International Society of Arboriculture

What International Society of Arboriculture does

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is a nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 1924 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that develops and maintains standards, credentials, and educational resources for the global arboriculture profession. ISA's core offerings center on a voluntary credentialing program that includes Certified Arborist, Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA), Municipal Specialist, Utility Specialist, and Tree Worker designations, as well as the ANSI Z133 safety standard and ANSI A300 tree care standards, which are cited as authoritative references in US legal proceedings.

The organization's technology and content stack includes a webstore and e-commerce platform for publications, an Online Learning Center powered by the Forj LMS from Forj Software delivering self-paced courses and CEU quizzes, and computer-based certification exams administered at Pearson VUE testing facilities. ISA publishes a portfolio of professional references—Arborist News, Arboriculture & Urban Forestry journal, ISA Today newsletter, Best Management Practices series, and credential-specific study guides—with a regular revision cadence (notably the 2023 ANSI A300 consolidation and the 2026 Z133 update).

ISA generates revenue from a diversified mix of membership dues, one-time credentialing and publication fees, multi-year online course subscriptions, and event/conference registrations, reaching individual practitioners and organizations through a 30+ chapter network spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. The TreesAreGood.org directory channels consumer demand to credentialed arborists, closing the loop between public awareness and certified professionals.

Name

International Society of Arboriculture

Legal name

International Society of Arboriculture

Website

https://isa-arbor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is a 1924-founded nonprofit professional membership organization that develops ANSI-recognized safety and tree care standards, issues arborist credentials, and delivers education and publications to arborists, urban forestry professionals, and tree care workers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Arborist Consulting, Tree Risk Assessments & Appraisals (HSAIADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Emergency Storm Damage Response & Hazard Mitigation (HSAIADAG)

Keywords

• Arborist certification
• Tree care standards
• Arboriculture education
• Professional credentialing
• Urban forestry

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees at both international and chapter levels. Members receive discounts on certifications, publications, and access to professional network.
2. Professional Certifications: Fees for ISA credentialing programs including Certified Arborist, Board Certified Master Arborist, Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, and specialized certifications for utility, municipal, and climbing work.
3. Publications and Books: Sale of study guides, BMP (Best Management Practices) manuals, safety standards (ANSI Z133, ANSI A300), and professional reference materials in print and digital formats.
4. Online Courses and CEUs: Online learning products including courses, CEU quizzes, practice exams, and bundled educational materials with subscription-based access.
5. Events and Conferences: Registration fees for annual conferences, climbing competitions, scientific symposia, and educational webinars.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is a nonprofit professional membership organization that delivers arborist credentialing programs (Certified Arborist, Board Certified Master Arborist, Municipal Specialist, Utility Specialist, Tree Worker), industry-leading publications and ANSI-accredited safety and tree care standards (ANSI Z133, ANSI A300), and continuing education through an online learning center, annual conference, climbing competitions, and a global network of regional chapters.

Product overview

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) offers a comprehensive portfolio centered on professional arborist credentials, education, and publications. The core offerings include the ISA Credentials Program providing voluntary certifications (Certified Arborist, Board Certified Master Arborist, Municipal Specialist, Utility Specialist, Tree Worker) that demonstrate professional competence in arboriculture. Supporting these credentials is an extensive Online Learning Center powered by Forj LMS offering self-paced courses, CEU opportunities, and exam preparation materials. ISA's publications portfolio includes the ANSI Z133 Safety Standard (2026 revision) and ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards, along with Best Management Practices series covering pruning, soil management, tree risk assessment, planting, pest management, and other specialized topics. Additional offerings include the Arborists' Certification Study Guide, Tree Climbers' Guide, Utility Arboriculture Study Guide, Municipal Specialist Study Guide, and Tree Risk Assessment Manual. The organization provides the Annual International Conference, regional climbing competitions, scientific symposia, and maintains a global chapter network. The ISA Store serves as the e-commerce platform for all publications and memberships, while the Find an Arborist tool connects certified professionals with the public.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ISA Credentials Program Voluntary professional credentialing program offering Certified Arborist, Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA), Municipal Specialist, Utility Specialist, and Tree Worker certifications that demonstrate competence in arboriculture for working professionals in tree care, municipal forestry, and utility vegetation management.
• ISA Membership Professional membership program providing access to resources, networking, chapter affiliations, member discounts on credentials, publications, and events, and participation in ISA volunteer opportunities for arborists and tree care professionals worldwide.
• Online Learning Center Web-based learning management system powered by Forj LMS delivering self-paced courses, CEU opportunities, practice exams, certification preparation, and bundled educational materials to arborists and tree care professionals via a three-year subscription model with unlimited completion attempts.
• ANSI Z133 Safety Standard

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Utility Arborist Association (UAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018UAA collaborated with ISA to digitize the Utility Arboriculture study guide. The partnership supports the development of specialized study materials for utility arborist certification and vegetation management professionals.
• Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018PG&E co-sponsored the digitization of the Utility Arboriculture study guide, supporting professional development for utility vegetation management professionals.
• Forj Software, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationForj Software provides the Learning Management System (Forj LMS) powering the ISA Online Learning Center, enabling delivery of courses, certifications, and continuing education.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA): TCIA is the leading trade association for commercial tree care companies in North America, offering credentials (Certified Treecare Safety Professional), safety standards, publications, and an annual conference. It is the closest direct peer to ISA, competing for tree-care practitioners and overlapping on safety standards and publications.
• American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA): ASCA credential arborists who serve as expert witnesses and consultants, offering the Registered Consulting Arborist (RCA) credential. ASCA competes with ISA's BCMA in the consulting/expert-witness segment and overlaps on continuing education and standards promotion.
• Society of American Foresters (SAF): SAF is the professional society for foresters, with membership, certifications (Certified Forester), publications, and an annual convention. While its focus is broader forestry, it overlaps with ISA on urban forestry credentials, publications, and continuing education for arborists adjacent to forestry.
• National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP): NALP is the trade association for the landscape industry, offering certifications, publications, an annual Landscape Expo, and government advocacy. It serves an adjacent green-industry practitioner base with similar membership, education, and event revenue models.
• American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA): ASLA is the professional association for landscape architects, offering the LARE credential, publications (Landscape Architecture Magazine), annual meeting, and continuing education. Its membership-credential-publication-event model closely mirrors ISA's, making it a strong structural analog.

Regional players

• International Society of Arboriculture - UK & Ireland Chapter: Regional ISA chapter organizations deliver localized credentialing, events, and member services in defined geographies. They are peers in operational model and curriculum but operate as semi-autonomous regional affiliates rather than independent competitors.

Broad incumbents

• Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA): GCSAA is a larger non-profit professional association offering membership, certification (Certified Golf Course Superintendent), publications (GCM Magazine), an annual conference, and an online education platform. It is a structural analog demonstrating the membership-credential-publication revenue mix at greater scale.
• Project Management Institute (PMI): PMI is a large professional association offering globally recognized certifications (PMP, CAPM), membership tiers, publications, and an annual summit. It demonstrates the scalable economics of a globally recognized credential at significant scale.
• American Nursery & Landscape Association (AmericanHort): AmericanHort is the national trade association for the green industry, offering conferences (Cultivate), publications, certifications, and government advocacy. It overlaps with ISA on green-industry practitioner education and policy influence.

Emerging players

• International Association for Continuing Education & Training (IACET): IACET is the ANSI-accredited standards body for continuing education units (CEUs), which is directly relevant because ISA's CEU offerings rely on CEU recognition frameworks. It is an enabling/standards peer rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ISArboriculture
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ISAAdmin
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalSocietyofArboriculture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-society-of-arboriculture

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Society of Arboriculture