The International Society of Arboriculture’s Certified Arborist certification programme has been available in the UK since 1998. It was designed primarily as a ‘self-study’ programme (based around a study guide) for those involved in the industry (minimum three years’ experience) who wished to formalise their knowledge and skills. It is very much aimed at practicing arborists.
Over the years many UK arborists have studied for and attained certification status, by entering for the multiple-choice exam, and proving the extent of their understanding of the theory and practice of tree care. The ISA certified arborist programme is recognised worldwide, and has assisted those considering working elsewhere in Europe, or even as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.
This course program offered by the Arboricultural Association and Tree Life recognises the value of the Certified Arborist programme as an indication of an arborist’s expertise to both existing and prospective employers, as well as to customers from an organisation’s point of view. They also, however, recognise that self-study can be a time consuming and gruelling way to learn, and is not something that suits everyone.
The programme will run over six full days and will cover the theoretical knowledge of the sixteen subject areas. Each subject is covered in the published study guide, a copy of which will be provided to each person, as part of the course.
If you are involved in arboriculture and want to consolidate your position, or you are considering your future prospects, this could well be the course for you.
For more information on the Certified Arborist scheme please see our ISA certification pages
Please note that although the timetabled sessions will provide as much guidance as time permits, a great deal of the learning will take place between those sessions, and will remain the responsibility of each individual candidate.
Much of the required information for the practical elements will in fact come from the candidates’ own work experience; the six sessions will concentrate on underlying theory rather than practice.
The credential is awarded after successful completion of the exam set by the ISA: it will be the candidate’s responsibility to enter for, and meet the costs of that examination in addition to the course fees. An additional exam date has been set for those undertaking the exam.
The intended sequence for the six sessions is as follows:
Session
|
Subject areas covered
|
Chapter no.
|
Date
|
1
|
Tree Biology and
Tree identification
|
1
2
|
|
2
|
Soil Science and
Water Management
|
3
4
|
|
3
|
Tree Nutrition and Fertilisation
Tree Selection and
Installation and Establishment
|
5
6
7
|
|
4
|
Diagnosis and Plant Disorders
Plant Health Care
Tree Assessment and Risk Management
|
10
11
12
|
|
5
|
Trees and Construction
Urban Forestry
|
13
14
|
|
6
|
Pruning
Support and Lightning Protection
Tree Worker Safety
Climbing and Working in Trees
|
8
9
15
16
|
|
7
|
Exam date for candidates
|
N/A
|
|
Candidates should be able to meet the minimum requirements for application to the ISA, see here
http://www.isa-arbor.com/certification/resources/cert_Application_CertifiedArborist.pdf
No formal academic qualification is required.