How to Earn ISA CEUs for Recertification
"ISA certification requires 30 CEUs every 3 years. Learn the fastest ways to earn CEUs through courses, events, publications, and teaching."
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Note: For the master overview, see our Complete ISA Certified Arborist Exam Study Guide.
You passed the exam. Congratulations! Now the clock starts ticking.
To keep your ISA Certified Arborist credential, you must earn 30 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) every 3 years and pay a recertification fee.
What is a CEU?
1 CEU = roughly 1 hour of education.
- Total Needed: 30 CEUs.
- Timeframe: 3 Years.
- Average: 10 CEUs per year (less than 1 hour per month).
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Explore Tree Nerd Academy →Easy Ways to Earn CEUs
- Arborist News Quizzes: The ISA magazine comes with a quiz. Passing it earns you 1.0 CEU.
- Cost: Free for members.
- Webinars: TreeStuff, Davey, and Bartlett often host free webinars.
- Safety Meetings: If your company holds weekly safety meetings involving Z133 standards, you can submit sign-in sheets for credit.
- First Aid/CPR: Getting certified typically earns 4-8 CEUs.
- Conferences: Consistenly the fastest way. A 2-day conference can net you 12-15 CEUs (half your requirement) in one weekend.
The Recertification Fee
- ISA Members: ~$170 USD.
- Non-Members: ~$290 USD.
- Note: You must pay this fee at the end of the 3-year cycle, even if you have all your CEUs.
What Happens if I Fail?
- Grace Period: You usually get a 60-day grace period (with a late fee).
- Decertification: If you miss the grace period, you are decertified. You must retake the exam to get it back. Do not let this happen.
Summary
Set a recurring calendar reminder to check your CEU status every 6 months. It is easy to get 30 CEUs over 3 years, but impossible to get them all in the last 24 hours.
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About the Author
Chris Comer is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA) and founder of Joshua Tree Inc. (Florida License FL6714B). He created Tree Nerd Academy to help arborists pass the ISA exam with expert instruction, 2,500+ practice questions, and a full pass guarantee.