ISA Certified Arborist Exam Cost
Short answer: a first attempt at the ISA Certified Arborist exam costs $335 if you are an ISA member or credential holder and $419 if you are not. That is the application fee plus the exam fee. A retake costs $120.
Source: ISA's Certified Arborist Program Guide (fees in US dollars), checked October 19, 2026.
Every fee at a glance
| Fee | ISA member or credential holder | Everyone else |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $40 | $50 |
| Exam enrollment (paper or computer) | $295 | $369 |
| Retake | $120 | $120 |
| Reschedule outside your 120-day window | $50 | $50 |
| Recertification by continuing education | $220 | $220 |
What you will actually pay
- Member, pass first time: $40 + $295 = $335
- Non-member, pass first time: $50 + $369 = $419
- Member, one retake: $335 + $120 = $455
- Non-member, one retake: $419 + $120 = $539
ISA members and credential holders get the lower application and exam fees. Membership itself has its own dues, which ISA sets separately, so compare the dues with the 84-dollar difference before joining just for the exam.
How not to pay twice
- Book inside your window. After you register for a computer-based exam you have 120 days to schedule and sit it. Missing the window or the appointment counts as a no-show, and ISA does not refund the exam fee.
- Reschedule early. Rescheduling is free up to one business day before your appointment within the window; moving outside the window costs $50.
- Avoid the retake. A retake costs $120 and a 30-day wait. The exam has 200 questions, 20 of them unscored, and you need 76% of the scored ones. See how hard the exam is and practice the heavy domains first.
After you pass
Certification lasts three years. Renewing it by continuing education costs $220 plus your CEU courses, or you can retake the exam. Our CEU guide explains how CEUs are counted.
What you can study for free
ISA's exam outline is a free PDF listing every topic. Our practice questions and study guide are free too. ISA's own study guide book is sold separately.
Questions about the cost
How much does the ISA Certified Arborist exam cost in total?
A first attempt costs $335 for ISA members and credential holders ($40 application + $295 exam) and $419 for everyone else ($50 + $369). Paper and computer-based exams cost the same.
How much is a retake?
$120, for members and non-members alike. You can retake the exam 30 days after your last attempt.
Can I get the exam fee back if I can’t go?
ISA does not refund the exam fee. If you don’t schedule within your 120-day authorization period, or don’t show up, it counts as a no-show and the fee is forfeited. You can reschedule for free up to one business day before a computer-based appointment within that period.
Do I have to buy study materials?
No. Study materials are optional and sold separately. ISA's exam outline is a free PDF, and our practice questions and study guide are free.
Official source
- ISA Certified Arborist Program Guide (revised August 2025) (fees, scheduling and no-show rules)
Fees change from time to time. This page summarizes ISA's published fees in our own words; it is not an official ISA document, and we are not affiliated with ISA. If anything here differs from ISA's current documents, ISA's documents win.