Maryland Tree Expert Law
Forms:
- Application for a Tree Expert License
This application is an online form.
Cetification of Qualification
(must be submitted with Application for Tree Expert License).
- Application for license renewal.
- Tree/Tree Company Complaints
This form is for persons wishing to make a complaint against a person or company they believe did not perform the work they proposed; or for someone to make a complaint against a person or company they believe is not properly licensed to perform tree care/removal work. Please print and fill in the form then mail it to the appropriate address at the bottom of form.
Adopted in 1945, the Maryland Tree Expert Law addresses tree care work done for compensation on private or public property in Maryland. The purpose of the law is to provide a layer of consumer protection by licensing qualified and insured tree care companies and individuals. Anyone seeking to practice or advertise tree care services in the State of Maryland must obtain a license from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Who must have a license?
All tree care professionals practicing in Maryland must obtain a license. Without a license, they may not practice or advertise tree care services in the state. To obtain a license, the applicant must possess adequate and related college education plus one year of experience under a LTE or have five years experience under a Licensed Tree Expert (LTE), then have passed an exam and carry adequate amounts of liability and property damage insurance. The license must be renewed annually every January.
The Forest Service conducts a preparatory course for Licensed Tree Expert examinees in May of each year.
When is the licensed tree expert exam?
Exam dates are as follows:
January, 16, 2008
January 21, 2009
February 20, 2008
February 18, 2009
March 19, 2008
March 18, 2009
April 23, 2008
April 29, 2009
May 21, 2008
May 20, 2009
June 18, 2008
June 17, 2009
July 23, 2008
July 22, 2009
August 20, 2008
August 19, 2009
September 17, 2008
September 16, 2009
October 22, 2008
October 21, 2009
November 12, 2008
November 18, 2009
December 10, 2008
December 9, 2009
All tests are administered at DNR Headquarters., Annapolis, MD 21401. Directions and parking information can be found @: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/map.html.
NOTE: You will need to sign in at the front desk in the lobby. Valid photo ID is required for entry.
To register, please contact Ms. Romcesa Estep, 410-260-8531.
Summary of the Exam Process
The exam has ten weighted sections or domains. The questions are in multiple choice formats. A passing score of 70% is required for each individual domain, as well as for the overall test. There are 140 questions, 14 in each domain. A listing of the domains, their associated study materials, and the pass rates required for each is available in Adobe Acrobat. The exam will be administered on desktop computers in the computer lab at DNR HQ, including the Tree Identification portion (there is no longer a field portion to the exam).
Study information for the Tree Identification portion of exam is available at
the following link: Tree
Identification Supplement.
No reference information may be used during the examination session.
Exam Day:
Items to Bring
- Driver's license or other valid photo ID
- Calculator
Exam Time:
Each exam date will have a morning and an afternoon session. You will be assigned to a morning (9:00 am) or afternoon (1:00 pm) session in your confirmation letter for the exam.
DNR will begin registration approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled exam time. The exam's introduction/ instructions begin promptly and no one will be admitted after the session has started.
Upon completion of the exam, examinees will be provided with a report that advises of whether they passed or failed any domain taken as well as whether they passed or failed the overall exam.
Note regarding exam applicants with reading difficulties
The facilities of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources are available to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin or physical or mental disability. If you or someone you are associated with has a reading disability or literacy issue, we will provide a reasonable accomodation if given reasonable notice. We ask that you:
Advise us in writing at least two weeks prior to an exam that the examinee in question has a reading disability or literacy issue
We will:
Contact the examinee and schedule a privately proctored examination where the exam will be read to the examinee outside of the regular exam setting. The exam will be read by a DNR employee. Family members, significant others, etc. of examinees are not allowed to read or administer the exam to examinees.
For persons who do not have a reading disability but who have literacy issues, we would encourage you take advantage of the resources available through the Maryland Adult Literacy Resource Center (http://www.umbc.edu/alrc/index.html). The Maryland Adult Literacy Resource Center (http://www.umbc.edu/alrc/index.html) can connect people with no or low cost resources in every county that will assist them in learning to read and/or getting a GED (http://www.umbc.edu/alrc/dir.html).
How do I renew my license?
Download the application for license renewal.
Complete the application.
Submit the completed application, accompanied by the $10.00 renewal fee and proof of valid insurance, to the address on the application.
Applications are due January 1 and must be received by January 31st. Individuals that experience a lapse of license by failing to renew their license by the due date following the last year of licensure, and who wish to be licensed, must reapply for licensure. This includes taking and passing the current version of the Tree Expert Licensing Exam.
Resources available:
Study Guide for Tree Expert Exam - available in .pdf format
Maryland Licensed Tree Expert News
The newsletter is in Adobe Acrobat format. To get the free reader, go to Adobe.com.
Licensed Tree Expert Survey
The survey is in Adobe Acrobat format. To get the free reader, go to Adobe.com.
Annual Accomplishments/Year-to-Date Performance:
Currently there are over 900 Licensed Tree Experts in Maryland.
Tree Care Industry Resources:
The tree care industry has a number of valuable resources at the local,
regional, and national levels. These entities can provide numerous benefits to
licensees, including:
- Training and professional development opportunities through seminars,
meetings, publications, etc.;
- Professional credentialing (ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Certified Tree Worker,
ISA Utility Specialist, TCIA Accreditation); and,
- Mentoring and networking opportunities.
Such organizations include the following:
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)The mission of ISA is: Through research, technology, and education promote the
professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of
the benefits of trees. ISA has over 13,000 members and has certified over 15,000
arborists worldwide. Professional Affiliations within ISA include:
- Arboricultural Research and Education Academy (AREA)
- Society of Commercial Arboriculture (SCA)
- Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA)
- Utility Arborist Association (UAA)
- Student Society of Arboriculture (SSA)
Credentials administered by ISA include:
- Certified Arborist
- Certified Tree Care Worker
- Utility Specialist
Web site: http://www.isa-arbor.com/home.asp
Phone: 217-355-9411
Maryland Arborist Association (MAA)
The mission of MAA is to promote education in the field of arboriculture, to
support the success of arborists and to promote the importance of tree care. The
association will provide a forum for the exchange of information and will
encourage professionalism through the collective efforts of the members.
Web site: http://www.mdarborist.com
Phone: Toll free 1-888-MD-TREES (638-7337)Mid-Atlantic Chapter, International Society of Arboriculture (MAC-ISA)
MAC-ISA is an organization representing members in Maryland, Virginia, West
Virginia, and the District of Columbia. It is the local chapter of the ISA and
its mission is to foster education and research that promotes the care and
benefits of trees. MAC-ISA represents about 1,000 tree care professionals in the
Mid-Atlantic.
Web site: http://www.mac-isa.org/
Phone: 703-753-0499
Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA)
TCIA’s mission is to advance tree care companies. Established in 1938 as the
National Arborist Association, today's TCIA is a trade association of more than
2,300 commercial tree care firms and affiliated companies. TCIA develops safety
and education programs, standards of tree care practice, and management
information for arboriculture firms around the world. We provide continuing
education, training, conferences and publications to promote the safe and
appropriate practice of tree care, including Tree Care Industry magazine, the
most circulated and read publication in the industry, and TCI EXPO, the world's
largest tree care trade show.
Credentials administered by TCIA include:
Web site: http://www.treecareindustry.org
Phone: 1-800-733-2622
American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA)
Consulting arborists are called upon to advise in the most challenging situations that necessitate experience in the science and practice of arboriculture, as well as specific expertise in the practical, ethical and objective role of consultant.
ASCA consultants are the arboricultural experts of choice to assist law firms, insurance companies, utilities, land developers, municipalities, landscape planners and architects, homeowners, individuals and organizations coping with disaster mitigation, and others requiring authoritative knowledge and perspective on trees and plant life.
Credentials administered by ASCA include:
- Registered Consulting Arborist
Web site: http://www.asca-consultants.org/index.html
Phone: 301-947-0483
Contact Person:
Romcesa Estep or Marian Honeczy
Maryland DNR Forest Service
580 Taylor Avenue
Tawes State Office Building, E-1
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
(410) 260-8531
E-mail: mhoneczy@dnr.state.md.us
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service wants to know if this service is helpful
for you or your company, please send comments and/or suggestions to Maryland DNR.
Last updated on
December 31, 2008
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