by being a current member of ISA only. ISA certification fees are separate and distinct from ISA membership dues and from ISA chapter or associate organization dues.ISA Certified Arborist® Code of Ethics and the Certification Agreement and Release Authorization All applicants are required to review and accept the ISA Certified Arborist® Code of Ethics as well as the Certification Agreement and Release Authorization.Please review the ISA Certified Arborist® Code of Ethics and the Certification Agreement and Release Authorization found at the end of the exam application. Your signature confirming review and acceptance of both documents is required for certification.Application Submission Becoming a candidate for an ISA certification is a two-step process through your online MyISA Dashboard. 1. First, apply online or submit a completed application. 2. When you receive notice that your application is approved, you may then enroll through your website account to take an exam. If you do not have an ISA website account you may create one at the MyISA Sign-In page.A completed application must be submitted by going to MyISA Apply for an ISA Certification and then by selecting Create Application. Once your completed application has been reviewed, you will be notified by ISA of your application approval or denial by email. You may Review Application Status at any time to determine your status or Review Old Applications. If denied, you will not be able to enroll into an exam until you provide additional documentation demonstrating that you meet the eligibility criteria. Only once your application has been approved, you are eligible to enroll for a computer-based or paper-based exam. Paper-based exams are offered through ISA chapter or associate organization sponsored exam events, the deadline for EXAM ENROLLMENT in these events is twelve (12) US business days prior to the exam event scheduled date. You may enroll into the exam by selecting either the enrollment link within the approval email or go to the Enroll to Take Exam web page. Enrollment will include the processing of applicable exam fees. Enrollment and payment must be received on or before the deadline date. ISA does not provide refunds for exam enrollments. There are no exceptions to this policy.Due to the complexity of the application process, onsite registration is not available for ISA exams.ISA has the right to contact any person or organization as part of the review of your application. By applying, you authorize the release of any information requested by ISA for the purpose of reviewing your application. ISA has the right to notify appropriate organizations if your application contains false information.Enrollment Confirmation You will be notified when your enrollment has been processed. After you have been successfully enrolled, you will receive a confirmation packet with a letter containing the location, date, time of the exam, and the name of the appropriate contact person. For computer-based exams held through Pearson VUE, you will receive instructions via email on how to schedule a date and time with the computer-based testing vendor. The vendor will then send you a confirmation including the location, date, and time of the exam. You are provided a 90-day authorization period to schedule and take the exam.Rescheduling Exam or Additional 90-Day Authorization Period Requests If circumstances change after you have applied for the examination, you may be able to reschedule your exam or request an additional 90-day, computer-based authorization period. If your request is approved by ISA, a fee of $50 USD will apply to make the change. If you are requesting to reschedule a computer-based exam within your current 90-day authorization period, you will not be subject to the fee.Requests to reschedule exams sponsored by ISA chapters or associate organizations must be received prior to the 12-business-day deadline. Additional 90-day, computer-based authorization requests must be received within the candidate’s current 90-day authorization period. If the request is not received by ISA before the ISA chapter’s or associate organization’s exam deadline date, or is beyond the 90-day authorization period, or the candidate fails to schedule an exam within the 90-day authorization period, the candidate will be considered a no-show and all exam fees will be forfeited. If the scheduled date that was missed was your free retake, your free retake will be forfeited.If you need to reschedule an exam date within your current90-day authorization period with the computer-based testing vendor, you may do so by contacting Pearson VUE via phone or through the Pearson VUE website. If rescheduling during the weekend, you must do so directly through the website. Requests must be received no later than one business day prior to the scheduled exam date. If contact is less than one business day, you will be considered a no-show and all exam fees will be forfeited. Registrations are not transferrable to another person.Failure to Attend Examination or Schedule within a 90-Day Authorization Period No refunds or discounts will be issued if you do not attend or complete the examination. There are no exceptions. If you do not reschedule your appointment or request an additional 90-day authorization period, and you do not show up to take the exam at your scheduled time and location, you will be considered a no-show and the exam taken. This will result in forfeiting any exam fees or computer-based administrative fees associated with the exam you missed. If this happens, you will have to re-enroll along with paying the required retake fees and, if elected, the computer-based administrative fee of $125 USD.You will have only one year from the first scheduled exam date to retake the exam at the retake fee of $75 USD or utilize your free retake. Once you have exceeded the one year, you will be required to pay the full exam fee, along with the $125 USD computer-based administrative fee if you elected the computer-based option.ISA Reserves the Right to Cancel a Paper-Based Exam ISA reserves the right to cancel any paper-based examination event that does not meet the minimum enrollment requirement or for other reasons. If your paper-based exam is cancelled by ISA, you will be notified by email and your enrollment will be moved to pending status. You may elect to have your pending exam enrollment status moved to any other paper-based examination event available for no charge or you may request to enroll in a computer-based exam by paying the computer-based administrative fee. While your registration is in a pending status you will not be able to enroll for another examination. Please contact our team at isa@isa-arbor.com to request a change for an available examination location and date.

How Should I Prepare for the Exam?

ISA’s Arborists’ Certification Study Guide is intended to serve as a recommended program of study. Each chapter in the study guide lists additional references that should be considered for review, such as the most current ANSI Z133 Standard – Safety Requirements for Arboricultural Operations, ISA’s Best Management Practices (BMPs), ISA online courses, and other resources, most of which are also available through the ISA web store.Note: The Arborists’ Certification Study Guide, published by ISA, should NOT be considered the sole source of information for the certification examination. The Arborists’ Certification Study Guide and the ISA Certified Arborist® exam are written by separate entities. The exam tests a body of knowledge rather than knowledge obtained solely from a specific resource.The publications referenced above can be purchased from ISA in the ISA web store, by calling +1.678.367.0981, or by emailing isa@ isa-arbor.com. You may also purchase these resources through your local ISA chapter or associate organization.

What Is the Format of the ISA Certified Arborist® Exam?

The examination is made up of 200 multiple-choice questions. Each question has four possible answers listed, only one of which is correct. You will have 3.5 hours (210 minutes) to complete the written exam. You must pass the exam to obtain the certification.Pretesting of Exam Questions Within the written exam, there will be 20 new questions that have not been used on previous exams. Responses to these questions are not used in determining individual exam scores. These 20 questions are not identified and are scattered throughout the exam so that candidates will answer them with the same care as the questions that make up the scored portion of the exam. This methodology assures candidates that their scores are the result of sound measurement practices and that scored questions reflect current practice.

What Are the Onsite Rules and Conduct Expectations During the Exam?

Admission • Arrive at the testing site 30 minutes before the start time of the exam and have your identity confirmed by providing two forms of valid identification—a valid photo identification card and an identification card displaying your signature. (See your exam confirmation packet for exact time, date, and location of the exam.) • The exam host will check your photo ID. If you do not have a photo ID with you at the check-in time of the exam, you will not be allowed to sit for the exam and will be considered a no-show. • There will be audio and video taping at the testing centers. If you are not prepared to be taped, you will not be allowed to test at the facility.Site Rules • Dress appropriately. While every attempt is made to provide a comfortable classroom atmosphere, indoor temperatures and outdoor weather conditions may vary. • Visitors are not permitted in the exam area. • Books, papers, and other reference material will not be allowed in the testing area. • No cell phones or other mobile devices will be allowed in the testing area. • No food or beverages may be taken into the exam. • No smoking will be allowed in the testing area. • You will be permitted to take restroom breaks on an individual basis. Time spent on breaks will be considered part of the time permitted for completing the exam. • Writing on the test booklet is not allowed during the exam. • If you are caught looking at another individual’s exam or talking during the exam, your score may be invalidated or exam materials confiscated. • Applicants who are impaired by the use of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs, or use them at the examination site, will immediately be disqualified from taking the exam. • It is of utmost importance that you carefully follow all directions and regulations. Listen carefully to all instructions given by the exam administrator and follow the directions completely.Inappropriate Application and Examination Conduct ISA intends that participation in its certification programs will be a professionally relevant, informative, and rewarding experience for all candidates. All participants in ISA certification exams are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate and professional manner and to refrain from any objectionable, improper, or unprofessional conduct. To ensure fairness in an examination environment, the following policy and rules apply: • When an ISA or ISA-designated representative finds that a candidate has engaged in inappropriate conduct or behavior, ISA reserves the right to respond with actions including, but not limited to: o Rejecting an application for certification Preventing or precluding a person from participating in an examination, including removing a person from the testing site o Invalidating or nullifying examination results o Issuing and enforcing any other lesser response or action determined to be appropriate or necessary • Inappropriate conduct or behavior includes, but is not limited to, misrepresentation; failure to disclose requested information; cheating; unauthorized possession, use, or distribution of copyrighted or legally-protected material; verbal or physical disturbances of the examination; failure to pay fees in a timely manner; and any other objectionable, improper, or unprofessional actions by a person participating in the ISA certification process. • By submitting an application for certification, each participant acknowledges that he/she understands and agrees to the terms of this policy.

What is the Process for Attaining Certification?

Completion Requirements To obtain ISA certification, you must achieve the required passing score for the examination. The current passing score is 76 percent. Please note that when a job task analysis of the exam is performed, the overall passing score is subject to change.When you receive your exam results, please remember that the domains are weighted, and the average of the domains will not be equal to the overall score. If you do not achieve an overall passing score, you must retake the exam until an overall passing score is achieved.Once certified, you will receive the designation of ISA Certified Arborist®. Your certification is personal to you and may not be transferred or assigned to any other individual, organization, or entity. When publicizing your credential, you must comply with the requirements of the ISA Branding and Style Guide.Exam Scoring The computer-based exams are graded by Pearson VUE, the testing vendor. Written exams sponsored by ISA chapters or associate organizations are graded at ISA Headquarters. ISA will notify you of your results in detail. You may access a brief overview of your exam results by logging into MyISA on the ISA website and selecting My CEUs.Examination Results and Notification of Certification Computer-based exams provide result notification immediately upon completion of the exam. Your formal results will be sent approximately six weeks after your exam date. You will be notified of your pass/fail result; percentage scores will be provided for each domain for your information. Those who pass will receive a congratulatory letter, score sheet, certificate, identification card, hard-hat decal, and patch. Your results are confidential.If you have questions concerning your exam results, direct them in writing to the ISA Credentialing Department at isa@isa-arbor.com. Because of the need to maintain test security, exam questions and answers cannot be made available for review, and the ISA Credentialing Department does not provide a list of questions that were answered correctly or incorrectly. The only information available regarding your performance on the exam is provided on your score report.Request for Regrading Exam If you believe that an error was made in the grading of your exam, you may request to have your exam regraded. A fee of $35 USD applies for each hand-graded score report. Requests for regrading may take up to six weeks for completion. If you request to have your exam regraded, you may not schedule another exam until after you receive the regrading results. If you wish to have your exam regraded after receiving your initial score report, please contact isa@isa-arbor.com.Retaking the Examination If you do not pass the exam, you will receive a failure notification and details for retaking the exam. You may re-enroll by logging into MyISA on the ISA website and returning to the Enroll to Take Exam web page. You are allowed one free retake and then will be charged a $75 USD fee per retake up to one year from the original date that you took the exam. If you do not attain a passing score within one year of the original exam date, you will be required to pay the full fee amount. Each time a computer-based exam is selected, the $125 USD administrative fee applies.

Additional Information About ISA Certification

What Does ISA Certification Represent and Require? By passing the exam, holders of ISA certifications have demonstrated a broad knowledge base in the area in which they are certified. No other conclusions may be drawn concerning certification holders. ISA certifications do not represent licensure, registration, or other authorization to practice or to conduct business activities for a fee or otherwise.The ISA Certified Arborist® credential is subject to ongoing requirements, such as participation in continuing education activities and abiding by the ISA Certified Arborist® Code of Ethics and terms of the Certification Agreement and Release Authorization.Expiration and Recertification ISA Certified Arborist® certification is valid for three years. To retain certification after each three-year period, an ISA Certified Arborist® must recertify. Notify ISA promptly if your contact information changes. We are not responsible for undeliverable recertification notices.The ISA Certification Program offers two methods of recertification. The first method is to retake and pass the certification exam again. The second option is to accumulate at least 30 continuing education units (CEUs) over the three-year certification period that are related to the 10 tested domains on the exam and pay the recertification fee. Candidates who are members of both ISA and their local chapter or associate organization receive a discount on their recertification fees. The non-member recertification fee is $230 USD. For members, the recertification fee is $120 USD. Your signed ISA Certified Arborist® Code of Ethics and the Certification Agreement and Release Authorization must be on file in the ISA office prior to your recertification fee being accepted.Additionally, a condition of recertification is to report any unethical conduct as it relates to the ISA Certified Arborist® Code of Ethics.You have the option of tracking the CEUs you have earned online via the ISA website. To obtain a username and password to access to your CEU report, please email ISA at isa@isa-arbor.com.CEUs and proper payment must be received in the ISA office in a timely manner. Allow four to six weeks for processing and posting to your account. Please visit the ISA website for detailed information on maintaining your credential. You may contact ISA at isa@isa-arbor.com if you need further clarification.Denial, Revocation, and Decertification Your certification may be denied or revoked for any of the following reasons: • Falsification of application • Violation of testing procedures • Misrepresentation of your identity or other information In the event that your ISA certification is denied or revoked or you otherwise become decertified, you must immediately stop using and/or displaying the ISA certification mark, credential, and any other designation indicating an affiliation with the ISA Certification Program. You must comply with any additional directives of the ISA Certification Program.Impartiality and Conflict of Interest ISA commits itself to impartiality in its certification activities and understands how critical impartiality is to carrying out its certification activities. ISA manages conflict of interest and ensures the objectivity of all certification activities. All persons involved in certification activities, including ISA Headquarters staff and member volunteers, accomplish this through compliance with ISA’s structure, policies, and procedures related to certification activities.Nondiscrimination The ISA Certification Program does not discriminate in determining eligibility on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.Special Accommodations It is the intent of ISA to provide accessibility to ISA exams to any qualified participant with a documented disability or condition upon reasonable notice and without requiring ISA to take action which would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the exam or an undue financial burden to ISA.If you have a special need and require an accommodation for an exam, please complete the Special Accommodations Request Form and submit it with each enrollment request. Your request will be reviewed, and you will be notified of a determination. Approved accommodations are provided through our computer-based vendor at no additional charge to you.Appeals and Complaints Appeals and complaints are accepted and resolved in accordance with the ISA Credentialing Appeals and Complaints policy.Privacy By applying for an ISA certification, you authorize ISA to make your contact information available to your local chapter or associate organization and our professional affiliates so they can share information with you about educational seminars and other events. ISA shares your contact information, pass/fail exam result, expiration date, and other relevant details with your ISA chapter or associate organization so that they may monitor your credential status and administer credential-related services. Your name, city location, and credential will be available to members of the public on the ISA and TreesAreGood™ websites.Some credential holders do not wish their names to be distributed to the public or to other interested parties (vendors, potential employers, etc.). If you do not wish to have your name included on the ISA and TreesAreGood™ websites or on distribution lists, contact the ISA Credentialing Department at isa@isa-arbor.com. ISA maintains the right and responsibility to verify a credential holder’s certification status to the public or to other interested parties.You will be notified of whether or not you passed the certification examination, but your score will not be disclosed to any third party except as noted above. Your status as a certification holder, past or present, and dates of certification may be disclosed to third parties.

Reference Links:

ISA Events Calendar https://wwv.isa-arbor.com/certification/becomeCertified/examDatesAndLocations?mode=exams ISA Certified Arborist® Code of Ethics https://www.isa-arbor.com/code-of-ethics Certification Agreement and Release Authorization https://www.isa-arbor.com/Portals/0/Assets/PDF/Certification/CA-Certification-Agrmnt-and-Release-Auth.pdf Certification Agreement and Release Authorization https://www.isa-arbor.com/Portals/0/Assets/PDF/Certification/CA-Certification-Agrmnt-and-Release-Auth.pdf Apply for an ISA Certification https://wwv.isa-arbor.com/myaccount/myprofile/CAPS MyISA Sign-In/Dashboard https://wwv.isa-arbor.com/myAccount/login Review application Status https://www.isa-arbor.com/Credentials/Apply-Now/Review-Application-Status Enroll to take an Exam https://www.isa-arbor.com/Credentials/Apply-Now/Enroll-to-Take-Exam ISA Web Store https://wwv.isa-arbor.com/store ISA Branding and Style Guide https://www.isa-arbor.com/BrandingGuide Maintaining Your Credentials https://www.isa-arbor.com/Credentials/Maintaining-Credentials Special Accommodations Request Form https://www.isa-arbor.com/Accommodations ISA Credentialing Appeals and Complaints https://www.isa-arbor.com/Credential-Appeals Paper Application https://www.isa-arbor.com/Portals/0/Assets/PDF/Certification-Applications/cert-Application-CertifiedArborist-F.pdf