A lot of people don’t know what an ISA Certified Arborist actually is — and that’s fair. It’s not something most homeowners think about until they need tree work done. So here’s the short version: the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is the governing body for professional tree care worldwide. To earn the credential, you have to pass a comprehensive exam covering tree biology, soil science, pruning standards, disease identification, risk assessment, and more. It’s not a weekend certificate. It’s the industry standard.
And it doesn’t stop at the exam. ISA Certified Arborists are required to complete continuing education credits every three years to maintain the credential. The science of tree care evolves — new pests show up, best practices change, research gets published — and certified arborists stay current on all of it. My credential number is MI-4776A. You can verify it directly on the ISA website.
I’ve been working in the field since 2011, years before I sat for the certification exam. That time matters. Book knowledge tells you what a proper pruning cut looks like. Years on the job teach you how a red oak responds differently than a silver maple, how a crack in a trunk tells a story about what’s happening inside, and when a tree that looks fine is actually a liability. When I show up for a tree service in Grand Rapids, I’m drawing on over a decade of hands-on experience combined with formal training.
Here’s why this should matter to you: anyone with a truck and a chainsaw can call themselves a tree service. There’s no law against it. But improper cuts invite disease and decay. Bad removal technique puts your property — and your family — at risk. Topping a tree (a practice no certified arborist would ever recommend) can turn a healthy canopy into a hazard within a few years. The difference between a random tree guy and an arborist-led company is the difference between guessing and knowing.
At B’s Trees, our work is guided by ISA standards. When we do proper pruning, we’re following ANSI A300 specifications — the same standards used by municipal arborists and university extension programs. When we diagnose a sick tree, we’re identifying the actual pathogen or pest and recommending targeted plant health care, not just spraying and hoping. When we assess whether a tree should stay or go, we’re using a formal risk assessment framework, not a gut feeling.
Grand Rapids has a tremendous urban canopy, and it takes knowledgeable people to maintain it. If you want to understand more about what sets certified arborists apart, I wrote a full breakdown on why ISA certification matters. And if you have a tree question — whether it’s a concern about a leaning trunk, a fungus on a branch, or just wanting a second opinion — I’m always happy to take a look. That’s what we’re here for.
