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ISA Certified Arborist, Utility And Municipal Specialist Exam
February 13, 2026
7:30 AM - 1:00 PM
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Ramkota Hotel
800 N Poplar St
Casper, WY 82601
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Certifications:
Certification applicants shall review the handbook prior to taking the exam.
Download and Review the Certified Arborist Handbook
Download and Review the Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist Handbook
Who Is Eligible to Apply for the ISA Certified Arborist® Exam?
The ISA Credentialing Council requires a candidate to have a minimum of three years of full-time experience in arboriculture or a combination of education and practical arboricultural experience. One year of full-time experience is equal to approximately 1,795 hours of work.
Acceptable experience includes the practical use of knowledge regarding pruning, fertilization, installation and establishment, diagnosis and treatment of tree problems, cabling and bracing, climbing, or other services that directly relate to arboriculture. Examples of experience sources include, but are not limited to:
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Tree care companies
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Nurseries
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Landscape companies
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Municipalities
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State forestry agencies
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Utility companies
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Academic arboriculture/horticulture departments (for instructors)
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Horticulture/extension programs (for advisors)
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Consultancies
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Pest control providers (for advisors and applicators)
Documentation of work experience is required with submittal of application. Letter(s) of reference from your current or previous employer(s) is acceptable. Applicable volunteer work may count towards eligibility if it is supervised and documentation detailing the responsibilities and the hours worked can be supplied. You may meet the eligibility requirement utilizing a combination of education and practical arboricultural experience through one of the following options:
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Completed College/University Accredited Degree Programs
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Two-year associate degree with a minimum of two courses directly related to arboriculture plus two years of practical full-time experience in arboriculture.
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Four-year bachelor degree with a minimum of four courses directly related to arboriculture plus one year of practical full-time experience in arboriculture.
Application Submission:
Becoming a candidate for an ISA certification is a two-step process through your online MyISA Dashboard.
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First, apply online or submit a completed application.
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When you receive notice that your application is approved, you may then enroll through your website account to take an exam.
If you do not have an ISA website account you may create one at the MyISA Sign-In page.
A completed application must be submitted by going to MyISA Apply for an ISA Certification and then by selecting Create Application. Once your completed application has been reviewed, you will be notified by ISA of your application approval or denial by email. You may Review Application Status at any time to determine your status or Review Old Applications. If denied, you will not be able to enroll into an exam until you provide additional documentation demonstrating that you meet the eligibility criteria.
Only once your application has been approved, you are eligible to enroll for a computer-based or paper-based exam. Paper-based exams are offered through ISA chapter or associate organization sponsored exam events, the deadline for EXAM ENROLLMENT in these events is twelve (12) US business days prior to the exam event scheduled date. You may enroll into the exam by selecting either the enrollment link within the approval email or go to the Enroll to Take Exam web page. Enrollment will include the processing of applicable exam fees. Enrollment and payment must be received on or before the deadline date. ISA does not provide refunds for exam enrollments. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Due to the complexity of the application process, onsite registration is not available for ISA exams.
ISA has the right to contact any person or organization as part of the review of your application. By applying, you authorize the release of any information requested by ISA for the purpose of reviewing your application. ISA has the right to notify appropriate organizations if your application contains false information.
