ASCA - Arbor Day

Talking Trees with Lillian Jadd . Welcome to Talking Trees . In today's episode , we explore insights from two key sources on professional tree care . One source highlights the American Society of Consulting Arborists , asca , as an authoritative body uniting experts dedicated to tree health and safety .

Hey everyone , welcome back . Today we're going to do a deep dive into a topic that I think a lot of you are going to find pretty interesting . We're talking about the American Society of Consulting Arborists .

ASCA .

ASCA . Now you might be thinking , okay , another certification .

Right .

But ASCA is a little bit different and we're going to dig into what makes them unique , especially what sets their registered consulting arborists apart , the RCAs .

Yeah , I mean , what I find so fascinating about them is that they're not just focused on , you know , the practical skills of tree care , like how to prune a tree or how to climb . They're really diving deep into the science .

Right , the whole ecosystem .

Exactly the risks , the long-term health of trees . It's a much broader perspective .

And they actually call themselves . I was looking at their website the authoritative experts on trees .

Bold statement .

Yeah , pretty bold

listening to this , Well , think of it this way You're an ISA certified arborist , which is great , You've got the skills , you've got the knowledge . But then you get a call about , let's say , this historic oak tree oh yeah , the tricky ones , right . And maybe it's got some kind of rare disease or it's threatening a property line .

So that's where that consulting part really comes into play . They're not necessarily always doing the hands-on work , but they're providing that expertise , maybe even like testifying court cases .

Oh , absolutely . Asca is all about ensuring tree safety , health and preservation , but at a much higher level . I mean , their members are sought after by everyone homeowners , developers , lawyers , even other arborists .

It's like having that extra credential that RCA after your name gives you a real leg up .

Oh yeah , absolutely . It shows that you've gone above and beyond . You're not just competent , you're a recognized expert .

So I was on their website and I saw that they've got their annual conference coming up on December 7th , 10th , 2025 .

Oh nice .

Maybe a good opportunity if you're listening to this to go and yeah , network . Network and just see what it's all about , see if maybe becoming an RCA is something that you would want to do .

Absolutely .

All right . So we've got all these different types of arborists out there . Not all certifications are created equal , and we've got this great article from Land Arbor Consulting that kind of lays it all out . So let's break it down a little bit .

Okay , so think about it like this Anyone can call themselves an arborist , right , but to be a certified arborist you have to prove your knowledge and skills through the ISA , and that means you've got years of experience , you pass a pretty tough exam and you keep up with continuing education . Ascia , though , takes it further .

So ICE is like your foundation and then ASCA is building on that foundation , specializing .

Exactly . And to become an RCA . That's the pinnacle of that specialization . I mean , you're talking about graduating from their consulting academy , hundreds of continuing education units and even having your actual consulting reports reviewed by experienced RCAs . It's a really rigorous process .

Wow , 420 CEUs .

It's a lot .

That's a whole extra degree's worth . I mean , what keeps these RCAs motivated to do all of that ?

Well , honestly , I think for a lot of them it's about really pushing their own boundaries , becoming the best in their field , and there are definitely rewards that come with that Higher fees , you get to work on more challenging projects , you've got the respect of your peers but it's not for everyone .

Right right , all right . So we've established that ASCA is all about that

You know we don't have specific historical details in our source material for this episode , but we can look at the trends in the industry . As our cities are growing , trees are becoming more and more integrated into urban planning and the demand for these specialists who can understand the complexities it's just naturally increasing .

So they saw a gap , a need for arborists who were more than just tree trimmers , and they created the pathway for people to become those experts , exactly Okay .

Yeah , that's the big question , right .

Okay . So can you help our listeners kind of picture this . So can you help our listeners kind of picture this what's a day in the life like for your typical ISA certified arborist versus an ASGA registered consulting arborist ? What kind of projects are they working on ?

Sure . So your typical ISO certified arborist . You're probably going to find them out in the field a lot you know climbing , pruning , maybe managing tree crews .

The hands-on stuff .

Exactly .

Keeping our urban forest alive .

Exactly Now in RCA , their day might look a little different . They might be assessing a construction site .

Oh OK .

To see how they can minimize the impact on the trees , or maybe writing a report about a hazardous tree for a legal case .

Oh , wow .

Or even consulting with city planners on urban forestry policies .

So they're kind of dealing with like the trickier stuff .

Right .

Where you need that deep knowledge to make the right decisions .

Yeah , exactly , and you see that difference reflected in the requirements too . So we know from that Land Arbor consulting article to become an ISA certified arbor ASCA member , you need five years of experience or a relevant degree or a ton of continuing education .

And then , if you want to become an RCA , you have to graduate from their consulting academy . Rack up those 420 CEUs and then have your reports scrutinized by , like the pros . It's pretty intense .

What kind of person does it take to thrive in that kind of environment ?

You know the RCAs that I've met . They're not just tree lovers .

Right .

They are , but they're also problem solvers . They're detail oriented , they love to do research and they're not afraid of a challenge . They're the kind of people that get excited when they come across a complex tree issue , like it's a puzzle to solve .

So not just brawn , but brains too .

Right , you got to have those analytical skills .

And communication skills .

Oh right , Because you're consulting .

Yeah , you got to be able to explain those complex issues to clients , lawyers , city officials , sometimes even to juries .

So that report writing review , that's not just about proper grammar .

Oh no .

It's about making sure you can really get your point across .

Exactly , it's all connected .

OK , so you mentioned the Consulting Academy . What actually happens there ? What kind of training do they do ?

It's a pretty intensive program . It covers everything from advanced tree risk assessment

Wow , they don't mess around .

No , they're serious about it .

It sounds like they're really trying to set these people up to be leaders .

That's the goal .

Okay , so we've talked about the different paths , the challenges , the rewards , but I'm curious how would someone who's already ISA certified know if ASCA is the right path for them ? How do they even start to figure that out ?

Well , there's no easy answer . It really comes down to your personal goals , what you want out of your career , even your personality .

Some soul searching .

A little bit . Yeah , ask yourself do I enjoy diving deep into the science of trees ? Am I the kind of person who gets fascinated by complex problems ? Do I want to be that go-to expert ?

Right , the person everyone calls when things get complicated .

Exactly and are you willing to put in the work Because we've established it's not a quick process .

It's a commitment .

It is .

But for the right person it sounds like it could be really rewarding .

Oh for sure , Professionally and personally .

All right . Well , we've laid out the path , the challenges , the rewards , but I think our listeners would love to hear from some people who've actually gone through it .

Yeah , some real world experience .

Yeah . So we reached out to a few around the country and I asked them how has becoming an RCA changed your work , like your day to day ? And some of their responses were pretty amazing .

Oh , I bet .

One RCA . She told me that before she got her RCA she was working mostly with residential clients .

Okay .

But now she's consulting on these huge development projects , making sure that the trees are being considered right from the start . That's a big change . Yeah , it's a totally different ball game . And another RCA he told me that he actually testified in court as an expert witness and his report on a hazardous tree it actually saved a park from being torn down .

In what way ?

Well , they get more respect . People really listen to what they have to say and , frankly , they can charge more .

Makes sense . They've got that RCA after their name .

Exactly so I also asked them is it just about the career boost , or is there something more ?

Yeah , exactly so . I also asked them is it just about the career boost or is there something more ? Yeah , like , is there a ?

sense of personal satisfaction . Exactly , and that's what really came through in all these conversations . They're proud to be RCA's . One guy actually compared it to getting his master's degree , like it was this huge achievement for him . Yeah , it's a lot of hard work to earn that designation Right Now .

Oh yeah , 420 is no joke .

It's a lot to juggle , especially when you're already busy with work . But they all said that as an RCA , you never really stop learning . You're always reading the latest research , going to conferences , staying on top of your game .

Which is probably what keeps it interesting , right yeah ?

I mean , our understanding of trees is always evolving .

You got to keep learning .

Exactly . You don't want to be stuck in the past . So , to wrap it all up , here's what I learned from talking to all those amazing RCAs .

Oh listen .

Being an RCA , it's not just about letters after your name , Right . It's about challenging yourself , expanding your knowledge and then using that expertise to make a difference .

Whether it's on one tree or a whole forest .

Exactly . Well , that's our deep dive on ASCA and the Registered Consulting Arborist . Thanks for joining us .

See you next time .

Thank you for joining us on today's exploration of professional arboriculture . By delving into the roles defined by the American Society of Consulting Arborists and the detailed distinctions from land arbor consulting , we've uncovered what it truly takes to ensure the health and safety of our urban forests .