Certified Arborist Arborist What an Arborist Does Certified Arborist Certified Arborist Becoming an Arborist is a very challenging undertaking and is not something that happens overnight.  A person considering becoming an arborist must be prepared to spend a lot of time not only studying trees but gaining experience working in the tree world.  It actually takes many years to become a licensed professional.  A budding Arborist will typically study for a degree in horticulture or arboriculture and receive it from a handful of two and four year college programs.  Once the degree is achieved, it is important to join the leading associations for professional arborists, such as TCIA (Tree Care Industry of America) and ASCA (American Society of Consulting Arborists).  The next goal is to receive at least one of the five Arborist Certifications from the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture).  Each arborist certification requires the arborist to pass a written exam testing their abilities, tree care knowledge and tree service experience. The ‘Certified Arborist’ certification is the first certification available for a new arborist to obtain.  An arborist that has received the ‘Certified Arborist’ certification has proven they have mastered a basic skill level in tree care and acquired a basic knowledge in tree science.  Before taking the exam to receive the Certified Arborist certification, the arborist must first possess at least three years experience in the tree service industry.  This test reviews every aspect of arboriculture. The second certification an arborist can attempt to achieve is call the ‘Certified Tree Worker’.  This arborist certification classifies an arborist as a tree climbing specialist.  To become a Certified Tree Worker, an arborist must have obtained the ability to prune and remove trees and know the essentials of safety and cabling.  This certification also involves a written examination which is accompanied by a skill-based exam that is given by a professional assessor. There are two additional specialized certifications available to arborists once they successfully become certified arborists.  They are the ‘Utility Specialist’ and the ‘Municipal Specialist’.  The ‘Utility Specialist’ specializes in taking care of those trees that are located near and around power lines.  A Utility Specialist must be present in the event that a tree has fallen near dangerous electrical equipment in order for it to be removed carefully and safely.  The Utility Specialist ensures that the area is clear of any possibly dangerous branches and/or trees and debris.  The ‘Municipal Specialist’ certification that is available to certified arborists focuses on trees in large city and urban areas as well as such places as state parks.  They may work directly with other consultants and contractors. The the final certification available to Certified Arborists is the ‘ISA Board-certified Master Arborist’ certification.  It is the highest certification available through the ISA and is intended for those tree experts that have obtained many years of professional service in tree care and arboriculture.  To become a Board-certified Master Arborist, a certified arborist must show proof of meeting the stringent requirements for education and experience.  They must also fill out an industry-developed 150 question exam.  There are very few ‘ISA Board- certified Master Arborist’ in the world due to the intense challenge associated with qualifying and receiving this arborist certification. The Arborist:  All in a Day’s Work Why Choose a Certified Arborist?