2 all the Certified Tree Worker

[TheDan]

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I've said it before, but . . . if I found myself in a new town shopping for tree care, I'd take a crew of CTW's over a CA salesman any day. The problem is, most clients don't know anything about it. It's part of our job as CA's/CTW's to help sell the programs and educate people about what they mean.

As things stand now, I'd say CTW is much more useful in the employer/employee relationship. If someone I never met showed up asking for a job, and s/he had CTW, I'd pay more than if someone showed up saying they knew how to climb but had nothing to back it up. I'd still start low until I saw how they looked on a job site, but not quite as low.

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Well, what if they showed up with a big book of flashy photos showing thier work and nothing else, how much would you pay then?

 

[CHANGO]

Familytree, unfortunately you have to have enough people to put a test together. It's not just one guy that shows up to proctor the testing. At least out here in California, at times we have around 20 people that show up to give the test. A lot of times we have people fly in from other states to take the test. At the last test I talked to a guy that came from Hawaii.

Yeah, some of the volunteers aren't as knowledgable or experienced as others, but their intentions are good. But on the other end, we have Martin Morales, Arbor Master instructor and his brother that come out and help too. A lot of these guys, including myself volunteer up to 6 Saturdays a year and we never have enough test dates to meet the demand.

I've seen several accidents in my short time in the industry, and I feel compelled to come out and volunteer and help as many guys get certified as I can. Education and safety can only make you a better climber.

The tree surgeons that work for the City of L.A. get 5 percent more on their salary for a CTW and 5.5 percent more for Certified Arborist.

They are two totally different Certs. CA is hard and it tests your knowledge of Arboriculture. CTW is a test directed more towards the climbing aspects of tree work. I'm almost sure that most of you guys on this board could pass that test, it just takes a little time to study what it consists of. There are a lot of CA and a lot of CTW, but not that many people that have both.

If you have CA, you don't have to take the written portion of the TW, just the climb portion.

 

[jodystreeserv3]

Very well said Jimmy. I was just curious if after becomeing a CTW, business picked up for you guys. Iv only been certified for about 2 months but its hard to tell. People here are so uninformed about tree care that when I tell them Im CTW they look at me like Im making it up.

 

[arborvitae]

CTW is pretty handy a lot of girls ask what climber specialist means!

 

[BostonBull]

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see heres a prime example

LMAO sorry Bull it was just toooooo easy.

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hollen

the ISA is a moneypit with laughable testing. that being said they are an international body, and its a great choice for those who have no state exam. in the Northeast......Jersey, MA, CT, and NH....., we are blessed with state exams tha are ridiculously hard.
I obtained my ISA girl scout badges to further my education, and skills. they have a sick magazine too! haha way too expensive though. they had a cord year last year & still raised fees

 

[Babberney]

I don't know how we managed to cross wires so badly. I think at least one of us is blind, but I don't think it's me.

I said if someone I never met or heard of showed up asking for a job and claiming to be able to climb, I'd pay more for the one with the CTW to start. I at least know s/he can throw a line, tie in, and get to the bells safely. If a CTW gets to the branch safely but can't make a proper pruning cut, that's going to be a problem and will hold up any future pay increases.

Not many new hires will get a raise at the end of day one, but when I see you can climb and prune well (and show up on time consistently, and otherwise be a good employee), I will pay well, regardless of CTW.

But I am not like some of you; I tell clients we are training our climbers to do proper work, and use CTW as one benchmark. So, a good pruner who will not make any effort to keep learning and demonstrate that effort will only go so far in this company. If you're a badass climber who won't get the certs. and that offends you, work for someone else--no hard feelings here.

After reading Tom's replies, I have to say I might have underestimated the effect of CTW. It's part of my process when I sell jobs, and I do sell jobs. I don't know how to separate it from everything else I say, but I believe I get jobs because our company looks like one that knows how to do things correctly and safely, and I believe CTW is part of that. YMMV.