Certification and Education

The profession of urban forestry and municipal arboriculture is a rich and growing field. Furthering your education or acquiring a certification is a great way to grow your career and help you stand out. SMA supports and encourages members and individuals entering the field of urban forestry and municipal arboriculture to grow their knowledge base. The following programs for certification and additional education offer a few places to start.

ISA Certified Arborist®

The ISA Certified Arborist designation sets you apart as someone with the commitment, dedication, and knowledge to succeed. It is ISA's most popular credential. To earn an ISA Certified Arborist credential, you must be trained and knowledgeable in all aspects of arboriculture. ISA Certified Arborists must also adhere a Code of Ethics that strengthens the credibility and reliability of the workforce.

ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist® 

ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist credential holders are current ISA Certified Arborists® who have chosen municipal arboriculture or urban forestry as a career path. For this credential, you will be tested on the areas of public relations, administration, risk management, policy, and planning as they pertain to municipal arboriculture.

To be eligible for the exam, you must be an ISA Certified Arborist and have a minimum of three years of work experience managing the establishment and maintenance of urban trees.

Educational Programs

School Program
Oregon State University (U.S.) Urban Forestry Certificate
Southern University (U.S.) Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Ph.D. in Urban Forestry
University of British Columbia (Canada) Master of Urban Forestry Leadership (Online) and Urban Forestry Undergraduate
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (U.S.) Urban and Community Forestry Degree
Virginia Tech (U.S.) B.S. in Forestry with Urban and Community Forestry Emphasis and Urban Forestry Graduate Program

SMA will add to this list of educational offerings as we become aware of them. 

 
 

The Benefits of Membership

Together, we are working to grow and care for trees in towns large and small. The members of the Society of Municipal Arborists are dedicated urban forestry and municipal arborist professionals from around the world who work hard to ensure we have livable cities for all. Members receive opportunities to learn from and network with others who do the same work. This leads to greater understanding and greater impact in the thing we're all trying to accomplish - more trees for people and planet! We invite you to join us, and over 2,000 members from across the world, today. 

BECOME AN SMA MEMBER

SMA's Urban Forest Foundation (UFF)

The Urban Forest Foundation (UFF) provides funding for SMA programs such as the Municipal Forestry Institute and the Arborist Exchange Program as well as the development of new programs designed to improve education of municipal forestry professionals.

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