[College of ACES] [University of Illinois] [Illinois CES]

Re: Certified Arborist

tsinc@earthlink.net
Thu, 5 Feb 1998 20:20:35 -0600


Certification... true... ISA is and organization for communication
between and education of arborists and those with related
interests... open to all with an interest. As any State
licensing system can attest, policing of ehtical and professional conduct
is an overwhelming, constant albeit critical activity.

Look to other long-established certification (and licensing)
programs to put this subject into perspective...
Certified Public Accountants, Real Estate Appraisers,
Doctors and Lawyers... do we assume all of these professions to be competant and ethical?
Are there monitoring systems flawless or even functional?

The continuing education requirement and peer pressure of
Certified Arborists will always be much more effective than
any policing efforts! After all, do laws, police agencies, courts and prisons
prevent crime?

Put your energy into support of this relatively new program
and you will get far better results!

The Certified Arborist title does not indicate anything
about performance, little about experience, and virtually
nothing about level of expertice! It merely states that the individual has the minimum level
of knowledge to pass the exam and function in the field!

It is a common mistake to assume a Certified Arborist is
necessarily qualified as a consulting arborist (see American
Society of Consulting Arborists).

Support rather than criticize this program as its existance
has done more for our industry than any policing activity
ever will!

Torrey Young