How to Earn ISA CEUs for Recertification
Don't lose your hard-earned credential. A guide to earning 30 CEUs every 3 years without breaking the bank.
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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).
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.