ASCA - Arbor Day

In this special Arbor Day episode of Talking Trees, we shine a light on the role of consulting arborists and the importance of the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) in shaping the arboricultural profession.

We discuss:

• The differences between arborists, certified arborists, and consulting arborists, focusing on training, experience, and responsibilities
• What it means to be a Registered Consulting Arborist® (RCA)—a designation earned through advanced education, peer review, and ethical standards
• ASCA’s mission to support education, communication, and excellence in tree consulting
• How consulting arborists provide objective, science-based assessments critical to tree preservation, urban planning, and risk management
• The significance of Arbor Day as a celebration of trees and the professionals who protect them

This episode honours the technical expertise and advisory role of consulting arborists—and the trees they help save every day.

Background information:

• American Society of Consulting Arborists
• What are the differences between an arborist, a certified arborist, a consulting arborist, and a Registered Consulting Arborist® (RCA)? | LandArbor Consulting, LLC

Transcript

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Introduction to ASCA and Tree Expertise

Roger 0:02

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 . The other , from Land Arbor Consulting LLC , carefully distinguishes between the roles of arborist , certified arborist , consulting arborist and registered consulting arborist , emphasizing that ASCA membership is essential for earning the prestigious RCA title . Join us as we uncover the standards and expertise shaping the future of arboriculture .

Jad 0:53

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 .

Lilly 0:58

ASCA .

Jad 0:59

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

Lilly 1:02

Right .

Jad 1:02

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 .

Lilly 1:11

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 .

Jad 1:22

Right , the whole ecosystem .

Lilly 1:23

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

Jad 1:28

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

Lilly 1:34

Bold statement .

Jad 1:35

Yeah , pretty bold

Comparing Arborist Certification Levels

Jad 1:36

. So let's break that down . What does that actually mean for , let's say , you're an arborist ?

Lilly 1:40

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 . This is where ASCA comes in , because their members , especially those RCAs , they're the specialists , they have that in-depth knowledge to handle those really complex situations .

Jad 2:06

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 .

Lilly 2:16

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 .

Jad 2:28

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

Lilly 2:33

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

Jad 2:39

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

Lilly 2:45

Oh nice .

Jad 2:46

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 .

Lilly 2:53

Absolutely .

Jad 2:54

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 . What are the key differences between , let's say , your average arborist , an ISA-certified arborist , and then ASCA's consulting arborists , especially those with the RCA credential ?

Lilly 3:14

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 . They're really focused on that next level , the consulting arborist , who can analyze those complex situations , write detailed reports and really understand the science behind everything .

Jad 3:39

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

Lilly 3:47

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 .

Jad 3:58

Wow , 420 CEUs .

Lilly 4:01

It's a lot .

Jad 4:01

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

Lilly 4:06

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 .

Jad 4:20

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

Day-to-Day Life of Different Arborists

Jad 4:23

high level expertise . But I'm curious , just to kind of rewind a little bit where did this organization even come from ?

Lilly 4:29

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 ASCII kind of emerged from that need .

Jad 4:49

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 . So getting back to those different levels of arborists , I know you said ISA is like the foundation and then add a build on that , but I'm curious how do they actually differ in terms of you know the requirements , what each certification focuses on ? Because I'm guessing , if you're listening to this and you're already ISA certified , you might be thinking well , is ASCA right for me ?

Lilly 5:17

Yeah , that's the big question , right .

Jad 5:18

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 ?

Lilly 5:31

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 .

Jad 5:38

The hands-on stuff .

Lilly 5:39

Exactly .

Jad 5:40

Keeping our urban forest alive .

Lilly 5:42

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

Jad 5:47

Oh OK .

Lilly 5:48

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

Jad 5:54

Oh , wow .

Lilly 5:54

Or even consulting with city planners on urban forestry policies .

Jad 5:58

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

Lilly 6:01

Right .

Jad 6:01

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

Lilly 6:04

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 .

Jad 6:33

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 .

Lilly 6:46

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

Jad 6:50

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

Lilly 6:54

Right .

Jad 6:54

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 .

Lilly 7:07

So not just brawn , but brains too .

Jad 7:10

Right , you got to have those analytical skills .

Lilly 7:12

And communication skills .

Jad 7:13

Oh right , Because you're consulting .

Lilly 7:14

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

Jad 7:21

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

Lilly 7:24

Oh no .

Jad 7:24

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

Lilly 7:27

Exactly , it's all connected .

Jad 7:28

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

Lilly 7:43

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

The Consulting Academy and RCA Path

Lilly 7:45

to like the actual techniques of writing those reports , ethics , even legal considerations . They bring in these seasoned RCAs , lawyers , all kinds of experts to really give those aspiring consultants all the tools they need to succeed .

Jad 7:51

Wow , they don't mess around .

Lilly 7:52

No , they're serious about it .

Jad 7:53

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

Lilly 7:56

That's the goal .

Jad 7:57

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 ?

Lilly 8:08

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

Jad 8:15

Some soul searching .

Lilly 8:16

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 ?

Jad 8:27

Right , the person everyone calls when things get complicated .

Lilly 8:30

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

Jad 8:35

It's a commitment .

Lilly 8:35

It is .

Jad 8:36

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

Lilly 8:38

Oh for sure , Professionally and personally .

Jad 8:40

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 .

Lilly 8:47

Yeah , some real world experience .

Jad 8:49

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 .

Lilly 8:59

Oh , I bet .

Real RCA Experiences and Career Impact

Jad 9:00

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

Lilly 9:04

Okay .

Jad 9:05

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 . They were going to bulldoze it for a new development . And aside from those big , high-profile projects , a lot of the RCAs I talked to said that even their day-to-day interactions with clients have changed .

Lilly 9:35

In what way ?

Jad 9:36

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

Lilly 9:41

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

Jad 9:44

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

Lilly 9:48

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

Jad 9:51

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 . They were also honest about the challenges , like keeping up with all those CEUs . That can be tough .

Lilly 10:07

Oh yeah , 420 is no joke .

Jad 10:09

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 .

Lilly 10:20

Which is probably what keeps it interesting , right yeah ?

Jad 10:22

I mean , our understanding of trees is always evolving .

Lilly 10:25

You got to keep learning .

Jad 10:26

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 .

Lilly 10:32

Oh listen .

Jad 10:32

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 .

Lilly 10:41

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

Jad 10:43

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

Lilly 10:48

See you next time .

Final Thoughts on Arboriculture Expertise

Roger 10:53

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 . We hope these insights deepen your appreciation for the expertise behind every tree's care . Until next time , keep nurturing the green around you . You .