2026 ISA Certified Arborist Training

Monday, March 30, 2026, 12:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 1:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Thursday, April 2, 2026, 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM

2026 International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist Training

This training program is designed to assist green industry professionals in obtaining the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist designation. All Sessions are in person and include a snow-date. Attendees of this program will gain an increased knowledge of practices pertaining to the care of trees including tree biology and identification, proper pruning, and safety, soils, tree health and diagnosis. ISA Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and DEC Pesticide recertification credits have been applied for but have not yet been granted for sessions. This training may be eligible for Landscape Architect CEUs. A Certificate of Attendance will be issued. Contact the NYS Dept. of Ed for further information.
This training session is to prepare you to take the ISA exam, and is not the exam itself.
- Becoming ISA Certified is a two-step process.
  - Apply to ISA to determine eligibility
  - After approval, enroll to take a computer-based exam2.
    Trainees must apply separately to ISA to be eligible to take the
    exam.
    - The application guide can be found here: https://www.isa-arbor.com/Portals/0/Assets/PDF/Certification-Applications/cert-Application-Certified-Arborist.pdf
  - Fees for the exam must be paid to ISA
  - CCEDC/CCEPC/CCEWC cannot process exam applications nor accept exam fees.
  - Once your application is approved by ISA you will be able to enroll for the exam. Computer-based exams may be taken at Pearson VUE testing facilities. You must first submit your application to ISA and receive approval prior to scheduling to take an exam.
  - For testing centers visit:

Session Information

Session 1: March 30^th

12:30PM – 1:15PM Welcome, Housekeeping, Application Process
- Instructor: Isabella Yannuzzi, CCE Dutchess
1:15PM – 2:30PM Soil/Water Relations
- Instructor: Barbara Neal, retired Consulting Arborist and Cornell Cooperative Extension agent for CCE Tioga
- Topics to be covered include:
  - Soil characteristics and soils effect on nutrient availability and plant health (growth, insect/disease resistance)
  - Physical, biological, and chemical properties
  - Soil moisture and plant growth and potential stresses that cause insect and disease damage
2:30PM – 2:45PM Break
2:45PM – 3:45PM Installation/Establishment
- Instructor: Barbara Neal, retired Consulting Arborist and Cornell Cooperative Extension agent for CCE Tioga
- Topics to be covered include:
  - Proper planting techniques to avoid stress and promote healthy growth to avoid poor growth structure and/or invasion by insects and diseases
  - Plant selection for insect and disease resistance
  - Transplanting
  - Planting specifications
3:45PM – 4:45PM Nutrition/Fertilization
- Instructor: Barbara Neal, retired Consulting Arborist and Cornell Cooperative Extension agent for CCE Tioga
- Topics to be covered include:
  - Proper fertilization techniques to promote healthy plant growth
  - Discussion on how over-fertilization can promote insect buildup

Session 2: March 31^st

1:00PM – 4:00PM Safety/Climbing, Cable/Bracing, Worker Safety, Tree Support and Lightening Protection
- Instructor: Mark Chisholm, Aspen Tree Experts
- There will be a 15 minute break during this time
- Topics to be covered include:
  - Basic safety procedures
  - PPE
  - Laws and regulations
  - Electrical hazards
  - How to climb a tree
  - Mitigating damage to trees
  - Corrective cabling and bracing practices to mitigate insect/disease/environmental damage
  - Tree support systems
  - Lightning protection systems
  - Inspection of Gear
  - Ropes
  - Knots
  - Tree inspection for insects, diseases, structural hazards
  - Rigging

Session 3: April 1^st

1:00PM – 2:00PM Tree Pruning
- Instructor: Steve Chisholm, Aspen Tree Experts
- Topics to be covered include:
  - Basics of pruning
  - Pruning dead or diseased branches
  - Pruning insect infested branches
  - Proper pruning techniques to avoid insect or disease invasion
2:00PM – 3:00PM Tree Risk Assessment
- Instructor: Steve Chisholm, Aspen Tree Experts
- Topics to be covered include:
  - Process of tree risk assessment - physiological vs. physical (insect or disease-causing structural weakness)
  - Decay in trees, their cause and treatment
  - Recommendations to mitigate potential hazards
3:00PM – 3:15PM Break
3:15PM – 4:15PM Preservation Procedures to Protect Trees During Construction so as to ensure continued health of the tree to lessen the impact of opportunistic insects and/or diseases
- Instructor: Steve Chisholm, Aspen Tree Experts
  - Topics to be covered include:
  - How trees are damaged during construction
  - Planning and preservation
  - Treatment of trees damaged by construction

Session 4: April 2^nd

12:30PM – 1:30PM Urban Forestry: Seeing the Forest for the Trees
- Instructor: Amy E. Mackenzie, Urban Forester with NYSDEC
- Topics to be covered include:
  - The principles and practices of growing and maintaining trees in an urban environment
  - Benefits of trees
  - Planning for tree infrastructure
  - Tree inventories and urban forest management plans
  - Municipal tree policy
1:30PM – 3:15PM - Diagnosis/Treatment and Plant Health Care
- Instructor: Don Gabel, former NYBG Director Plant Health
- Topics to be covered include:
  - Distinguish between plant problems caused by living and nonliving disorders
  - The systematic approach to the plant diagnostic process - 1PM
  - How stress can weaken a tree, predisposing it to invasion by pathogens and insects
  - Signs and symptoms of tree disorders
  - Types of insect and diseases of trees and their impact on tree health
  - Choosing insect and disease resistant varieties
  - Principles of Integrated Pest Management
  - Treatment options
3:15PM – 3:30PM Break
3:30PM – 4:30PM Tree Biology and Tree ID
- Instructor: Isabella Yannuzzi, CCE Dutchess
- Topics to be covered include:
  - How trees grow
  - Growth habits of trees
  - Transport of nutrients and water
  - How insects and diseases can move within a tree
  - Use of a key for ID

Fee

Individual Sessions $130 each, All Sessions with English/Spanish Study Guide $595, All Sessions without Study Guide $425. Register before March 13th for all four sessions and a study guide to receive 10% off your total!

Register

https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E341942&id=8

Contact

Isabella Yannuzzi
Agriculture/Horticulture Program Leader
imy3@cornell.edu
845-677-8223 Ext. 118

Location

2715 Route 44
Millbrook, NY 12545

Last updated February 27, 2026

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Dutchess County