Liriope’s Muse: Tree Care Tips from a Master Arborist

When choosing someone to evaluate or care for an important tree, you may see several credentials listed after an arborist’s name. One of the least common – and most advanced – is ISA BCMA, which stands for International Society of Arboriculture Board Certified Master Arborist®.

The ISA Board Certified Master Arborist credential is the highest level of certification offered by the International Society of Arboriculture. According to ISA, fewer than two percent of all ISA Certified Arborists currently hold the BCMA credential.

What Is the International Society of Arboriculture?

The International Society of Arboriculture, commonly called ISA, is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated to advancing the practice of arboriculture and educating the public about trees and their proper care. ISA develops professional credentials intended to help the public identify arborists who have demonstrated defined levels of knowledge and experience.

An ISA credential is not simply a membership or a title selected by a tree service. Arborists must meet eligibility requirements, pass an examination, maintain their credentials and comply with applicable ethical standards.

What Is an ISA Certified Arborist?

Before someone can pursue the Board Certified Master Arborist credential, that person must first be an ISA Certified Arborist in good standing.

An ISA Certified Arborist has demonstrated knowledge across the major areas of arboriculture, including tree biology, identification, pruning, diagnosis, soil management, planting, tree risk and safe work practices. This credential establishes an important professional foundation and is widely used to help property owners identify knowledgeable tree-care professionals.

The BCMA credential builds upon that foundation. It is not an alternative to becoming a Certified Arborist, it is a significantly more advanced level of certification.

What Does It Take to Become a BCMA?

Candidates must already hold the ISA Certified Arborist credential and demonstrate an appropriate combination of measurable experience, formal education, related credentials and professional experience before becoming eligible for the BCMA examination. They must then pass an extensive, scenario-based examination designed to evaluate how advanced knowledge is applied to real-world situations.

The current BCMA examination covers three broad areas:

Science

This portion addresses subjects such as tree biology, soils, tree identification and selection, environmental stress, insects and diseases.

Practice

The practice portion includes pruning, plant health care, planting, soil treatments, irrigation, tree risk, plant appraisal, support systems, climbing, rigging and tree removal.

Management

This area includes safety, business relations, tree inventories, management planning, tree preservation and the management of trees during construction.

The scenario-based nature of the examination is important. Tree care rarely involves memorizing one universal answer. An arborist must frequently consider tree biology, site conditions, structural concerns, property use, environmental stress, client objectives and potential consequences before developing a responsible recommendation.

BCMA Credentials Must Be Maintained

Earning the certification is not the end of the process. ISA credentials are maintained through continuing professional development and recertification requirements. ISA currently uses three-year recertification cycles so credential holders continue learning about developing research, techniques and professional practices.

Board Certified Master Arborists must also comply with a specific professional Code of Ethics. Among other responsibilities, the code addresses truthful representation, competent service, unbiased professional judgment, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, public safety and recognizing the limits of one’s own qualifications.

When Might You Need a Board Certified Master Arborist?

Not every tree-care decision requires a BCMA. Many routine services can be evaluated and performed appropriately under the direction of a qualified ISA Certified Arborist.

A Board Certified Master Arborist may be particularly valuable when a situation is unusually complicated, including:

• Diagnosing declining or repeatedly treated trees
• Evaluating mature, historic or high-value trees
• Developing tree-preservation plans
• Assessing construction-related damage
• Reviewing significant structural concerns
• Preparing professional reports or tree appraisals
• Evaluating disputes involving tree damage or removal
• Developing long-term management plans for residential, commercial or municipal properties

The credential does not mean that every BCMA will reach the same conclusion. Arboriculture still requires professional judgment, and recommendations may vary based on the available evidence, inspection methods and objectives of the property owner. The credential does, however, demonstrate that the arborist has achieved ISA’s highest certification level.

Why “BCMA” Is Part of Our Company Name

Eric Putnam earned the ISA Board Certified Master Arborist credential in 2015, becoming the 18th person in Texas to achieve it. The credential was incorporated into the name Eric Putnam BCMA Inc. because it reflects the standards upon which our company was founded: informed diagnosis, preservation-first recommendations, continuing education and tree care based on established arboricultural practices.

Our goal is not simply to recommend work that can be performed. It is to understand what is happening with the tree, explain the available options and recommend work that supports the safest and most appropriate long-term outcome.

When selecting an arborist, credentials should be considered alongside experience, inspection methods, communication, professional ethics and the quality of the recommendations provided. For complex or high-value tree concerns, working with an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist can provide an additional level of knowledge and professional perspective.