Free study calendar
Pass the ISA exam in 60 days.
A day-by-day calendar that walks you through every lesson, practice question, and mock exam. If you only have 30 days, there's a fast track too.
~1 hour/day on the standard plan · ~2.5 hours/day on the fast track
What you'll need
Three things set you up for the plan.
Tree Nerd Academy account
6+ hours of video, 4,500+ practice questions, mock exams, AI tutor, and the daily progress tracker.
60–90 minutes per day
Set a fixed time block. The plan only works if you show up consistently. Skipping days = re-baseline at the next mock exam.
The official ISA textbook
The Arborists' Certification Study Guide (ISA, latest edition) is the source of truth. We recommend reading the chapter that matches each day's lesson — pair it with our videos and you'll lock the material in faster.
The official ISA textbook is sold separately on isa-arbor.com. We don't resell it — but our course content is built to complement it chapter by chapter.
60-Day Standard Plan
Pass on your first try, without burning out.
Total length
60 days
Daily commitment
~1 hour
Mock exams
4+
Best for: Most students. Comfortable pace with full domain coverage and plenty of mock-exam time before exam day.
Phase 1 · Foundation
Cover all 10 domains in weighted order — heaviest first.
Diagnostic + Onboarding
Goals
- •Take the free 100-question practice exam to baseline yourself
- •Set your real exam date in your dashboard profile
- •Skim the full glossary (5 min) — don't try to memorize
Daily routine
- →Free practice exam (105 min)
- →Set exam date
Safe Work Practices
Goals
- •10 lessons covering ANSI Z133, PPE, electrical hazards, and aerial rescue
- •Build the habit: lesson → flashcards → questions
Daily routine
- →2 lessons (~30 min)
- →30 domain-specific questions
- →15 min flashcards
Pruning
Goals
- •7 pruning lessons + 17-min video
- •Master the cut types, BBR, and standards
Daily routine
- →1–2 lessons (~30 min)
- →30 pruning questions
- →15 min flashcards
Tree Biology
Goals
- •8 lessons + 28-min video
- •Lock in xylem/phloem, growth cycles, transpiration
Daily routine
- →1–2 lessons
- →30 tree-biology questions
- →15 min flashcards
Tree Risk
Goals
- •10 lessons covering risk assessment frameworks
- •Use Arb AI tutor for nuanced risk-rating questions
Daily routine
- →2 lessons
- →30 tree-risk questions
- →15 min flashcards
Mid-course Mock Exam
Goals
- •Take a full 200Q mock exam — no notes, full timer
- •Identify your 3 weakest domains for the next phase
Daily routine
- →Full 200Q mock exam (210 min)
- →Review your domain breakdown
Tree Identification & Selection
Goals
- •8 lessons + 25 min of videos
Daily routine
- →2 lessons
- →30 questions
- →15 min flashcards
Diagnosis & Treatment
Goals
- •9 lessons + 59 min of videos — heavy video week
Daily routine
- →2 lessons
- →30 questions
- →15 min flashcards
Installation & Establishment
Goals
- •6 lessons covering planting, staking, mulching
Daily routine
- →2 lessons
- →30 questions
- →15 min flashcards
Trees & Construction
Goals
- •5 lessons covering CRZ, TPZ, and protection
Daily routine
- →2 lessons
- →30 questions
- →15 min flashcards
Soil Management
Goals
- •10 lessons + 62 min of videos — densest content
Daily routine
- →3 lessons
- →30 questions
- →15 min flashcards
Urban Forestry
Goals
- •12 short lessons — move quickly
Daily routine
- →4 lessons
- →30 questions
- →15 min flashcards
Phase 2 · Drill
High-volume question practice. Target your weak domains.
Targeted Drilling
Goals
- •100 practice questions per day, mixed across all domains
- •Use the Arb AI tutor on every question you get wrong
- •Re-review flashcards for the 2–3 weakest domains daily
Daily routine
- →100 mixed practice questions
- →30 min flashcard review (weak domains)
- →Re-watch any video you struggled with
Phase 3 · Mock Exams
Simulate the real exam under timer.
Full-Length Simulations
Goals
- •Take a 200Q mock exam every other day
- •Treat each mock as the real exam — full timer, no notes
- •Spend the off days drilling the domains you missed
Daily routine
- →Mock exam day: 200Q in 210 min, then 30 min review
- →Off day: 50 questions on yesterday's weakest domain
Phase 4 · Final Review
Light review. Sleep. Show up.
Glossary + Cheat Sheet
Goals
- •Skim the full glossary one more time
- •Re-read your own notes — don't add new ones
- •Confirm exam logistics (location, ID, time)
Daily routine
- →Glossary skim (30 min)
- →Quick flashcard pass (15 min)
Exam Day
Goals
- •Light warm-up flashcards in the morning if you want
- •Eat well, hydrate, arrive early
- •Trust your prep — you've earned it
Daily routine
- →Optional 10-min flashcard warm-up
- →Take the exam
Ready to start the plan?
Get full access to the lessons, practice questions, mock exams, and AI tutor referenced in this calendar. Pass guarantee with full course completion.