Cert Arb Question

Fairfield · Oct 17, 2017

For all the Certified Arborists here. What has been different or better for you in your career since obtaining the cert? Please save me on the self pride stuff. I have a large stack of " Paper pride" that collects dust and is never asked for or cared about or even known what to do with by employers or customers.

How many of you can say that you honestly have seen a better position from it in your company, or a noticeable pay increase. You have had more work come in from it due to the title, or more business came from it due to customers even understanding what it means.

Regardless I am going to take the test after 20 years of being in the business although have not seen hardcore evidence that it has ever at a large made careers any better. I (like I am sure many others) am taking it due to wanting to eventually wanting to make it to a sales or management position. The issue that I see in the future for myself though is the fact that I see solid climbers not given a chance to move up do to the companies not wanting to loss a good climber, or because they hold off on that climber so long that he/she becomes old and wants nothing to do with caring or trying something new in the business... they just want to hopefully retire like any other normal worker.

TreeVB · Oct 17, 2017

I got a $2 raise when I got mine. Now I'm on my own and the only benefit I see from it is when I sub. The few companies I rarely contract for enjoy that I won't hack their customers trees, not that a CA stops most around me from doing horrible work. Where I am at I have yet to come across a client that has any care that In certified or not.
With that I guess it doesn't hurt to have and you never know if you will come across that one major client that appreciates it. Its better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.
Good luck on the test and don't stress about it. Its pretty simple if you're serious about trees

Tom Dunlap · Oct 17, 2017

When I've worked for a paycheck I've not seen a monetary benefit of certification. During self employment it has made a difference.

Jem4417 · Oct 17, 2017

I found getting the cert and actually retaining the information has made my conversations with customers much easier. It gives you a basis at the very least for just about every question you can be asked. If you truly studied and understood the material you will see the "value" of the cert through more productive conversation

Fairfield · Oct 17, 2017

Jem4417 said:
I found getting the cert and actually retaining the information has made my conversations with customers much easier. It gives you a basis at the very least for just about every question you can be asked. If you truly studied and understood the material you will see the "value" of the cert through more productive conversation

No doubt that having an education in a job will make life easier when answering questions or trouble shooting, no question on that. With that said the person that educated them self or payed attention to those educating them is absolutely no better or different then the person that has a cert to show for that said knowledge ( with the exception they took the step and had taken a test to have on a wall or give a copy to a company that in turn is able to advertise they have a cert arb on staff.) When was the last time though that you were asked to show a certification at a job, or the last time a customer asked for proof of a cert from the company along with the insurance prior to getting the job? I am all about having a solid and continues education in what you do in life, but if that education is readily available without the need of taking a test, what is the need to take the test? There needs to be an incentive. If you are a person that has a good financial foundation then it may just be a pride thing to have the paper, but if you are ( like most) a person that goes to work to pay bills and take care of your family you more often then not will say pay is the incentive. So lets look at that matter. You go to take the test, study book and CD if you want them can be as much as $160, then you still have to pay for the test I believe (correct me if I am wrong), and then you also have to pay for your CEUs each year. Now most places will give you a 50 cent raise. A raise is good, but really its not a 50 cent raise when you still have to pay for your CEUs, and also the price to get to that point. I think we are getting to a point as a society that certs are being treated like smoke and mirrors. Great for a company to have a worker with them but that greatness may not be passed on in an appreciation to that person that earned it in a means that truly has a measurable means.

JD3000 · Oct 17, 2017

You can get a ton of CEUs from Arborist News and JoAaUF which is included with your membership.

"Find an Arborist" on the ISA website has gotten me a lot of consulting and tree work. I'm in a pretty good/competitive market with many CAs and BCMAs in the greater Cbus area so any way to keep the phone ringing and emails coming in is a good thing.

TCtreeswinger · Oct 17, 2017

In my metro area the bigger cities require a CA on staff to be licensed there. In most you are then put on their list of approved contractors.

ATH · Oct 18, 2017

No question at all that I get many jobs because people come looking for a Certified Arborist. I also know that clients place more value on my work because of certification.

I do agree 100% that you can have the education, knowledge, continuing education, etc. without the CA...but how is anybody supposed to know that?

You seem to imply that you are doing the continuing education anyhow, so that is not an added cost of being a CA.

I would also add, that having more CA's and looking to make that a standard expectation of tree care will only serve to improve the profession.

Based on what you are saying about employers, I'm thinking, perhaps, you are working for the wrong kind of folks:
1) The best should be promoted. Having a productive climber is good. Having a knowledgeable tree expert able to train others and interact well with clients is gold. Of course, not every great climber is able to teach others or communicate well with clients...so maybe there is some of that going on.
2) In my opinion, a good employer should jump at the opportunity to pay for the costs of Certification. It really isn't that much...the first half a day job you get because of the CA is break even, the next is profit.
3) Ditto on continuing ed.

Bottom line: I have found it very valuable. But you seem to have come to the conclusion that it is an ISA 'money grab' and that is certainly not the first time I have heard that, but I think it is short sighted.

BCMA, on the other hand...I can't say that has significantly increased my perceived value among clients. I have one client tell me they selected me over others because of that. I took the test because I was already getting the CEUs, so I figured "why not".

JD3000 · Oct 18, 2017

Part of an employees compensation package could/should be maintaining certs and ceu

evo · Oct 18, 2017

I didn’t get a pay bump, but was already paid more than industry standard. Since going out on my own I’d say that 1 in ten double check to see if I am cerified. I never knowingly have had anyone look it up or ask for proof.
Besides the pat on the back it has given me authority with the city and county regarding park jobs or critical area trees.
At times I’ve questioned the value, but it does more than pay for itself (never had to pay for a ceu, I’ve gotten some from classes that I would have attended regardless). However I do tend to geek out on what interest me, I baffled many when I attended the international before I was certified. It did leave me questioning when the comment was made multiple times “but you know more than my foreman who’s been certified for ten years!).
I don’t have much for a basis of comparison as I was certified and advertise as such when I started up. I know I’ve lost jobs to the cert too, due to some of the public believing that they cannot afford a certified arborist. Then there are times when I get a job solely because of the sticker. Such as when the client believes the job is out of the skill set of the climber with out certification who has been doing this for 40 years (and is perfectly capable of the removal)..

Gregory Hill · Oct 18, 2017

Well, I understand your point and won't explain the pros and cons of being certified irrespective of how professional and knowledgeable a person is. But there was a time when I was thinking exactly the same thing. Anyhow, I went for it and trust me, I've never regretted doing that even I was suffering from the extreme financial crisis at that time. Its kind of injustice people had to prove themselves with a standard which is expected by a society who don't even know the inside stuff. Believe me, Though it may not look like that much worthy to put some hard efforts and finances, But, it won't make you regret being certs, but not being certs can make you lose some good opportunities at the most needed time of your life.

JasonRoland · Oct 18, 2017

I work 4x10 per week for the state. Being a certified arborist has no monetary value to them. There are 2x5 man tree crews and one tree supervisor in my district, and I'm the only certified arborist.
I work for myself Fridays and Saturdays though, and can confirm the value of the certification. Maybe it's because there aren't many CA's near me, but I agree with the post above that your first half day job that you get just because you're on the arborist locator will make it worthwhile. They will come too, and the good part of it is that the people who contact you because you're certified will have a better idea of what they want and a better idea of what it will cost to make it happen.
As far as paying for CEUs, you'll have plenty. There are also the Urban Forestry today webcasts that are free.
The only regret I have as far as getting certified was that I didn't do it sooner.

BEH2202 · Oct 18, 2017

The company that I got started with in Richmond would advertise that there was a CA on every crew. In reality there were usually more. They set themselves apart by selling that aspect of their business and it paid big dividends. It reassures the general public when you tell them that you are a CA. They expect everyone from their hairdresser to their mechanic to have some sort of certification. In my opinion it makes you seem professional to a lay person, and perception is reality. As an employee, you received a dollar an hour raise for the certification. In addition to all of that if you look around at a lot of the employment adds in the TCIA mag or other places it is usually at the top of the list of requirements for the position. Now that I am out on my own, I sell that CA every chance I get. "You should hire me because I look and act in a professional manner and that guy over there looks like a slob and has no certification."