Simplest way to qualify for the BCMA exam?

[Royals Fan]

First post ever, take it easy on me!

I took the BCMA exam for the first time a few days ago. I would not say it was a cake walk, and I think you are giving High School students way to much credit. I passed, I would of liked to score higher. There are a lot of questions that require the best or most correct answer. There are a lot of pictures that are hard to see due to size and quality. I would definitely suggest you study tree appraisal. I will admit that I did not study enough for the test and almost paid the price for it!

 

[guymayor]

Just sent in my $270 to renew BCMA for 3 years. A very good investment; today I did a job that like many (well several anyway) I got from the BCMA logo on the ISA website. People want a tree guy who is not selling removals!
O and the ISA staff was/is very helpful in sorting out CEU stuff.

 

[Jamesr]

First post ever, take it easy on me!

I took the BCMA exam for the first time a few days ago. I would not say it was a cake walk, and I think you are giving High School students way to much credit. I passed, I would of liked to score higher. There are a lot of questions that require the best or most correct answer. There are a lot of pictures that are hard to see due to size and quality. I would definitely suggest you study tree appraisal. I will admit that I did not study enough for the test and almost paid the price for it!

Nice one Craig! Now you have B in your certification number!

 

[Light]

First post ever, take it easy on me!

I took the BCMA exam for the first time a few days ago. I would not say it was a cake walk, and I think you are giving High School students way to much credit. I passed, I would of liked to score higher. There are a lot of questions that require the best or most correct answer. There are a lot of pictures that are hard to see due to size and quality. I would definitely suggest you study tree appraisal. I will admit that I did not study enough for the test and almost paid the price for it!

Hi man! It's great that you passed this exam, but I think you understand that for becoming a professional you need to know a lot about this field. I remember how much time and nerves I spent preparing for this exam. When I was a student, we had a lot of theory, and my parents didn't have the money to pay for extra classes. Then I found the guys with https://www.spotoclub.com/ and in a month, they helped prepare for the final exam. I also remember that I paid for the training myself, because I worked as a waiter. Now I work for a cool IT companyGood luck anyway

 

[evo]

Hi folks, I'm one point shy of qualifying to take the BCMA exam. What is the most straightforward way for me to get the point?

I get four points from Cat A for being a certified arborist for three years, and one point for the TRAQ. Since I'm an SRT-only climber, I'm concerned about being able to certify as a tree worker specialist. Anyone want to weigh in on what it's like for an SRT climber to test for that? Would I have to climb DDRT? Would it be more straightforward to certify as a municipal specialist? What are the most CEUs that anyone has completed in a short amount of time?

I get three points from Cat B for my M.Sc.

I have nothing in Cat C for verifiable related credentials. How are the SAF forester and TCIA tree care specialist programs, and what's the cost?

I also get no points in Cat D, which requires six years of work experience.

Below is the plain language from the ISA:
http://www.isa-arbor.com/certification/resources/cert_Application_BCMA.pdf

Participant Eligibility Requirements
The ISA Certification Board requires a candidate to be an ISA Certified Arborist® in good standing and have obtained a total of eight points from any or all of the four categories that include measurable experience, formal education, related credentials, or professional experience. The point values are listed as follows:

Categories Points Category A – ISA Certification Program *Certified Arborist™ 1 *1 point for each year certified Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist™ 1 Certified Arborist Utility Specialist™ 1 Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialist™ 1 Certified Tree Worker Aerial Lift Specialist™ 1 ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified 1 *ISA Continuing Education 1 *1 point for every 60 CEUs over the required 30 every three years

Category B – Formal Education: Based on highest level of degree obtained in arboriculture or related field Two-year associate’s degree or equivalent 1 Four-year undergraduate degree or equivalent 2 Master’s or equivalent terminal degree 3 Ph.D. or equivalent graduate degree 4

Category C – Verifiable Related Credentials ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist 3 SAF Certified Forester 1 State license or certification in arboriculture or urban forestry 1 European Certified Tree Worker 1 4 ISA Board Certified Master Arborist® Candidate Application Handbook TCIA Tree Care Academy® Tree Care Specialist™ program completion 1

Category D – Professional Work Experience *Years of experience in arboriculture 1 *1 point for every six years of verifiable work experience

The Don Blair book 'Arborist equipment' is worth a huge chunk of CEU's if you go that route. I've had the first edition for years, and haven't picked it up in a long while. I challenged the test and even though it was a test for the latest edition I nearly aced it.. I think it's like 20 ceu's