Free ISA-BCMA Exam Prep
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA)
Prepare for the ISA-BCMA exam without spending hundreds on expensive prep courses. Free study guides, practice questions, flashcards, and related exam resources.
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ISA-BCMA ISA Arborist Certifications License: Complete Roadmap
Follow this path to organize your licensing and exam preparation
Science (Biology, Soils, Diagnosis)You are here
Master tree biology and CODIT, soils, abiotic and biotic disorders, and tree identification and selection: Tree Biology (9%), Soils (7%), Tree Identification and Selection (7%), Abiotic Disorders (7%) and Biotic Disorders (7%). Science is the largest domain at 37% of the exam.
Practice (Pruning, PHC, Installation, Soils)
Study installation, soil treatment and irrigation, plant health care and IPM, ANSI A300 pruning, supplemental support and lightning protection, climbing/rigging/removal, ISA tree risk assessment, and CTLA plant appraisal. Practice is 37% of the exam, and Tree Risk and Plant Appraisal now sit in this domain.
Management (Risk, Appraisal, Preservation)
Learn ANSI Z133 worker safety, tree inventories and urban forest management plans, business relations and legal compliance, and construction tree preservation: Safety (9%), Inventory and Management Plans (5%), Business Relations (5%) and Trees and Construction (7%). Management is 26% of the exam.
Scenario Practice & Review
Work the 100-question practice bank, drill the scenario-based format, and review every miss with the AI tutor before sitting the 4-hour exam.
Can You Take the ISA-BCMA Exam?
Check if you meet the basic eligibility requirements
- •Hold a current ISA Certified Arborist credential in good standing
- •Accumulate a minimum of 8 points across ISA credentials and CEUs, formal education, verifiable related credentials, and years of arboricultural work experience
- •Submit the BCMA application with documentation for eligibility review by the ISA Credentialing Council
- •Pass the 165-question computer-based exam with a score of 70 percent or higher
ISA-BCMA Quick Facts
Time to Get Licensed
3-6 months typical (self-paced) for an experienced Certified Arborist
From start to license in hand
Exam Provider
ISA computer-based examination delivered at Pearson VUE testing centers
Retake Policy
Candidates may retake the BCMA exam 30 days after their most recent attempt. A $220 retake fee applies to each retake. Enrollment carries a 120-day authorization period to schedule and sit the exam, and rescheduling outside that period costs $50.
Total Cost Breakdown
Free ISA-BCMA Prep Tools
126+ Practice Questions
Practice by topic with detailed answer explanations
AI Tutor Explains Mistakes
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Independent Study Resources
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What You'll Study
17 chapters covering the exam topics in this guide
Chapter 1: The BCMA Exam & How to Prepare
1 sections
Chapter 2: Tree Biology, Physiology & Anatomy
4 sections
Chapter 3: Soil Science, Soil Chemistry & the Rhizosphere
5 sections
Chapter 4: Abiotic Disorders & Tree Nutrition
4 sections
Chapter 5: Biotic Disorders: Pathogens, Pests & Tree Defense
4 sections
Chapter 6: Plant Identification, Selection & Urban Ecology
3 sections
Chapter 7: Systematic Arboricultural Diagnosis
3 sections
Chapter 8: ANSI A300 Pruning Standards & Canopy Architecture
4 sections
Chapter 9: Plant Health Care (PHC) & Integrated Pest Management
3 sections
Chapter 10: Soil Treatment, Water Relations, Planting & Transplanting
4 sections
Chapter 11: Support Systems, Lightning Protection, Climbing, Rigging & Removal
4 sections
Chapter 12: Tree Risk Assessment & Management
4 sections
Chapter 13: Plant Appraisal (CTLA) & Valuation Methodologies
3 sections
Chapter 14: Trees & Construction
4 sections
Chapter 15: Tree Inventories & Urban Forest Management Plans
2 sections
Chapter 16: Worker Safety & ANSI Z133
5 sections
Chapter 17: Business Relations, Law & Professional Ethics
3 sections
ISA-BCMA Exam Details
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA)
Administered by International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
Exam Content Breakdown
Based on the official International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) content outline
Tree Biology (9%), Soils (7%), Tree Identification and Selection (7%), Abiotic Disorders (7%) and Biotic Disorders (7%)
Installation (4%), Soil Treatment and Irrigation (4%), Plant Health Care (6%), Pruning (7%), Supplemental Support and Lightning Protection Systems (2%), Climbing, Rigging and Removal (5%), Tree Risk (7%) and Plant Appraisal (2%)
Safety (9%), Inventory and Management Plans (5%), Business Relations (5%) and Trees and Construction (7%)
What's Included
17 Chapters
Complete exam coverage
Practice Quizzes
With detailed explanations
Free to Start
No credit card required
Quality Exam Prep Shouldn't Cost Hundreds
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What's Next After the ISA-BCMA?
After passing the ISA-BCMA, you can pursue these career paths
ISA-TRAQ
Add the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification to formalize defensible risk assessment skills
ISA-MUNICIPAL-SPECIALIST
Specialize in public urban forestry with the ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist credential
ISA-UTILITY-SPECIALIST
Focus on line-clearance and vegetation management with the ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist credential
ISA-BCMA Exam FAQ
Official International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Resources
Verify information with these official sources
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