Simplest way to qualify for the BCMA exam?
- Thread starter colb
- Start date
-
- Tags
- bcma exam qualification qualifying
Nish
Branched out member
- Location
- North Carolina
A few thoughts
1. There's a need, and a ready-to-generate market demand, for independent tree consultants who aren't necessarily affiliated with tree services.
2. Most arborists who have been around long enough to meet the BCMA or RCA prerequisites are established enough, and busy enough, in their own tree care professions that the benefits conferred by the additional qualifications can't provide enough of an incentive to pursue them. (By the time I meet the prerequisites for the BCMA test I'll already have way too many clients who trust me as a tree consultant.)
3. There are many under-employed PhD's from unrelated fields and smart semi-retired folks who, if given the chance, could educate themselves enough to pass the BCMA test and become really good, independent tree consultants. They would have no history of tree work and no special ties to tree services.
4. The ISA should keep/make the BCMA exam highly rigorous but open up the doors to smart and capable outsiders.
1. There's a need, and a ready-to-generate market demand, for independent tree consultants who aren't necessarily affiliated with tree services.
2. Most arborists who have been around long enough to meet the BCMA or RCA prerequisites are established enough, and busy enough, in their own tree care professions that the benefits conferred by the additional qualifications can't provide enough of an incentive to pursue them. (By the time I meet the prerequisites for the BCMA test I'll already have way too many clients who trust me as a tree consultant.)
3. There are many under-employed PhD's from unrelated fields and smart semi-retired folks who, if given the chance, could educate themselves enough to pass the BCMA test and become really good, independent tree consultants. They would have no history of tree work and no special ties to tree services.
4. The ISA should keep/make the BCMA exam highly rigorous but open up the doors to smart and capable outsiders.
Last edited:
guymayor
Branched out member
- Location
- East US, Earth
RCA is about report writing. TRAQ is about CYA. BCMA is more about trees than those other 2 combined. Is it about money too; sure, they can't offer it and lose money in the process. It'll never be a cash mammoth like TRAQ though; fear sells in the US of A!
And BCMA does pay for itself, in my market anyway.
"Nobody here (well one person) knows what education I have." More than one, M.R. Your cat's been out of the bag for some time but it's not big news so I won't out you!
And BCMA does pay for itself, in my market anyway.
"Nobody here (well one person) knows what education I have." More than one, M.R. Your cat's been out of the bag for some time but it's not big news so I won't out you!
Redtree
Participating member
- Location
- Mt. Albert
I dont know about that. Ive met CAs, and even a branch manager once, who dont know shit about trees...
Not all of us are as learned and educated as you are
I agree that I've met CA s that don't know because they are unbalanced. They don't touch, climb, or work directly with trees often. That's where my discipline fails me. I'm unbalanced the other way. I read a good amount but like mrtree said, more or less, It takes time to learn. I could read more.
But these unbalanced are CAs not BCMAs. The level of the test increases diversity of the field or at least the level of difficulty in each field. It used to do this better. I think the pass rate at 50 is perfect. You fail, you read, you touch trees, and you pass. Now you are smarter. Another 40 years and you might be smartest. A BCMA is a higher level. A rookie arborist is a different level which should be a denomination all it's own. However, it is up to a client to ask 'how long have you been doing this? Also it's up to an arborist to say. '12 years but on the side' or '16 solid years with participation in the culture'.
A small slap in the face to the previous bcmas who passed a harder test.
Perhaps we need more levels, or at least more details.
Levels. Rookie arb-smart but new. arb-smart and practiced. Bcma-smart, very experienced.
Detail. A CA shall not practice consulting as a primary practice until 5 years CA and 100 CEUs are logged and TRAQ is completed. Maybe there is a detail here already, (I know traq is a standard, and I suspect it is a method tool more than a knowledge tool) I just know some really young CAs go into consulting. They took a short traq course. Really? Something needs to be done because clients don't know to ask for asca. . Or do I assume. I doubt it. I don't advertise for consulting but I accept certain consulting jobs. I feel as competent as many. Perhaps I shouldn't be consulting without traq or asca. but I feel the details aren't in place and certainly the consulting thing is a bit of a mess.
I see how people see the good business in the well sold traq course but it's at least a standard. But is it enough? I doubt it. Maybe it's good. Let me know. Shouldn't a credential we use the way traq is used be more like a longer, two week course? Do we need more credentials that are in between the level of the traq and the level of the registered pro forester? Is ASCA the way to go?
I got ahead of myself and posted this without reading to the bottom of the thread so I'm sorry I'm out of line. Hope I don't derail someone's good direction. I need bettter discipline. That discipline thread is next on my list
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I like what your saying and they're all good points but I doubt the reshuffling and applying a better ranking/experience system would be implemented. The more certs given out = $$$. Perhaps one day we'll have a system similiar to that of electricians and plumbers.
guymayor
Branched out member
- Location
- East US, Earth
Simplest ways to maintain BCMA qualification: online tests based on articles! I got a notice in the mail that I was way short in Science CEUs, so I looked through the available tests on the ISA website. To my pleasant surprise, there were 6 Science tests available, for free!
Combined with articles written and presentations given, these 6 tests will put me over the top. True, it's a lot harder than sitting in a chair, but I'll learn/review a lot more, and it's all FREE!
So compared to a certain qualification, the BCMA cannot be credibly called a cash grab. As for high schoolers passing the test (and keeping the cert), that's disrespectful to those who lack M.R.'s brilliance, and also a crock.
Thanks to ISA for pushing arborists to stay at the pinnacle of their profession, and also for making it affordable for us mostly-retired tree folk!
Cart Details
Price Qty Total
Soil Amendments and Transplant Survival Quiz
(QZ AUF 2016 2)
By Emma Schaffert and Glynn Percival
$0.00 1 $0.00
Vegetation and Storm Water Runoff Quiz
(QZ AUF 2016 5)
By Donovan, David Butry, and Megan Mao
$0.00 1 $0.00
Understanding Tree Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stress Complexes Quiz
(QZ AN 2016 6)
By Daniel A. Herms
$0.00 1 $0.00
Basic Tree Plumbing: Translocation
(QZ AN 2016 4)
By Christine Balk and A.D. Ali
$0.00 1 $0.00
Roadside Soil Enhancement Quiz
(QZ AUF 2016 6)
By Andy Bary, Rita L. Hummel, Craig Cogger
$0.00 1 $0.00
Bark Traits Are Important to Tree Health and Survival
(QZ AN 2016 1)
By Jeffery Dawson
$0.00 1
Combined with articles written and presentations given, these 6 tests will put me over the top. True, it's a lot harder than sitting in a chair, but I'll learn/review a lot more, and it's all FREE!
So compared to a certain qualification, the BCMA cannot be credibly called a cash grab. As for high schoolers passing the test (and keeping the cert), that's disrespectful to those who lack M.R.'s brilliance, and also a crock.
Thanks to ISA for pushing arborists to stay at the pinnacle of their profession, and also for making it affordable for us mostly-retired tree folk!
Cart Details
Price Qty Total
(QZ AUF 2016 2)
By Emma Schaffert and Glynn Percival
$0.00 1 $0.00
(QZ AUF 2016 5)
By Donovan, David Butry, and Megan Mao
$0.00 1 $0.00
(QZ AN 2016 6)
By Daniel A. Herms
$0.00 1 $0.00
(QZ AN 2016 4)
By Christine Balk and A.D. Ali
$0.00 1 $0.00
(QZ AUF 2016 6)
By Andy Bary, Rita L. Hummel, Craig Cogger
$0.00 1 $0.00
(QZ AN 2016 1)
By Jeffery Dawson
$0.00 1
Redtree
Participating member
- Location
- Mt. Albert
Thanks Guy
And thanks everyone else. I now see that I said things other guys covered better already. Sometimes I add half decent insight. Sometimes I try to add perspective. It may be useful, or it may not.
I see now that I should have been referring to RCAs not just ASCA. Looks like I should focus on bcma and rca for myself. Accountability is required whether I have traq or not. And I know not to call any tree 'safe'. And be careful with the term 'low risk'. I also know I would refer someone else if someone requested a detailed report on a single, large, questionable tree. Something that really requires level three inspection. You could just get a drone and start consulting? No, I said to the guy asking, 'I need to study certain aspects first and gain another decade of experience before I jump fully into consulting' Not that I don't do detailed inspections. I just inform fairly often that radar or sonic tomography is also an option that some other company could perform. Actually radar I just read about, but I will mention it too. Is it less invasive? A question and detail a good consultant would know about. And a question I ask because I'm not sure and practice neither. I'm assuming both are better than drills measuring resistance, in terms of invasiveness.
As arborists we are always consulting in some way so it is important to give your results WITH an accurate description of your position/rank in the field. Funny thing is CA gets us further than it really should. And admit when you don't know or aren't quite sure. And arborists should inform the public/client/customer of the difference of the relative credentials. Great to see them broken down into simpler terms for us Guy.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
And thanks everyone else. I now see that I said things other guys covered better already. Sometimes I add half decent insight. Sometimes I try to add perspective. It may be useful, or it may not.
I see now that I should have been referring to RCAs not just ASCA. Looks like I should focus on bcma and rca for myself. Accountability is required whether I have traq or not. And I know not to call any tree 'safe'. And be careful with the term 'low risk'. I also know I would refer someone else if someone requested a detailed report on a single, large, questionable tree. Something that really requires level three inspection. You could just get a drone and start consulting? No, I said to the guy asking, 'I need to study certain aspects first and gain another decade of experience before I jump fully into consulting' Not that I don't do detailed inspections. I just inform fairly often that radar or sonic tomography is also an option that some other company could perform. Actually radar I just read about, but I will mention it too. Is it less invasive? A question and detail a good consultant would know about. And a question I ask because I'm not sure and practice neither. I'm assuming both are better than drills measuring resistance, in terms of invasiveness.
As arborists we are always consulting in some way so it is important to give your results WITH an accurate description of your position/rank in the field. Funny thing is CA gets us further than it really should. And admit when you don't know or aren't quite sure. And arborists should inform the public/client/customer of the difference of the relative credentials. Great to see them broken down into simpler terms for us Guy.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Redtree
Participating member
- Location
- Mt. Albert
Just noticed I posted over JD3000. Good practice JD3000, I did one (CEU) while I was away just for fun without sending it in. I know, lots of people do that. I should do that more often. Would help get me ready for (seemingly?) overwhelming BCMA requirements. I've got a lot of CEUs but feel I should do more of the reading to balance attending conferences. And come to think of it, is the gap between CA and BCMA requirements too big? CAs also should maybe be required to have a range on CEUs like BCMAs do. Should CAs require 15 per year (not 10), 3 in each domains? Is there 3 domains? I'm really feeling like a dumb CA now. Over conferenced and under educated. Couldn't even tell you what type of CEUs I got. I think Guy mentioned he has a hard time getting Science ones. Makes me wonder if I could use more of them.
Not only do I seek credentials, I seek being a better balanced arborist. You should too. In many ways, as already suggested, it comes down to your level of ability and your reputation that comes of it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Not only do I seek credentials, I seek being a better balanced arborist. You should too. In many ways, as already suggested, it comes down to your level of ability and your reputation that comes of it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Redtree, dont worry about all the CEUs for bcma. As Guy mentioned, I figure I get 15 a year from Arborist News, Arb and Urban Forestry, and Buckeye Arborist magazines. Conferences will add to that so I figure my 60 required over 3 years should be no sweat. I'm sure I'll be short in one or two domains near the end but a one time CEU test or package of tests purchase from the ISA store may end up having to be done. I'll focus on the "free" ones (not really free, membership dues and all) and conferences covered under my employee education incentive.
As far as being balanced as you mentioned, thats where all the non-ceu reading and research comes into play. Can make for a drier-than-a-popcorn-fart read but I make do.
However, once you pass the exam, your CEUs return to 0 and you have to start over for that 3 year cycle. Save some for this period.
As far as being balanced as you mentioned, thats where all the non-ceu reading and research comes into play. Can make for a drier-than-a-popcorn-fart read but I make do.
However, once you pass the exam, your CEUs return to 0 and you have to start over for that 3 year cycle. Save some for this period.
Last edited:
Redtree
Participating member
- Location
- Mt. Albert
Thanks JD3000. Now that my wrists/hands are swelled up with what I suspect is arthritis, I'll have more time for that. Although, I should make time regardless. Just happened yesterday after first day back after two weeks off. And I'm only 38. Maybe 14 days of lazy hands is too many. Maybe it's stress related.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Two knee surgeries, shoulder on the way sooner than later, family history of degenerative joints...I hear ya man!
My step dad (many many surgeries and ruined joints) says that adding doses of tumeric throughout the day has really helped with inflammation. I'm going to give it a whirl upon some further reading.
My step dad (many many surgeries and ruined joints) says that adding doses of tumeric throughout the day has really helped with inflammation. I'm going to give it a whirl upon some further reading.
guymayor
Branched out member
- Location
- East US, Earth
Big tumeric fan here!
Ryan, remember RCA does not prove any tree skill; it's all about formatting reports. If you want to subcontract me for reports, send me pics! Tele-consulting is all the rage!
Fungal activity IS good to study, with compartmentalization in mind. A lot of BCMA/RCA folks doing defect-centered assessments, instead of tree-centered inspections, come up with some wild and crazy conclusions.
And I agree that CA is too low a bar, considering the sales pitch hooey from HQ about all they can supposedly do.
Ryan, remember RCA does not prove any tree skill; it's all about formatting reports. If you want to subcontract me for reports, send me pics! Tele-consulting is all the rage!
Fungal activity IS good to study, with compartmentalization in mind. A lot of BCMA/RCA folks doing defect-centered assessments, instead of tree-centered inspections, come up with some wild and crazy conclusions.
And I agree that CA is too low a bar, considering the sales pitch hooey from HQ about all they can supposedly do.
