Urban Forestry Credential Preparation Course
Announcing a new half-day ISA & SAF urban forestry credential preparation workshop led by Dr. Paul Ries, held in Memphis the day before the TUFC Annual Conference.
Prepare for Urban Forestry Certification Success
In partnership with Insightful Nature LLC, we are pleased to offer a comprehensive continuing education course designed to help urban foresters and urban forest professionals prepare for the ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional and SAF Certified Urban & Community Forester exams.
This study course is not affiliated with ISA or SAF, so it integrates both credential frameworks into one unified practical training experience with a review of content and concepts found on either exam. More importantly, it includes credential exam testing tips and strategies designed to increase an applicant’s chance of passing the exam.
Continuing Education Credits
TUFC is submitting this course for approval to provide ISA Continuing Education Units (CEU) and SAF Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) approval. Final credit totals will be announced upon approval.
Course Format
- 4 hours of structured instruction
- Participant workbook included
- Practice exam questions
- Exam strategy modules
- Scenario-based applied learning
What Participants Will Gain
- Clear understanding of exam structure and expectations
- Understanding of concepts and terms covered on the exams
- Applied scenario-based learning aligned to exam questions
- Strategic study planning tools
- Experience with practice exam questions
- Test-taking strategies that can increase passing probability
Why This Course Is Different
This is not a memorization course, and it will not teach all the material needed to pass an exam. Instead, it will help people discover what they already know and identify gaps in urban forestry knowledge. The course covers exam concepts, terms, and content, plus test taking strategies, and study skills.
Who Should Attend?
- Urban foresters preparing for certification
- Municipal forestry professionals
- Arborists and consultants
- State forestry agency personnel
- Community forestry practitioners
- Nonprofit urban forestry staff
- Students and emerging professionals entering the field
Course Agenda
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Registration |
| 12:30 PM | Module 1 – Preparing to Pass an Urban Forestry Certification Exam |
| 1:00 PM | Module 2 – Urban Forest Planning and Management |
| 1:30 PM | Module 3 – Technical Foundations: Arboriculture and Ecosystem Management |
| 2:00 PM | Module 4 – Policy, Governance, and Program Administration |
| 2:30 PM | Break |
| 2:45 PM | Module 5 – Study Strategies That Will Help You Earn an Urban Forestry Credential |
| 3:00 PM | Module 6 – Communications, Education, and Community Engagement |
| 3:30 PM | Module 7 – Urban Forestry Operations, Risk, Conflicts, and Emergency Management |
| 4:00 PM | Module 8 – Increasing Your Chances of Passing a Certification Exam & Wrap-Up |
| 4:30 PM | Adjourn |
Facilitator
Dr. Paul Ries
Dr. Paul Ries has worked as a practitioner and educator in natural resources, urban forestry, arboriculture, and wildland fire at the state, local, international, nonprofit, and academic levels for more than 35 years. He teaches urban forestry courses at Oregon State University and provides consulting services and training through Insightful Nature LLC. Paul has helped create innovative urban forestry programs including the Municipal Forestry Institute, the Green Communities Leadership Institute, and Tree Board University. He holds BS and MS degrees in Natural Resources and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership – Curriculum & Instruction. Paul is a Past President of the International Society of Arboriculture, has been an ISA Certified Arborist since 1988, and has been an ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional since 2025.
Registration
Registration is not yet open for this event.
