Possible stupid question about Certification

ChrisOTS

ChrisOTS

Location
Goderich, Ontario
I am an apprentice writing my journeyman test this week, I got thinking while studying a few minutes ago; what is the difference between the OCAA and the ISAO?

Is the OCAA more company based? Wheras the ISA is more individual?
 
OCAA
Ontario Commercial Arborists Association.
I hadn't heard of it until a few weeks back. Between the Apprentice certification, the ISA and OCAA I think Ontario needs to simplify this stuff.
Google wouldn't even help me out.
 
The OCAA website says they are the ISA Ontario chapter.So yes there eis no difference. Google was quick on that one. maybe that was their name before they became a chapter?

Saw nothing about a journeyman's test--do you mean certification?
 
OCAA is a group of commercial arborists in Ontario. They conduct seminars and other events to help commercial arborists and help raise the profile of arboriculture in Ontario. They don't have any certification programs or credentials. They work very closely with the ISA Ontario Chapter.

The ISA ontario chapter's conference is next week in Kingston, you should attend if you're anywhere close by. I'll be there even though i'm at the opposite end of the province.

In my opinion, become a journeyman arborist through the MTCU (Ministry of colleges, training and universities) is a far better credential than anything the ISA offers (not including the BCMA). To be a journeyman arborist you have to apprentice under another qualified arborist for 6000 hours. The ISA is a bit more loose with qualification requirements.

I would certainly put credit much more weight to the MTCU designation as opposed to any ISA designation.

If you're planning on being a production commercial arborist in Ontario, you should at the very least be a member of ISA and OCAA or work for a company that is a member.

vince
 
That makes sense, I just thought it was too redundant to have 2 separate names, I mean I have always called it the ISAO, the last O being for Ontario.

I am writing my MTCU Journeyman(final apprentice test) test on Tuesday though, so at least I know the difference now. lol

Hopefully the trade will become red seal recognized and us apprentices will be grandfathered in upon completion for a fee.
 
The MTCU certification is the government cert which unlike other apprenticeship programs in construction trades is voluntary. That is you don't need it to work as an arborist unlike say working as an electrician requires you having your "papers". It's not a red seal trade but I hope it will achieve that level someday.

ISA is the professional association thus a private organization that provide a certification program for individuals that is recognized internationally within the industry. They are like many industry associations that are meant to improve the standards of performance and provide some sort of means to define levels of proficiency to the public. This is not mandated by government or industry.

Chris, our industry is maturing. We're seeing associations being formed that represent the various interests, from the company standpoint(TCIA), the individual(ISA), to specialists within the industry, utility arborists (UAA). consulting arborists (CAS or ASCA). Each one forming as it is felt that members wish to focus only on their interests and concerns.


Good luck with your course and welcome to the field!
 
6000 hours is a guideline, not a standard. The MTCU figures that after 6000 hours you will have obtained all the skill sets in the arborist apprentice training booklet. However, as certain companies don't practice certain skill sets such as installing drains in cavities or lightening protection, that skill set cannot be signed off by supervisor and employer (unless all parties lie), thus certain sections will be missing. The only requirement is that a majority of the skill sets have been signed off, as well as your hours verified and the go ahead from your employer that they feel confident that you can challenge the exam. I'm just trying to finalize all my paper work so that I can write soon. Be sure that if you pass to fill out the papers and send them in for an apprenticeship completion grant worth $2000, all tax free. This is nice cause from here on in, unless you own your own tree business, the government only lets us get away with writing off $500 worth of gear... thats like a whole 2 pairs of boots, which should get me through like 3/4 of the year if I baby them. Another nice perk is that you don't have to renew, or pay to maintain this certification. It's for life. Unlike the ISA where you need to keep up on your $$CEU's$$ and $$renewal fee's$$. CEU's are pretty easy to get as the education taught is that similar to a colouring book, you just gotta pay.They will have to grandfather us in to make it a red seal, I would like to see the statistics of how many provincially certified arborists there are, excluding the utility guys, realistically I would put my money on it being under 1000 guys...
 
Did they finally include arborist apprenticeships in that incentive program! When I took it they told us all about it but then said we weren't eligible. The second yr when they came to tell us again. I told them to stop talking if we couldn't take advantage of the incentive. She muttered a bit and left.
 
The incentive is part of it. I registered some time last year and remember the lady saying once I right my test I get some money. Booya!
 
If it's anything like the yearly red seal grant, they tax you on it come tax season, at a high rate, so hold onto 1/4 of it.
I took the Horticulture apprenticeship before I got into climbing, they tax you up the .
 
I'll be writing mine sometime this year. How did you find the test? I wrote the exemption tests for the schooling a few years ago while I was at fleming. I think they were the one of the most poorly written tests I've ever had to write. The wording was horrible and hard to understand. Wondering if I should expect the same thing for the final test?
 
Haha yeah the arborist exemption test was brutal eh Andrew, from what the guys said about them, they're better than what we wrote but still not too far off. Apparently the identification is broken down into genus thats not species specific. I think at this point in the game maples, ash, or hemlocks are pretty easy to identify... I would hope. Its a hundred to write the test and it's taxed... what does the grant work itself out to? like 1300, gotta love our government. If your not deferring money, or writing off credits, not only do they take a sizeable amount of income tax from your salary, but they take more when it's all said and done for when it comes time for your receipt. It's like saying yeah we took money from you this year, buuuuuut we just didn't take enough, sorry. Oh and while were at we may scrap the CPP... thats a whole different can of worms. Throw in the HST that came around just as I bought my truck, added a cool 7g's to the government collection plate... Bastards.
 
So I am now trying to figure out how I go after my cool 2 grand. I have my stuff to send off, but who do i get ahold of? Do I call the MTCU and ask where my money is, like Stewy Griffon?
guess this only applies to you Ontario guys who have done this before.
 
From the sounds of it, thats exactly what you gotta do, pop a cap in some knees. Pretty much the guys at work said you gotta call the MTCU and talk to them and they can walk you through it. Just make sure you call the number for the non-red seal trades. I as well need to start popping caps as I just recently passed mine and want my free taxed money. Congrats dude.

I just checked the link that I posted earlier, and it says to just contact one of the vague 1-800 numbers and talk to the co-ordinator, which I'm sure will lead you on the right path. They should just send out the cheques as soon as you pass with a little memo saying "Hey, keep a little bit of this for tax purposes later, instead of blowing it all on strippers and blow. Enjoy."
 
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