
An arborist, in general, is a professional who studies, manages, and cares for trees, shrubs, and other woody plants. They are also known as tree surgeons, arboriculturists, or tree experts. To become a ‘Certified Arborist’ an individual must meet all the requirements to be eligible to take the exam through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). These requirements include: 3 or more years of full-time, eligible, practice work experience and/or a degree in a related field. The test itself covers a large number of topics. Furthermore, ISA Certified Arborist® must adhere to a code of ethics. The certification itself is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) which has its own set of arboricultural standards (ANSI 300) that a Certified Arborist is governed by. Once an individual becomes certified, they must renew every 3 years. Renewal is contingent upon the completion of 30 continuing education units (CEU’S). This ensures that a Certified Arborist is kept up to date with the latest industry standards and best management practices. In other words, you can hire an ‘arborist’ to work on your trees but not all arborists are ‘certified arborists’.

The ISA Board Certified Master Arborist® credential is the highest level of certification offered by ISA. This credential recognizes ISA Certified Arborists® who have reached the pinnacle of their profession. Fewer than two percent of all ISA Certified Arborists® currently hold this certification. In fact,
At Tree Docs, we have both a Certified Arborist and A Board Certified Master Arborist on Staff.