Is Your Tree Care Company Certified?

The marketplace is full of companies and individuals that offer to perform work on your trees.  How do you know which company has the education and experience to provide professional care for your trees?  Just as you want your car mechanic, or your doctor, or your lawyer to be professionaly certified, it is just as important for the long term health of your trees that your arborist be certified by a legitimate professional organization.  Professional Certification for arborists is provided by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

ISA certification means that the individual has agreed to certain standards of professional conduct and has obtained standards of technical knowledge and experience. Here is the definition of a Certified Arborist from the ISA affiliated Trees Are Good site:

Certified Arborists are trained and knowledgeable in all aspects of arboriculture. ISA Certified Arborist have met all requirements set to be eligible for the exam, this could include three or more years of full-time, eligible, practical work experience in arboriculture and/or a degree in the field of arboriculture, horticulture, landscape architecture, or forestry from a regionally accredited educational institute. This certification covers a large number of topics giving the candidates flexibility in the arboricultural profession. A code of ethics for certified arborists was implemented in June 2009 to help strengthen the credibility and reliability of the work force.

Certification must be maintained and renewed with 30 hours of continuing education required every three years.. You can check on any any individuals certification at: www.treesaregood.org

The American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) is another professional society that maintains strict ethical standards for its members. The code of conduct can be viewed here and membership verified on the ASCA website.