Why Hire an ISA-Certified Arborist

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Operating from a base near San Ramon, CA, Arbor Vision Inc. provides total tree care services to clients throughout the East Bay area - from Berkeley to San Jose to Tracy to Antioch and everywhere in between.

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An ISA Certified Arborist carrying a cut up log piece

When it's time to hire a tree service, ensure you're hiring an ISA-certified arborist. Here's why: An arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) has demonstrated a high level of knowledge in arboriculture. ISA-certified arborists are also committed to continuing education and keeping up with the latest research and techniques in the field.

When you hire an ISA-certified arborist, you can be confident that you're getting someone who is an arboriculture expert and who will take the best possible care of your trees.

About Your Local Arborist

Michael Waller, ISA certified arborist, has over a decade of experience in caring for trees. His passion is supporting urban forests and trees' vital role in our environment.

What Are Arborist Services?

Arborist services are professional tree care services that help maintain the health and beauty of trees. These services can include tree pruning, tree removal, tree planting, tree inspections, and tree disease treatments.

What Does ISA Certification Mean?

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is a nonprofit organization that promotes the professional practice of arboriculture and fosters a greater global appreciation for the benefits of trees. The ISA achieves these goals through its certification program, which offers voluntary certification exams for arborists.

The ISA Certified Arborist credential measures an arborist's knowledge and competence in arboriculture. ISA exams cover a wide range of topics, including tree biology, tree selection, tree installation, tree maintenance, tree risk assessment, and tree hazard management.

Certification also means that the arborist agrees to abide by a set of ethical principles that guide the professional conduct of ISA members. The Code is based on honesty, integrity, objectivity, professional competence, and due care.

What Kind of Training Is Required to Become an ISA Certified Arborist?

ISA Certified Arborists must have a minimum of three years of full-time, practical experience working in the arboriculture field and have passed a comprehensive examination. Certification is valid for three years and must be renewed.

Is ISA Certification Mandatory in California?

There is no statewide requirement for arborists to be certified in California. However, many local communities have their requirements.

For example, some communities require ISA-certified arborist reports to be submitted with an application to remove trees. The following table summarizes some of the requirements for arborist reports and tree removal permits for some of the communities served by Arbor Vision.

*Please note the information in this table is provided for illustrative purposes only. While we've done our best to be accurate, there is no guarantee of accuracy. Please consult with your municipality before cutting down trees without a permit.

Community	Examples of Trees Requiring Permit for Removal*	Arborist Report Req’d
Alameda, CA	Coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia).	Yes
Antioch, CA	Landmark and/or Heritage trees with a trunk diameter of 48 inches and/or in excess of 40 feet above natural grade in height	No
Berkeley, CA	Coast Live Oaks (Quercus Agrifolia).	No
Concord, CA	Blue Oak, California Bay, California Buckeye, California Sycamore, Coast Life Oaks, Valley Oak	Yes
Danville, CA	Blue Oak (Quercus Doulgassi), California Bay (Umbellularia California), California Black Oak (Quercus Kelloggi), California Buckeye (Aesculus Californica), California Sycamore (Platanus Racemosa), Canyon Live Oak (Quercus Chrysol), Coast Live Oak (Quercus Agrfolia), Interior Live Oak (Quercus Wislizenii), Madrone (Arbutus Menziesii), London Plane Tree (Plantanus Acerifolia), Valley Oak (Quercus Lobata), White Alder (Alnus Rhombifolia)	Possible
Fremont, CA	Any Tree in Front Yard	Yes
Hayward, CA	Big Leaf Maple (Acer Macrophyllum), California Buckeye (Aesculus Californica), Madrone (Arbutus Mensiesii), California Sycamre (Platanus Racemosa) Coast Live Oak (Quercus Agrifolia) Cannon Live Oak (Quercus Chrysolepis) Blue Oak (Quercus Douglassii), Oregon White Oak (Quercus Garryana), California Black Oak (Quercus Kelloggi), Valley Oak (Quercus Lobata), Interior Live Oak (Quercus Wislizenii), California Coastal Redwood (Sequoia Sempervirens) California Bay (Umbellularia Californica)	Yes
Livermore, CA	See List of Protected Trees	No
Milpitas, CA	Heritage Trees, Protected Trees	Yes
Oakland, CA	9” or Greater Diameter at Breast Height, Coast Live Oaks	No
Oakley, CA	Heritage Oaks	Possible
Richmond, CA	All	Possible
San Jose, CA	Heritage Trees, Ordinance Trees	Possible
San Ramon, CA	Native oak tree 6 inches in diameter measured 54 inches above the ground.	No

What Are the Benefits of an ISA-Certified Arborist?

The benefits of an ISA-certified arborist are many. They include:

A certified arborist has the knowledge and expertise to care for your trees properly.
A certified arborist can help you select suitable trees for your property and provide information on how to care for them properly.
A certified arborist can provide a comprehensive tree care plan to help keep your trees healthy and looking their best.
A certified arborist can help you identify potential problems with your trees and provide you with solutions to keep them healthy.
A certified arborist can provide information on the latest tree care products and services.

How Can I Determine if an Arborist Is ISA Certified?

The first thing you can look for is their ISA Certified Arborist badges, like what Arbor Vision, Inc. has:

You can also look for their certification status on the ISA website. Enter their first and last names, and the online tool will verify if the individual holds an ISA credential.

When to Call an Arborist?

If your tree may be sick, dying, or posing a danger, it is always best to consult with an arborist. Arborists are trained professionals who can assess the health of a tree and diagnose any problems. They advise how to care for a tree and help you determine if it needs to be removed.

What Is the Difference Between a Licensed Arborist and an ISA-Certified Arborist?

An ISA-certified arborist has been certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and has demonstrated a broad knowledge base in the area in which they are certified. There is no state-licensed arborist profession in California. The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) licenses tree service contractors to prune trees, remove trees, limbs, or stumps (including grinding) and engage in tree or limb guying.

As you can see in the table below, the requirements and specialization of a licensed tree contractor and certified arborist are complementary. Ideally, it would be best to hire a tree service that is both licensed AND has certified arborists on staff.

	Licensed Tree Service Contractor
Governing Body	State of California Contractors State Licensing Board
Mandatory or Voluntary?	Mandatory where cost of service exceeds $500
Minimum Work Experience	4 years unsupervised, full-time experience
Written Exam Topics	Business organization Business finances Employment requirements Bonds, insurance, & liens Contract requirements & execution Licensing requirements Safety Public works
Other Requirements	Be at least 18 years old Have a valid driver’s license or ID Social Security Number or ITIN Not be on probation or parole
Meaning of Designation	Licensee is authorized to prunes trees, removes trees, limbs or stumps (including grinding) and engage in tree or limb guying as a service.
Where can you verify?	Check a License
Sources:	Digital Constructive

	ISA-Certified Arborist
Governing Body	International Society of Arboriculture
Mandatory or Voluntary?	Voluntary
Minimum Work Experience	3 years full-time experience (or equivalent combination of formal training and work experience)
Written Exam Topics	Soil management Identification and selection Installation and establishment Safe work practices Tree biology Pruning Diagnosis and treatment Urban forestry Tree protection Tree risk management
Other Requirements	Must review and accept the code of ethics
Meaning of Designation	Certification holder has demonstrated a broad knowledge base in the area in which they are certified.
Where can you verify?	Verify an ISA Credential
Sources:	ISA

	Licensed Tree Service Contractor	ISA-Certified Arborist
Governing Body	State of California Contractors State Licensing Board	International Society of Arboriculture
Mandatory or Voluntary?	Mandatory where cost of service exceeds $500	Voluntary
Minimum Work Experience	4 years unsupervised, full-time experience	3 years full-time experience (or equivalent combination of formal training and work experience)
Written Exam Topics	Business organization Business finances Employment requirements Bonds, insurance, & liens Contract requirements & execution Licensing requirements Safety Public works	Soil management Identification and selection Installation and establishment Safe work practices Tree biology Pruning Diagnosis and treatment Urban forestry Tree protection Tree risk management
Other Requirements	Be at least 18 years old Have a valid driver’s license or ID Social Security Number or ITIN Not be on probation or parole	Must review and accept the code of ethics
Meaning of Designation	Licensee is authorized to prunes trees, removes trees, limbs or stumps (including grinding) and engage in tree or limb guying as a service.	Certification holder has demonstrated a broad knowledge base in the area in which they are certified.
Where can you verify?	Check a License	Verify an ISA Credential
Sources:	Digital Constructive	ISA

A group photo of certified arborists from Arbor Vision Inc. wearing their company shirt

ISA-Certified Arborists Are the Best Choice for Tree Care.

There are many reasons to hire an ISA-certified arborist, but the most important one is that an ISA-certified arborist is a professional trained and certified in the proper care of trees. They can provide you with the best advice on how to care for your trees, help identify problems before they become severe, and recommend the best action to avoid them.