Earning an ISA credential is voluntary. It shows your expertise and dedication in tree care, that you have the knowledge and skills to look after trees properly, and that you are committed to the profession and to your community. Credential holders value continued education to widen their expertise and advance their careers.
The tree care industry has grown rapidly over the past decade, and performing at the highest level takes substantial knowledge. Displaying your ISA credential helps consumers recognize you as a knowledgeable and experienced professional committed to the proper maintenance of their trees.
Continuing education and CEUs
To keep an ISA credential you must either earn continuing education units or re-test. KAA runs field workshops, classroom sessions, certification preparation and the annual conference across Kentucky through the year, and every event that carries CEUs says so on its own page, along with how many and which credentials the credit applies to.
If you are already certified, log in to the ISA site to check your CEU status or renew. As a credential holder you already have a profile with ISA.
Why take the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification?
- Professional development. TRAQ is a comprehensive, standardized training program for anyone involved in tree risk assessment, and completing it broadens your skills and knowledge in the field.
- Credibility. Earning the qualification demonstrates to clients, employers and colleagues that you have a high level of expertise in tree risk assessment.
- Risk management. Understanding and assessing tree risk is central to managing urban and natural environments. TRAQ equips you to identify and evaluate the risks associated with trees.
- Industry standards. The program is built on industry standards and best practice, and staying current with those matters in arboriculture and urban forestry.
- ISA affiliation. TRAQ is affiliated with the International Society of Arboriculture, which opens opportunities and networks within the arboriculture community.
- Legal and ethical considerations. Understanding tree risk matters for the health of trees and for mitigating potential legal exposure. TRAQ covers both.
Consider your own professional goals and whether the qualification fits your path in arboriculture or a related field.
Tree valuation and appraisal
Qualified green-industry professionals are often called on to determine a monetary value for landscape trees, whether after intentional or unintentional damage, for an insurance claim, or when a property is condemned under eminent domain. The valuation considers four factors:
- Species
- Size, measured as trunk diameter 4.5 feet above the ground
- Condition: vigor, vitality, habit and so on
- Aesthetic and environmental contribution to the landscape
Guide to Landscape Appraisal of Tree Species in Kentucky Landscapes, published by Western Kentucky University.
Dr. William Fountain has provided KAA with an updated species valuation list for Kentucky. It is being re-published here; in the meantime, contact the association at info@ky-isa.org for a copy.
Standards and technical material
The association’s resource library holds newsletters, meeting minutes, financial statements, the bylaws and educational documents in one filterable place. The technical material there includes:
- ANSI A300 tree care standards, the American National Standard for tree care operations.
- Consider Climate Change When Planting Trees, a worksheet for judging whether a species will do well in future conditions.
- Drought? Don’t Forget the Trees.
- Tree Species Atlas, a species reference database.
Online resources
Professional bodies
- International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Credentials, standards and research; KAA is its Kentucky chapter.
- Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). Business, safety and the ANSI A300 standards.
- TREE Fund. Funds scholarships, scientific research and education programs in arboriculture and urban forestry.
- Better Business Bureau.
Identification and plant data
- USDA PLANTS Database. Standardized information on the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts and lichens of the United States and its territories.
- BGCI PlantSearch. Botanical name lookup across botanic garden collections.
- Tree classification guide and glossary of plant terms.
Tools and calculators
- Tree Benefit Calculator. Estimates the value a tree returns to its site.
- Animated Knots.
Climbing, equipment and community
- Tree Climbers International. Recreational tree climbing.
- TreeBuzz. Arborists’ discussion forum.
- Sherrill Tree. Arborist supply catalog.
- Knot and Rope Supply.
- TreeStuff. Equipment for professional arborists.
For tree owners
- Tree Care Tips. Practical information for homeowners.
- Find an arborist in Kentucky, and check their credential.
- Pin Your Nature Walk: A Kid’s Guide to Tree Identification by Peter Morrell.
Industry reading
Articles the association has shared with members. These are published by third parties, not by KAA.
- Factors and Forces: Identification of Structural Defects in Trees for Implementing Safe Work Plans, TCI Magazine.
- Grapple Saws Revolutionize Debris Management for Bob Ray Company, TCI Magazine, on a Louisville tree care company.
- Boom Trucks With Grapple Saws and Other Attachments Drive Efficiency, Productivity and Safety for Tree Care Operations, Lift and Access.
- Eastern White Pine: Threats to a Historically Important Species, Penn State Extension.
- The cost of cutting down a tree, The New York Times, on how tree work pricing has changed.