ISA Cert Tree Worker/ Climber Specialist

To me it seems that it is a step backwards to refer to arborist as 'tree workers'. A lot of effort has gone into getting the word 'arborist' recognized as a profession and the ISA titling some arborist as 'certified tree workers' reverses some of this progress.

A 'certified tree worker' is certainly an arborist and should be called one. If a 'certified tree worker' can't pass the 'certified arborist' test maybe they should not be given a title....and maybe they should not be up in trees.

To me an arborist is someone who climbs and knows about trees.

A person who does not climb but knows a great deal about trees is a horticulturalist.

My definitions of course.

Dan
 
I see your point on the name thing Dan. Regarding the CTW, I would rather it be called certified tree climber than treeworker.
To me an arborist is some who cares for and maintains trees.
The ability to climb (directly) is not needed to do so.
There are a good number of arborists who have never climbed, yes. My ability to climb does not necesarily make me a better arborist, just a better climber. Climbing is a physical task.

A horticulturalist? What of those who used to climb, but for whatever reason do not anymore? If they are still employed in the industry and working with trees are they not still an arborist.
 
I've got the CTW but I don't consider myself an arborist. It think the intent of the CTW is to certify that someone has the requisite skills to be a "technician." Tell the guy what to do and he's competent to climb and get it done. I reserve the term arborist for the "diagnostician." The CA is supposed to see the whole picture and identify what needs to be done. Ideally, the CA would subsume the CTW, but it doesn't have too.
 
Acadamia says you're a CA, you've studied the books, passed the test, and therefore understand the theories. But I believe that it takes years of touching, investigating, pondering the motion of the tree from the strain of the rigging, going back to one of your first 'mistakes' and noting how poorly that 14" limb removed from that Acer negundo is Compartmentalising, looking down the hollow Beech that your removing and watching your groundy poke his head thru a cavity at the base. Theoretical understanding WILL NOT replace field experience.

Company I used to work for often worked with a Landsacape Architect who happened to be a CA. Every time I saw the owner or manager interact with her on a job site they had to adjust her perscriptions, due to their unfriendliness to trees.
 
A mix John. The NJCTE is run by the board of cert. tree experts and the dept. of enviro. protection. The test is held at Rutgers U with their support.

The CAA class 1 climber test is un by the Committee for the Advancement of Arboriculture. The CAA is a mix of CTE's, CA's, and other NJ reps including state foresters and such.
 
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Company I used to work for often worked with a Landsacape Architect who happened to be a CA. Every time I saw the owner or manager interact with her on a job site they had to adjust her perscriptions, due to their unfriendliness to trees.

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We've encountered similar here. I even remember a high-end client of ours hiring a "horticulturalist" to oversee some of the work we were going to do and my Father having to ID many trees for him. /forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif

No certification or crdential is perfect. There are tree experts and there are "tree experts". I don't think that we are alone on this concept. It seems to me that the same is true in all professions.
 
Well, it's a wash, at least for now. I can't meet the criteria as I do not have documented training in aerial rescue, so no CTW....a disappointment. Wish it was a part of the test, but that is neither here nor there. By the way, I'd like to address the gentleman who stated that the CTW test is good for nothing except for "greenhorns" to have something to brag about. Everyone has a right to thier opinion, but isn't that painting it with a pretty wide brush? I am not fool enough to be tempted to brag amongst my betters about my puny climbing exploits, but I have had some pretty good teachers, and while six years of climbing experience is nothing compared to alot of people here, it's still six years, and so yes,I feel pretty confident in my abilities. Tree climbing and tree work in general is something I love, and every single day we go out, I try to be a quicker, more efficient climber. I enjoy it, and want to be better at it. Having or not having a certification is irrelavant in that regard. On another level, though, aren't there some very practical reasons for someone wanting to be a CTW or a CA? Do any of you who have these despised certifications have them printed on business cards or company letterhead? That's a rhetorical question really...not here to ruffle feathers. Just think that lumping everyone into the "irresponsible greenhorn" category for wanting to be proffessional is unwise.
 
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