Picking the right arborist can be tricky, especially in a city like Seattle with so many options to choose from! Fortunately, there is a way to prune some of those not-so-suitable candidates from top-notch choices.

Just how do you this? The answer lies in the credentials, and in the world of arboriculture, one certification stands tall and strong above all.

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is a nonprofit dedicated to the education and advancement of arboriculture around the globe, and is charged with the goal of fostering the importance of trees worldwide. The ISA offers a certification for arborists who meet their standards and abide by their code of ethics. But obtaining this certification certainly isn’t easy.

First, interested applicants must have at least 3 years of full-time experience in the tree care industry. They then must study and pass a test to prove both their skills and knowledge of all things tree-related, with topics ranging from pruning, tree biology, and even soil science! If these requirements are met, applicants are then officially ISA Certified Arborists.® But the process does not end there! The certification is only valid for about 3 years, so all certified arborists must maintain their education through classes to ensure they are up to date on the latest findings, methods, and science behind proper tree care.

As you can see, the ISA Certification process is no walk in the park. But when it comes to providing the best possible tree care, there really is no equal.

We here at Seattle Tree Care are proud to boast not 1 but 3 of such certified arborists as part of our staff, and we are looking forward to gaining more in the days to come. With such an intensive certification process, would you really want anything less for your tree care needs? We sure hope knot! 😉