When are you classified as "legit"??

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Rftreeman

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ok, I'm insured but haven't gotten my license yet (waiting after the new year) I have been doing work as it should be done and plan on taking the CA test very soon I also use contracts, have my own equipment but for a bucket truck, so, will I be "legit" when I got my license & CA cert?
 
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ok, I'm insured but haven't gotten my license yet (waiting after the new year) I have been do work as it should be done and plan on taking the CA test very soon I also use contracts on large jobs, have my own equipment but for a bucket truck, so, will I be "legit" when I got my license & CA cert?

You are legitimate right now.
Being a an ISA certified arborist really only says you have a pretty good short term memory to pass the test. Thats it, I don't care what others say about it, thats the truth. There are some ISA certified arborists out there who are great, some who are real culls. It can impress (and is often used to impress) people who don't know what the deal is.

For example, you can become an "ISA certified utility specialist" through the mail. I had to actually work around and beside high voltage for 1200 hours to get my trade certificate. Our utility is looking for ISA certified utility specialists to work for them, nowwhere in the job description does it ask for actual experience doing the job, what a freakin joke that is.

And so it goes, can't hurt to get your ISA certification, just don't let it go to your head.
 
For example, you can become an "ISA certified utility specialist" through the mail. I had to actually work around and beside high voltage for 1200 hours to get my trade certificate. .
here in the states unless you where grandfathered in as I was then you must have 18 months training before you become "line clearance certified" as it's called here, I figured that if I got my CA cert then I wouldn't lose any jobs as I have in the past because people think that if you are CA or ISA member then you are a better treeman or company and know more about what you are doing. most people who know that we worked for the utility company think we are hacks but they don't really know that we meaning you and I have been trained how to properly trim a tree even if it means cutting the side off.......lol....we still have to use proper cuts and all. At least we got one thing going for us, we can cut trees near utility lines and be "LEGIT" when we do..........lol

thanks for you reply
 
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RFtreeman,

Do you know if theirs a certification needed for doing line clearing in South Carolina?:confused: The reason I ask is I'm looking at getting a bucket truck and would like to bid on some line clearing contracts.

I've been in the tree business several years, you would think I'd know. :mad:
 
RFtreeman,

Do you know if theirs a certification needed for doing line clearing in South Carolina?:confused: The reason I ask is I'm looking at getting a bucket truck and would like to bid on some line clearing contracts.

I've been in the tree business several years, you would think I'd know. :mad:
yes it is required in all the states, I have no clue how you as a company owner would go about getting the certs for line clearance though, I got mine trough the company I worked for at the time, maybe you could contact OSHA and they could tell you.
 
A license to trim around wires? I did that work in 1988 in Durham and never heard of that license.

I agree with clearance except I never heard of getting the utility cert thru the mail. I had to drive 5 hours. Also, that cert does not claim to qualify anyone to trim around wires. It does verify some knowledge of working around utilities, and dealing with people.

:greenchainsaw:
 
A license to trim around wires? I did that work in 1988 in Durham and never heard of that license.

I agree with clearance except I never heard of getting the utility cert thru the mail. I had to drive 5 hours. Also, that cert does not claim to qualify anyone to trim around wires. It does verify some knowledge of working around utilities, and dealing with people.

:greenchainsaw:
in 1988 you did not have to have the line clearance cert, they started that around the mid 1990's (can't remember exactly when) and you can not get it through the mail that I know of, from what I understand and from my experience as a supervisor you must have 18 months on the job training to get it. the cert that I have is called "utility line clearance tree trimmer training certification" not real sure what you have but mine does qualify me to trim around utility lines including high voltage lines.
 
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in 1988 you did not have to have the line clearance cert, they started that around the mid 1990's
Well that was a good thing.
the cert that I have is called "utility line clearance tree trimmer training certification" not real sure what you have
I have the isa certified arborist/utility specialist cert, somewhat good for supervising and consulting but not for practicing. I think the ehap that i'm taking at expo will be more useful in the field.
 
Line clearance cert

in 1988 you did not have to have the line clearance cert, they started that around the mid 1990's (can't remember exactly when) and you can not get it through the mail that I know of, from what I understand and from my experience as a supervisor you must have 18 months on the job training to get it. the cert that I have is called "utility line clearance tree trimmer training certification" not real sure what you have but mine does qualify me to trim around utility lines including high voltage lines.

You can take TCIA's Electrical Hazard Awareness Program (EHAP), however taking and passing the course only says you have the knowledge, it does NOT certify you for line clearance, persae. Only your employer can certify that you have the skills and the knowledge for the certification.

hope this helps some.

Brian
ARR_LLC
Miami, AZ
 

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