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Skip Navigation LinksISA Home Page > Certification Home Page > Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
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Continuing Education Units


The Certification Board met in March and approved some new changes in the CEU policy that will be effective as of July 1, 2005. Changes were requested by chapter liaisons in three main areas of:

  1. College courses
  2. Climbers and judges at tree climbing championship events
  3. CEUs traded out for non-educational programs
Look for more information on these policy changes in the June issue of Arborist News.

College Courses

  • College courses are now worth 10 CEU's per credit hour. In the past, college courses were worth 10 CEUs per course and 15 CEUs with a lab. For example, a 3-hour college course is now worth 30 CEUs that was previously worth 10 CEUs. As always, college course work must be an academically accredited 2-year or 4-year institution.

Climbers at Tree Climbing Championship events

  • Climbers and judges can be awarded up to 3 CEUs at ITCC and Chapter TCC events; this is a change from 6 CEUs.

CEUs for Non-educational Purposes

  • CEUs are not to be treated as a commodity to compensate volunteers. There must be a formal education component to receive CEUs, and they cannot be traded for service projects, board meetings, or participation in other non-education focused programs.

While not a new CEU opportunity, the ISA Certification Board wishes to remind that articles written and published are worth 3 CEUs, and a first aid or CPR class or renewal is worth 4 CEUs. A copy of your card (front and back) are needed to give CEUs. Also, CPR & First Aid can only be used once per certification period.

Any questions regarding these new policy changes should be directed to the certification department. To view all ISA CEU Policies, click here:

Check Your CEUs Online

If you are an ISA Certified Arborist and have your user name and password you can check your CEUs online. Click here to sign in and access your CEU report. You may also click here to sign in and access your CEU History report. If you do not have a username and password yet, contact us at ceu@isa-arbor.com

Please click here to download Continuing Educaiton Unit (CEU) Post Approval Forms.

How many ways are there to obtain Continuing Education Units (CEUs)?

Note: (CEUs for quizzes from Arborist News and other ISA publications can be earned only once per issue or edition during the life of your certification.)

Computer Based Training:

Introduction to Arboriculture CD’s

  • Tree Biology (4 CEUs)
  • Tree Worker Safety (6 CEUs)
  • Tree Pruning (4 CEUs) Avail. Span.
  • Tree Identification & Selection (5 CEUs) Avail. Span.
  • Diagnosis & Disorders (6 CEUs) Avail. Span.
  • Planting & Early Care (4 CEUs)
  • Tree Maintenance (6 CEUs)
  • Plant Health Care (6 CEUs)

CEU Compendia Set, 7 books (58.5 CEUs)

Individual CEU Compendia Books (CEUs vary by book)

  • Tree Biology
  • Tree Selection & Planting
  • Tree Maintenance
  • Trees and their Environment
  • Safe Work Practices
  • Tree Diagnosis & Treatment
  • Plant Health Care
  • Tree Science (not included in set)

Publications:

  • Arboriculture & the Law Workbook (3 CEUs)
  • Arborist Equipment Workbook (10 CEUs)
  • Art and Science of Practical Rigging DVD Set (8 CEUs)
  • Asian Long-horned Beetle CD-ROM Workbook (2.5 CEUs)
  • Landscape Below Ground I (4 CEUs)
  • Photographic Guide to the Evaluation of Hazard Trees in Urban Areas (2 CEUs)
  • Plant Health Care for Woody Ornamentals (3 CEUs)
  • Principles & Practice of Planting Trees & Shrubs (4 CEUs)
  • Trees and Development (4 CEUs)
  • ISA Arborist News Quiz (1 CEU each)
  • Written and published articles (3 CEUs)

ISA Videos/DVDs:

  • ArborMaster Training Chainsaw DVD Series (8 CEUs)
  • ArborMaster Training Climbing DVD Series (6 CEUs)
  • Basic Training for Ground Operations DVD Set (5 CEUs)
  • Basic Training for Tree Climbers DVD Set (6 CEUs)
  • Art and Science of Practical Rigging DVD Set (8 CEUs)
  • Training Young Trees Video (1.5 CEUs)
  • Arborists’ Knots for Climbing & Rigging DVD & Workbook (3 CEUs)

First Aid or CPR class (4.00 CEUs each, given once per certification period)

Note: (CEUs for quizzes from Arborist News and other ISA publications can be earned only once per issue or edition during the life of your certification.)

Seminars

Most seminars are pre-approved through your local chapter. If you would like to know if an upcoming seminar has been pre-approved for credit, you can contact your local chapter. If you are a member of your local chapter you should get a newsletter that informs you of upcoming seminars. You should also check the Arborist News Industry Calendar and the ISA web site.


In-House Training

A lot of companies offer in-house training. Anything educational pertaining to tree care gets CEUs! This includes safety meetings, training, CPR/1st aid, chainsaw safety, etc.


College Courses

College courses are now worth 10 CEU's per credit hour. In the past, college courses were worth 10 CEUs per course and 15 CEUs with a lab. For example, a 3-hour college course is now worth 30 CEUs that was previously worth 10 CEUs. As always, college course work must be an academically accredited 2-year or 4-year institution.

If there is anything not mentioned above that you feel should be worth CEUs please send a letter with the agenda or course outline along with a post-approval form to the ISA office. We will be happy to look it over for you. If it is granted CEUs then it will show on your next CEU update. If it does not meet the criteria (stated below), we will send the information back to you with a letter of explanation. CEU updates are sent twice a year.

The criteria for approving CEUs is as follows. Anything educational pertaining to tree care in the following ten domains:

  • Soil Management
  • Pruning
  • ID/Selection
  • Diagnosis & Treatment
  • Installation & Establishment
  • Urban Forestry
  • Safe Work Practices
  • Tree Protection
  • Tree Biology
  • Tree Risk Management
  • If you have any questions concerning CEUs, you may email us at ceu@isa-arbor.com or you may call (217) 355-9411.

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