The short answer
- An ISA Certified Arborist is a person who has passed the International Society of Arboriculture's exam after at least three years in tree care, and who renews the certification every three years.
- It is a credential, not a licence. Florida does not license tree work, and a company is not required to have an arborist.
- You need one for a written tree risk assessment, which Florida law requires before a dangerous tree can be removed from a home lot without a permit.
- It is worth having one for a large tree near the house, a tree that looks sick, or building work near trees you want to keep.
- Check the certification number on the ISA's verify a credential page. It takes a minute.
What the credential means
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is the main professional body for tree care. To become an ISA Certified Arborist a person needs three or more years of full-time experience in arboriculture, or a degree in a related field plus experience, and has to pass an exam covering subjects such as tree biology, soil, pruning, diagnosis, tree risk and safe work practice. Certified arborists agree to a code of ethics and must earn continuing education credits to renew every three years.
Two things follow from that:
- The credential belongs to a person. "We have a certified arborist" may mean the owner, one employee, or a consultant who is rarely on site. Ask who will look at your tree.
- It is not a licence or a guarantee. It tells you the person has been tested on the subject. It says nothing about the company's insurance or how the crew works. Those are separate checks: see how to choose a tree service.
When you need an arborist, and when you do not
| Situation | Arborist? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Removing a dangerous tree without a permit under section 163.045 | Required | The law requires signed documentation from an ISA Certified Arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect |
| A large tree within reach of the house | Recommended | Decay and root problems are often invisible from the ground to an untrained eye |
| A tree that is dropping limbs, thinning or changing colour | Recommended | Diagnosis comes before treatment; removal may not be needed |
| Building, paving or trenching near a tree you want to keep | Recommended | Most construction damage to trees is to the roots and shows up years later |
| A permit application for a protected tree | Often required | Many towns ask for an arborist's report. Check your local rules |
| Routine trimming of small trees and palms | Not needed | A competent, insured crew that follows good practice is enough |
| Stump grinding | Not needed | See the stump grinding guide |
The arborist's role under Florida law
Section 163.045 of the Florida Statutes lets the owner of a single-family home prune or remove a tree without any local notice, permit, fee or replacement planting when the owner holds documentation that the tree poses an unacceptable risk to persons or property. The statute is specific about that documentation:
- It must come from an ISA Certified Arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect, and be signed by them.
- It must be based on an on-site assessment.
- The assessment must follow the tree risk assessment procedures in the ISA's Best Management Practices: Tree Risk Assessment, Second Edition (2017).
- A tree poses an unacceptable risk only if removal is the only means of practically mitigating its risk below moderate.
So a short note saying "this tree is dangerous" is not what the statute describes. Ask the arborist to confirm that the report follows the ISA procedure and states the conclusion in the statute's terms. The full picture, including what the exemption does not cover, is in the Florida tree permit guide.
Other credentials you may see
- Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ). An ISA qualification in the standard method for assessing tree risk. Not required by the Florida statute, but directly relevant to it.
- ISA Board Certified Master Arborist. The ISA's highest level of certification.
- Registered Consulting Arborist. Awarded by the American Society of Consulting Arborists. Consulting arborists write reports, value trees and act as expert witnesses, and usually do not do the tree work themselves.
- Florida-licensed landscape architect. A state licence. Landscape architects can sign the documentation under section 163.045.
How to check a certification
- Ask for the arborist's name and ISA certification number. Florida numbers usually begin with FL.
- Enter it on the ISA's verify a credential page.
- Check that the name matches and the certification is current.
- Ask whether that person will visit your property and sign any report.
Company listings on TreeServicesNear.me show what is publicly known about each company. We do not verify credentials, so make this check yourself.
What an arborist costs
| Service | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| Visit to quote for pruning or removal | Usually free |
| Consultation and verbal advice | About $75 – $200 |
| Written tree risk assessment, one tree | About $150 – $500 |
| Detailed report for a permit, construction project or dispute | $500 and up |
One point worth knowing: the arborist who assesses a tree often works for the company that would be paid to remove it. Most are straightforward about it, but if the stakes are high, an independent consulting arborist who does no removal work has no interest in the answer. For what the work itself costs, see the tree removal cost guide, which includes a cost estimator.
Common questions
What is an ISA Certified Arborist?
An ISA Certified Arborist is a person who has passed the International Society of Arboriculture's certification exam after at least three years of full-time work in tree care, or a combination of a related degree and experience. The certification lasts three years and is renewed through continuing education. It is a professional credential held by an individual, not a licence and not something a company can hold.
What is the difference between an arborist and a tree trimmer?
Anyone can call themselves a tree trimmer or a tree service in Florida. A certified arborist has been examined on tree biology, pruning, diagnosis, risk and safe work practice. Plenty of capable crews work without one, but for decisions about a tree's health or safety, and for the written assessment Florida law asks for, you need the credential.
How do I check that an arborist is certified?
Ask for their ISA certification number, then look it up on the ISA's verify a credential page, which is linked from treesaregood.org. It shows whether the certification is current. Florida certification numbers usually start with FL. Confirm that the certified person will actually visit your property.
How much does an arborist cost in Florida?
A visit to quote for pruning or removal is usually free. A paid consultation, where you want advice rather than a quote, is typically around $75 to $200. A written tree risk assessment for one tree is typically around $150 to $500, and more for several trees or a detailed report. These are ballpark figures; ask for the fee before the visit.
When does Florida law require a certified arborist?
When you want to remove a dangerous tree from a single-family home lot without a local permit. Section 163.045 of the Florida Statutes requires documentation from an ISA Certified Arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect, based on an on-site assessment, that the tree poses an unacceptable risk. Some city and county permit applications also ask for an arborist's report.
Does an arborist need the TRAQ qualification to sign a tree risk letter in Florida?
No. The statute names ISA Certified Arborists and Florida-licensed landscape architects, and says the assessment must follow the ISA's tree risk assessment procedures. It does not require the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. Arborists who hold TRAQ have been specifically trained and tested in that procedure, so it is a reasonable thing to ask for.
Do tree companies in Florida need a certified arborist on staff?
No. Florida has no state licence for tree work and no requirement to employ a certified arborist. Whether a company has an arborist is one thing to weigh alongside insurance, registration, reviews and a written quote.
Sources
The facts on this page come from the sources below. Follow the links to read them in full.
- International Society of Arboriculture: ISA Certified Arborist: eligibility, the exam and renewal
- International Society of Arboriculture: Tree Risk Assessment Qualification: what the TRAQ qualification covers
- International Society of Arboriculture: verify a credential: checking a certification number
- Florida Statutes, section 163.045: who may sign the documentation for a dangerous tree, and what it must be based on
- Florida Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture: the ISA's Florida chapter
Related guides
- Florida Tree Removal Permits: Rules by County: when you need a permit, the state exemption for dangerous trees, and official links by county
- Florida Tree Removal Cost Guide: typical prices by tree size and type, with a cost estimator
- Stump Grinding Cost in Florida: how grinding is priced, grinding versus full removal, and what to agree first
- How to Choose a Tree Service in Florida: four checks to make before you hire, with the official lookup links
- Florida Hurricane Tree Preparation Guide: what to check and prune before the season, and how to stay safe after a storm
- When to Prune Trees in Florida: the better and worse months for each kind of tree, with a pruning calendar
Find a tree company near you
TreeServicesNear.me lists tree companies town by town across Florida, with their phone number, website and Google rating. The busiest towns:
- Tree services in Fort Lauderdale · arborists
- Tree services in Jacksonville · arborists
- Tree services in West Palm Beach · arborists
- Tree services in Tampa · arborists
- Tree services in Sarasota · arborists
- Tree services in Miami · arborists
- Tree services in Clearwater · arborists
- Tree services in St. Petersburg · arborists
- Tree services in Coral Springs · arborists
- Tree services in Valrico · arborists
- Tree services in Lakeland · arborists
- Tree services in Daytona Beach · arborists
See every Florida county and town or search by town, county or ZIP code.