Arborist Certification

The Arborist Certification program is a voluntary effort among professionals in the tree care industry to establish a meaningful standard of quality in arboricultural work, to promote and encourage continuing education, and to provide the public with a mechanism for identifying qualified arborists.

To be eligible for a Certified Arborist exam, individuals must have three years practical experience (or two years plus a college degree) in arboriculture, and must submit a signed application and pay the certification fee at least two weeks in advance of a scheduled exam.

Numerous exams are held each year throughout the Pacific Northwest. Usually, three exams per year are held in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia, and one exam is held in Alaska. Upcoming exam dates are listed on the Calendar Page.

The Certified Arborist Exam costs US $125 for members of both the ISA and the PNW-ISA and US $225 for nonmembers or those who hold membership in only one of the organizations.

Study guides and reference books are available through the PNW-ISA office; click here for a list of publications.