being isa certified worth it ?

just_a_tree_guy

just_a_tree_guy

Location
pitts pa
i have been considering becoming isa cert , but i wonder if it is really worth it . dont get me wrong the more you can learn about treecare the better . i have studied there study guide but after you become cert in order to keep it they told me you have to prove to them you are taking safety courses , cpr classes , and staying up to date with new equipment in the industry . i am not a big company just a small crew that does alot of jobs . i get more guys on bigger jobs if need be . i asked the isa to elaborate on how to maintain my cert but they really could not answer that question very thorough for me and the girl told me she is not a tree guy and could not answer that for me . please dont get me wrong i want to do things safe and do things that will benefit the trees but just because you have a cert does that mean you are doing things right ? my crew and i are very experienced on many levels . that does not mean we are done learning as i feel there are always things to learn no matter how advanced you are . it just seems like a way the isa can insure that they will have future income . after you get you high school diploma you have it . if you want to learn a trade or something else you go get a degree . am i wrong on this ? what do you guys and gals think ? i have seen cert tree guys do poor prune jobs before .
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Yeah, you're wrong. In any field where there is certification or professional association one needs to continuously learn in order to maintain there accreditation. Doctors, accountants, architects, etc. all requirement a certain number of education credits. It can be abused where people will do things just to get the credits without gaining much in the way of knowledge.

So, you can obtain some great training in many aspects beyond those that you have listed that will benefit even your small company. This, of course, is depending on where you want to see your company go.

Certification is really a personal thing. It's value is in how you choose to use the learning. Some, as you've seen, don't seem to apply their knowledge but just see the certification as a sales tool and nothing more.

Good luck and go for it!
 
You can be educated and not be certified. You could know too much and not be certified. Or you could meet the minimum requirements and be certified. See what I mean, style.

For some careers it's not optional like gov. work and some tree services. But if you want to work backyards, which could be the best tree job available, it matters as much as if you like black or white trucks.
 
You will most likely really enjoy partaking in anything that will get you ceus bra. You can get them at the grocery store practically so don't trip about their availability. Someone told me almost 20 years ago about the certification, "It's seems really tough but where the industry is going...it will become entry level stuff, mark my words". Just my opinion but I think he was somewhat right. I think you'll be SO proud once you get it. Not only that but you'll end up doing something that will help others maintain their certs too. If you volunteer at a tree climbing championship? You get ceu's AND you help others get them. You'll rock it out...and yes it's worth it. Go get 'em!
 
[ QUOTE ]
... But if you want to work backyards, which could be the best tree job available, it matters as much as if you like black or white trucks.

[/ QUOTE ]Maybe on the edge of the tundra, but in most markets it can be huge. Free estimates became the exception rather than the rule when i got mine in 1992, and that alone makes a HUGE difference in respect and choice of jobs and income.
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I'm sure your a good treeguy so take a little time and get that certification dude!! The CEUs are easy to achieve and you meet some great people who are also getting CEUs, from seminars to at home cd-roms you learn so much. Your benefiting yourself and your customers benefit from your knowledge and professionalism.

If anything go for the Certified Treeworker/ Climber Specialist. Out of all the creds I have it's my favorite and most important. It represents us as the workers which are the one out there everyday practicing arboriculture. Rock out!!
 
For me in my residential/ commercial market, its worthwhile. There are lots of out of work loggers and tree guys around. It helps to be able to introduce myself, or be introduced as a CA.

My full-time job with the State of the last 4 months and counting has CA-itude as a job requirement. I like getting paid 40 hours/ week, 52 weeks/ year.

The ongoing educational material and CEU requirements brings in more education than a person tends to find on their own.

Have you been to an ISA training conference? Read Arborist News?
 
hello southsound i have not been to any isa conference . not heard of any around here yet . i get some mags on aborist news( arborage,tree care industry) is this what you mean ? i never even hear about anywhere to get credits so you can maintain your cert after you get it . this bothers me because after i get it i would like to maintain my cert and keep learning . i am all ready cpr cert but you really dont get many credits for that . i would like to work my way up to being a bcma (board certified master arborist) . there doesn't seem to much that comes to my area . everything seems to be out of state . i work 6 days a week sometimes seven . i try to take sundays off to be with my family . i would not be able to travel around like that,nor could i afford to, to much going on here . thanks for you help .
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I believe that Arborist News is the ISA (bi??)-monthly publication that you get as a International member.


You can get a CEU per issue for reading and taking a test. Additionally, other ISA pubs, like the Art and Science of Practical Rigging, offers multiple CEUs.

Vermeer partners with a training organization (N.A.T.S.??) for seminars with CEUs available.
 
Like many have said, the CEU's are cake, especially if you enjoy reading/learning the info. There are free quizes online from arborist news articles or mail in the answer form. Just doing that every issue is all you really need to get 30+ ceu's in 3 years. The $130 member fee (if I remember correct?) every 3 years is no biggy. Plus there are some great seminars to take advantage of at universities, vermeer dealers, and were ever else, but you gotta sniff them out, many times I dont get a mailer or email about upcoming CEU classes.

Once certified, be sure to fill out you tree service info on the below web page. I get jobs from people searching this webpage from time to time, and yes, some people will hire you only because you are certified (not very often but several times a year for me, which way more than pays for upkeep of my cert).

http://www.treesaregood.com/findtreeservices/FindTreeCareService.aspx

Its a win win!
 
Contacting your Chapter Liason is a great way to stay informed about upcoming ceu events, since anyone requesting approval of their program for ceu's will have to contact them to submit information. I call mine all the time to find out if there's anything near me that I can attend. The Executive Director of my chapter (Florida) also serves as the liason, and he's always happy to tell me about anything happening nearby.
 
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