ISA cert?

  • Thread starter Thread starter flushcut
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 32
  • Views Views 4K
flushcut

flushcut

TreeHouser
Joined
Jan 15, 2011
Messages
21,366
Location
Delavan, WI
How hard is it to pass the ISA test? What's on it yada yada?
I purchased the study guide and the audio set because I learn better by hearing.
Are there any other texts out there to compliment the study guide? I ,IMO, have a decent library such as NTB and a few other.

Any thoughts are be welcome.
 
Funny, I just ordered the guide this morning. :)

I missed the Mass Arb exam this year and have to wait until Oct for the next one so I'm going for the ISA instead.

I talked to a few people about the ISA exam and they said if you know the book and do the tests you'll be fine. A good amount of questions at in the study guide appear on the exam itself. I'm not sure about the tree ID though... trees vary so much by region I'm wondering if there are variations by region on the test.

I'm not sure when I'm going to take it but if I end up taking it before you I'll let you know how it's set up.
 
go at it like this,
use the guide, answer the questions in the chapters, then read those over daily as a guide, its all about key words.
listen to the cd's
take the test the 1st time planning on bombing
then study the sections that you missed
i passed on my 2nd try
i only missed insects, and cabling / bracing

good luck to you both
 
You can do it! Its pretty much all in the guide. If I remember correctly there are an even amount of questions from each section, so study your weak parts.
 
As mentioned, do the end of chapter tests. I did those over and over, once you can ace those questions, the test is cake. I am biased though, having a forestry degree really covered most aspects of the test... Tree id is no longer based on actual species/genus identification, but rather identifying a palmately compound leaf, serrate leaf, cordate leaf, petiole, alternate/opposite leaf arrangement, etc, etc... Soils was pretty hard for me. The cd's are great, I played them in my car to subconsciously pound info into my brain.
 
For the study guide, I went through the glossary...anything i didn't know, i focused on. There where questions not in the study guide, but it's been some years from my testing. Good luck, and it's a great move forward.
 
Its not the BCMA. The CA is a basic competency as an arborist. Don't worry about it. Prep and take the test. The re-take for any missed sections is free. They have the proctored exams, which can cut travel costs for taking it/ retaking it, as well as you not having to wait for months to have it cost to home. The proctoring came after I took my test in BC, about 5 hours travel. I missed 1% in one section, so I had to drive 6 hours to Bend, OR for a 15 minute test.

They changed the Tree ID from how it was a few years ago, with regional samples to use in ID'ing trees. Do you have the most current Study Guide (don't know when it was last updated).
 
If you know the guide inside out you will pass. Not with 100% but you will pass. On the ISA website should be a list of recomended study material if you want to purchase more.
 
I agree with Willie that if you know the study guide you will pass. When I took it, about 85% of the questions were material that was directly covered in the guide. However, that was 9 years ago, so things may have changed.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13
Well they arrived today the text book is a 2010 copyright and the cd are 2001. I guess I have to get reading and listening in between burping and changing diapers.
 
Is it from treestuff or right from the ISA site? I got the treestuff one I hope that's up to date.
 
flushcut said:
Well they arrived today the text book is a 2010 copyright and the cd are 2001. I guess I have to get reading and listening in between burping and changing diapers.
Click to expand...

That is the hardest job of all! Being a father that is. I would like to take the test as well but debating on it because of cost. People in my area dont even know what an Arborist is since I am State licensed. I would like to in hopes it would help my business gain higher end clientele.
 
Its not going to hurt your hunt for clientele.

The cost is worth it, IMO.

Does your state (which state?) require CEUs? That can set you apart with the right marketing/ spin, in addition to the required knowledge gained for CEUs being practical.
 
SouthSoundTree said:
Its not going to hurt your hunt for clientele.

The cost is worth it, IMO.

Does your state (which state?) require CEUs? That can set you apart with the right marketing/ spin, in addition to the required knowledge gained for CEUs being practical.
Click to expand...

Louisiana 30 miles from New Orleans, yes for ceu's one class per year and CPR card every 2 years
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #21
A CA around here is not a requirement but a solid insurance policy is. I would like to get one so I have the upper hand over 85% of the competition and it will open up huge doors on some of the larger estates on the lake and country clubs.
 
I only believe in being a CA if one opts to stand behind the methods and principles of being one. I see way to many hacks with a their certification and it turns me right off.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #24
I hear ya there. A hack is a hack wether CA'ed or not, I have always believed in bringing in the highest quality and standard possible to every job I land. Right now I am not certified but I comply with the industry standards and practices so I think a CA will be a nice way to market myself to a whole new client base.
 
Yup, some of the people who actually know what an arborist is are willing to pay you more for the same work because of it. Nothin' wrong with that!

The initial cost isn't that much considering it would really only take 1 job to make up for the cost of getting certified.

I haven't taken the Mass Arborist exam yet but I actually learned a lot just from the study guide. I wish it was in print and not a bunch of PDFs though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

treelooker
PNW-ISA, September 2015
Replies
1
Views
1K
sotc
sotc
treelooker
PNW-ISA Sep 20-23, 2015
2
Replies
27
Views
3K
MasterBlaster
MasterBlaster
treelooker
KY ISA October 22-23 2015
Replies
0
Views
809
treelooker
treelooker
emr
ISA Milwaukee
Replies
16
Views
1K
emr
emr
K
New ISA Comp Rules...for all you Rope Wrenchers out there
Replies
4
Views
1K
Kestersonian
K
Back
Top