(Credit: Penn State Extension)
(The following press release was provided verbatim by Penn State Extension)
In early 2026, Penn State Extension will offer the “Arborist Short Course,” a four-day consecutive in-person workshop designed to increase working tree knowledge and prepare participants for the International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist exam.
The workshop will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 16, 17, 23 and 24 at Penn State Extension’s Bucks County office, 576 Penns Park Road, Newtown.
This training is aimed at arborists and tree workers, landscape contractors, municipal workers, landscape architects, and park and grounds maintenance staff but is open to all who wish to attend.
Homeowners and municipalities today recognize the need for trained and knowledgeable tree care workers, according to organizers. Instructors note that ISA certification will improve an arborist’s marketability because it designates a level of professionalism that most arborists do not have.
Instructors will discuss:
— Tree biology.
— Tree planting and establishment.
— Tree identification and selection.
— Tree pruning.
— Protecting trees during construction.
— Cabling, bracing and lightning protection.
— Tree insect and disease diagnosis and management.
— Soils, water relations and tree nutrition.
— Urban forest management.
The “ISA Arborists’ Certification Study Guide” is required for the course. Participants can register to receive a copy of the ISA study guide for an additional fee or register without a study guide if they already have one.
Lunch will not be provided. Participants can bring their own lunch and snacks or purchase food nearby during the break. Several delis, convenience stores and grocery stores are located within a short drive of the office.
Organizers noted that registration is required for a fee of $250. Participants must register for the workshop by Feb. 9, 2026.
More information about the course is available on the Penn State Extension website.
