Multiple ISA credentials

rfwoodvt

rfwoodvt

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Morning!

Several years ago I made a push to get my crew CTW/CS certified and decided that if I expected them to have it that I should get it too. Not a biggie, passed the exam without problem.

It is now renewal time and it is only a few bucks to renew but I'm wondering if there is any real value to me carrying that cert now that I am a BCMA.

I've weighed a bunch of pros and cons in my head and am curious as to what you all think of as well.

ThanX in advance for your input!
 
I wonder too... I just got my CTW/CS along with my crew. Have been CA for 9 years now, the ISA then 'invited' me to become a BCMA. I may wait a bit before I takle that one.

I do like the 'climber specialist' part of my multiple certs. I tell people that my company trims (and removes) trees - please call John Doe for an Arborist examination and 10 page report...

I might drop the others if becoming a BCMA... the fees to keep each would mount up! It is a debate, Rick. How do you like the BCMA?
 
UT, the BCMA is a multi-bladed sword. On the one hand there are like 400 in the world right now so that ain't too many. As with any alphabet soup at the end of your name it lends credence, hence the word credential, to your claims and abilities.

I am using it for all it is worth in marketing though. right now there are only two BCMA's in Vermont but only one of us is listed on the ISA site. Apparently the other Vermonter does not want to be listed. Consequently I am latching onto the fact that I am the First & Only Listed BCMA in Vermont.

On the personal side getting it has done much to ratchet up my commitment to learning and serves as a nice benchmark to measure myself. As humans we have a tendency to over-state and underestimate our knowledge and abilities.

Most men I know are very confident in their ability to perform but also harbor deeper doubts about whether they are really capable. Just a psych thing I guess.

I guess if someone wants the BCMA as a only a means of saying, "look at me!" then I'd say it won't be worth much. But if they want it as a mile marker along their journey I'd say go for it!

Looking back I probably should have gotten it sooner. Solved a lot of personal doubts I had once I passed the test.
 
Rick I say if you have the funds, keep the tc specialist! To me it shows you know up and down the tree! I hope all is well buddy,looking forward to talking to ya soon! Between you and cervi, yall been a big help!
 
Rick, remember that people going through www.treesaregood.com to look for certified arborists in their area are going to take note that you have multiple credentials. I get enough calls on that basis, to warrant keeping the couple certifications that I have, and to plan to acquire more.
 
QUOTE: "I guess if someone wants the BCMA as a only a means of saying, "look at me!" then I'd say it won't be worth much. But if they want it as a mile marker along their journey I'd say go for it!

Looking back I probably should have gotten it sooner. Solved a lot of personal doubts I had once I passed the test."

rfwoodvt - The above quote is right on. I see it the same way... I spent some years of my career 'just working on trees" and now enjoy more of a commitment to my chore in society at large. Feels good to feed my kids and be able to say I like what I do. Still ready to retire one day and return to wandering around the country.
 
BCMA is great, but if I were hiring someone to work at my house, I'd take a crew of CTWs over some random guys hired by a BCMA (not suggesting anyone here does that, I'm just saying). CA or BCMA just require experience and a test. CTWs have to prove they can do the work safely.
 
I bet the average client doesn't fully get/care what the difference is between them all but would understand that the BCMA ranks WAY higher than the others.

love
nick
 
[ QUOTE ]
Still ready to retire one day and return to wandering around the country.

[/ QUOTE ]or better yet semi-retire and work your way around the country ;) have wraptor will travel.

Keep it, dude. I like for people to be able to see I can not only report on the tree, but move around in it. sets one apart from the shiny-pants consultants. Where muni and utilities are involved, those help too.

re money they are cheaper than keeping an RCA at ~$1.20 a day. It's all relative.
I passed on the aerial cert--so far--but will get the risk qual when it comes out, unless i get out to the pnw to $ave by challenging that exam first.

Good investments all; i cut corners by living on beans and oatmeal, but they are healthier anyway.
grin.gif
 
As a climbing arborist I hold my CTW/CS higher than my CA. It is who I am and what I do everyday. I have a handful of creds and they are all important to me. I can talk to a client and my peers about trees and I have fun doing training programs for companies as a CTSP but nothing makes me happier and feel more at home than climbing trees.

Glad you kept the cred Rick.
 
My crew and I got our CTW/CS cert this summer. I was a little skeptical (being a CA already) but now I am very glad I did it. I like telling people that I am a Climbing Specialist - and they seem to understand better... that I am the one that will be doing the trimming.

p.s - treewhitelock: Loving my Ergovation saddle you sold me. It has seen some big trees this year! I call it the Volvo...
 
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