ISA Certified Arborist
What it means, what it takes, and why it matters for your trees.
What Is an ISA Certified Arborist?
An ISA Certified Arborist is a tree care professional who has been credentialed by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) — the leading scientific and educational organization for the tree care industry. ISA has set the standard for professional arboriculture worldwide since 1924.
Not everyone who works on trees is an arborist, and not every arborist is ISA certified. The certification is voluntary — which means the professionals who earn it have gone out of their way to prove their knowledge and commit to a higher standard of care.
What It Takes
To earn ISA certification, a candidate must pass a comprehensive exam covering all aspects of arboriculture — tree biology, diagnosis and treatment of tree problems, pruning standards, safe work practices, soil science, and tree risk assessment. Candidates must also have a combination of education and hands-on experience in the field before they can even sit for the exam.
But passing the exam is just the beginning. ISA Certified Arborists must earn continuing education credits every three years to maintain their credential. This ensures that certified professionals stay current with the latest research, techniques, and safety standards in tree care.
Certified Arborists also agree to abide by the ISA Code of Ethics, which holds them to honest, professional conduct in every interaction with clients and the public.
Why It Matters
Hiring an ISA Certified Arborist means you're working with someone who understands the science behind tree care — not just how to operate a chainsaw. Certified arborists know how to properly prune without damaging the tree, how to identify diseases and pests early, how to assess whether a tree is a safety risk, and how to preserve trees that others might remove unnecessarily.
Improper tree work can cause lasting damage — topped trees that never recover, root systems compromised by bad cuts, and hazard trees left standing because the warning signs were missed. An ISA certification is your assurance that the person making those decisions has the training and accountability to get it right.
Certified Expertise
Decisions rooted in ISA training and ongoing education, not guesswork.
Proper Pruning
Cuts made to ISA standards that promote long-term tree health.
Risk Assessment
Trained to identify hazard trees and structural defects.
Ongoing Education
Required continuing education keeps skills current.
Our Credentials
Ben Krause holds ISA Certified Arborist credential SO-11119A and is a member of the ISA Southern Chapter. Every job we take on is planned and supervised with ISA standards in mind.
ISA Certified
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Work With a Certified Arborist
Get a free estimate from an ISA Certified Arborist. We serve Boone, West Jefferson, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, and the entire NC High Country.