2024-11-20 Hiring

What Is a Certified Arborist (And Why You Should Hire One)

You'll see a lot of Athens tree services claim 'certified arborists' on their websites. But what does that actually mean — and why should you care?

What ISA Certification really requires

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is the global authority on tree care. To become an ISA Certified Arborist, a person must have at least 3 years of full-time tree care experience, pass a comprehensive written exam covering tree biology, identification, pruning, diagnosis, soil science, safety, and risk assessment, and complete 30 continuing education credits every 3 years to maintain certification.

What that means for your trees

A certified arborist knows the science behind tree care. They know proper pruning cuts heal; bad cuts rot. They know which species need what care. They can diagnose disease, evaluate risk, and recommend treatment options. They don't just cut trees — they care for them.

How to verify a certification

The ISA maintains a public database of certified arborists at treesaregood.org. Search by name to verify any Athens contractor's claim. If they don't show up, the certification is bogus.

When you really need an arborist (vs. a tree cutter)

For routine removals of obvious dead trees, any licensed insured tree service can do the work safely. But for: pruning mature high-value trees, diagnosing tree problems, assessing storm damage, making removal-vs-treatment decisions, or evaluating risk — you want a certified arborist specifically.

Worth the small price difference

Companies with certified arborists may charge slightly more, but the long-term value is enormous. Bad pruning can kill a tree that would have lived another 100 years. Missed early disease signs can mean removing trees that could have been saved. Athens Elite Tree Service has ISA Certified Arborists on every assessment.