Identify the person behind the credential
Ask for the full name of the person whose credential is being advertised, the credential name, and a credential number or digital badge. Ask what role that person will have in your project: assessment, planning, supervision, or another responsibility.
ISA credentials apply to individuals. A company saying that it employs a credential holder does not tell you who will assess your tree or supervise the work. Directory text, a logo, and a job title are not substitutes for checking the specific claim.
Use the issuer’s current verification tools
TreesAreGood links to ISA’s Find an Arborist platform, which provides credential verification and professional profiles. Follow the official link and compare the credential holder’s identity and credential details with what the company supplied.
ISA notes that participation in the public directory is voluntary and some holders do not publish location details. If a search is inconclusive, ask for the official credential record or contact ISA for help; absence from a location search alone does not settle the claim.
Understand what a credential does and does not establish
ISA describes its certification as a voluntary, nongovernmental assessment of an individual’s tree care knowledge. It does not guarantee the quality of a particular job. Confirm that the person’s experience is relevant to the work you are considering.
A credential check also does not establish a company’s insurance, local licensing, or permission to work on a particular tree. Check those separately with the business, insurer, or relevant authority.
Connect your checks to the project
Ask who will explain the recommendation and answer questions before work begins. If you need an assessment, ask what it covers and what information you will receive afterward.
Useful questions include: Have you handled this type of site before? Who will be my contact? Who will perform the agreed work? Keep the answers with the written scope. Inclusion in InfestAway is not a certification, endorsement, or guarantee of a business.
Sources and further reading
The official resources below support the tree care information in this guide. Project questions and checklists are InfestAway’s editorial preparation aids. References do not imply endorsement of this directory or its listed businesses.