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International certification of arborists beganin 1992, although a few forward-thinking chapters had started certification programs years earlier. I began my tenure at ISA in 1992. Sharon Lilly, at that time a key volunteer, was heading up the Certification Board and felt that I would be a good staff person to get involved in the program. Every now and then, I question my decision to get involved, but I am very proud of our certification program and do not regret my choice. Why am I telling you this? Because the ISA certification program has moved forward with the help of a tremendous group of volunteers who have dedicated an impressive amount of time and effort to get this program where it is today. These volunteers deserve our thanks and gratitude. As a professional arborist, you should be proud of the ISA Certified Arborist program and what it has meant to the profession. These volunteers realized that for arborists to be recognized as professionals, they needed to have a credential that could be recognized by the consumer. 

The program has received many comments over the years. Sure, I’ve heard the complaints: “This person is certified and shouldn’t be,” “The test is too hard,” “The test is too easy.” But I also have been fortunate enough to hear, and be a part of, the success stories of people who have worked hard and obtained their certification. They now feel that they are a part of the professional community of arborists.

The ISA certification program has been a key part of ISA’s growth over the past ten years. The primary objective of the certification program has been to raise the standards of the profession. We certainly are not where we would like to be, but we are making progress; for example, the use of Certified Arborists is specified in many municipal and commercial contracts. I believe the greatest benefit we have received from the program is the desire by arborists to continue their education. Educational meetings and workshops have flourished at the chapter level. Arborists must stay current on the latest scientifically based tree care information.

Once individuals have become certified, their demand for knowledge increases. In fact, the demand for an advanced level of certification has grown steadily. In response to this demand, the board approved a motion this past August to begin development of an advanced certification program. A subcommittee will be established to develop the job analysis survey on which to base the new program. The job analysis will be sent to many of you. If you get the survey, please fill it out and return it. Your answers will help chart the course of our profession.

Until we see the results of the survey, we will not know exactly what the advanced program will look like. The consensus of the Certification Test Committee, Certification Liaison Committee, and Certification Board has been to develop a series of Certificates of Added Qualification (COAQs). These COAQs would be classified as core or electives. Certified Arborists could take a computer-based test and obtain any COAQs they wish and stop there, or they could complete a required number of cores and electives to obtain a specific advanced credential. 

The advanced program will take several years to develop. COAQs could be available within a year, however, depending on how fast the committee can work. This exciting new program will present opportunities for on-line testing, on-line CEU opportunities, and on-line training. These initiatives are closely tied with the new ISA strategic plan to position the certification program to better provide for the professional growth and development of arborists.