International Society of Arboriculture

{{Short description|International non-profit botanical organization}} {{refimprove|date=August 2012}}

The '''International Society of Arboriculture''', commonly known as '''ISA''', is an international non-profit organization headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia,<ref>{{Cite web |title=ISA Homepage |url=https://www.isa-arbor.com/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.isa-arbor.com}}</ref> United States. The ISA serves the tree care industry as a paid membership association and a credentialing organization that promotes the professional practice of arboriculture.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ISA > Who We Are > Our Services |url=https://www.isa-arbor.com/Who-We-Are/Our-Services |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.isa-arbor.com}}</ref> ISA focuses on providing research, technology, and education opportunities for tree care professionals to develop their arboricultural expertise. ISA also works to educate the general public about the benefits of trees and the need for proper tree care.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ISA > Online Learning |url=https://www.isa-arbor.com/Online-Learning |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.isa-arbor.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ISA > Membership > Student Programs |url=https://www.isa-arbor.com/Membership/Student-Programs |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.isa-arbor.com}}</ref>

Worldwide, ISA has 22,000 members and 31,000 ISA-certified tree care professionals with 59 chapters, associate organizations, and professional affiliates throughout North America, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and South America.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ISA > Who We Are > Our Network |url=https://www.isa-arbor.com/Who-We-Are/Our-Network |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.isa-arbor.com}}</ref>

== Credentials == ISA offers the following credentials: * ISA Certified Arborist * ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist (for those maintaining vegetation around electric utility wires) * ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist (for those with additional experience managing public urban trees) * ISA Certified Tree Climber * ISA Certified Tree Worker Aerial Lift Specialist * ISA Board Certified Master Arborist * ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification

The '''Certified Arborist''' credential identifies professional arborists who have a minimum of three years' full-time experience working in the professional tree care industry and who have passed an examination covering facets of arboriculture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.isa-arbor.com/Credentials/Types-of-Credentials/ISA-Certified-Arborist|title=ISA Certified Arborist|publisher=International Society of Arboriculture|access-date=26 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Konijnendijk |first=Cecil C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jnOX7JPdnBYC |title=Urban Forests and Trees: A Reference Book |last2=Nilsson |first2=Kjell |last3=Randrup |first3=Thomas B. |last4=Schipperijn |first4=Jasper |date=2005-12-16 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-3-540-27684-5 |language=en}}</ref> The Western Chapter of the ISA started the certification program in the 1980s,{{cn|date=August 2022}} with the ISA initiating it in 1992.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Koeser|first1=Andrew K. |last2=Hauer|first2=Richard J. |last3=Miesbauer|first3=Jason W. |last4=Peterson|first4=Ward |title=Municipal tree risk assessment in the United States: Findings from a comprehensive survey of urban forest management|journal=Arboricultural Journal|year=2016|volume=38|issue=4|pages=218–229|doi=10.1080/03071375.2016.1221178 |bibcode=2016ArbJ...38..218K}}</ref>

== ISA Board Certified Master Arborist == The '''Board Certified Master Arborist''' (BCMA), or simply '''Master Arborist''', credential recognizes professional arborists who have achieved the highest level of certification offered by the ISA and one of the top designations in the field. Candidates typically have been ISA Certified Arborists for three to five years before qualifying for the exam, depending on education and experience. The certification was created to distinguish the most advanced practitioners in arboriculture.

The '''Master Arborist''' examination is a far more extensive exam than the Certified Arborist Exam, and covers a broad scope of both aboriculture management, science and work practices.<ref>[https://newenglandisa.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/ISA%20Credentials%20Quick%20Guide%20for%20Candidates_Domains_0421.pdf "ISA Credentials Quick Guide for Candidates"] (PDF). ''New England ISA''. [https://arbostar.com/ Arbostar]. Retrieved 2025-10-27.</ref> The exam includes the following areas: * Science: Abiotic Influences; Biology; Biotic Influences; Diagnostic Process; Diagnostic Tools; Plant Identification and Selection; Soil Sciences * Practice: Climbing, Rigging, and Removal; Installation; IPM; Water Management; Pruning; Soil Treatments; Soil & protection * Management: Business Relations; Inventory and Management Plans; Plant Appraisal; Risk Assessment; Safety; Tree Preservation

Another credential that is on a par with the Master Arborist is that of the '''American Society of Consulting Arborists''', the Registered Consulting Arborist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asca-consultants.org/what/index.cfm|title=What is a consulting arborist?|publisher=American Society of Consulting Arborists|access-date=2012-06-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017173836/http://www.asca-consultants.org/what/index.cfm|archive-date=2010-10-17|url-status=dead}}</ref> There are perhaps six hundred individuals with that qualification, and only 70 arborists who hold both credentials.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.isa-arbor.com/ International Society of Arboriculture Home Page] * http://www.treesaregood.org/ TreesAreGood.org (arboricultural resources for the general public) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120529221746/http://www.isa-arbor.com/certification/verifyCredential/index.aspx Verify a Certified Arborist credential] * http://www.isa-arbor.com/certification/resources/cert_ExamOutline_BCMA.pdf BCMA (Board Certified Master Arborist) Exam Outline * [http://www.asca-consultants.org/ American Society of Consulting Arborists]

{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:International Society Of Arboriculture}} Category:Agricultural organizations based in the United States Category:Clubs and societies in the United States Category:International forestry organizations Category:Forestry societies Category:Arborists Category:Non-profit organizations based in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Urban forestry organizations