New Partnership!

The LAA is slated to begin administering continuing education for arborists in fall 2025. Scott Courtright has been working with LSU and the Department of Agriculture to develop the new curriculum, which will give arborists more choices in training and the way in which they take the courses. For example, previously arborists would have to take a day away from work to travel to the location where the continuing education classes were held and sit through six hours of a class on ethics or whatever subject was being featured that day. The LAA’s upcoming continuing education program will change that. 

“If the CEU requirement is six hours every year, then we will have a live proctor like we do now, but we’ll also offer online courses in shorter versions that can be done at home or work,” Courtright said. “Arborists can take a class on chainsaw safety or other topics for two hours, three times during the year instead of doing six straight hours. Arborists can also choose classes that are interesting to them or pertinent to the jobs they are doing, instead of having to take mandated classes.” 

Courtright said the curriculum will offer new and different courses that will enhance arborists’ knowledge of trees and forestry. Arborists will be given quizzes during the online sessions. These quizzes will simulate questions that will be on the arborist exam. While Courtright plans to have the content for the courses completed by early summer, the curriculum will then have to be approved by a committee made up of representative from LSU and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.  

“This curriculum will evolve over time,” Courtright said. “We will record all sessions and build a library that will be housed on the continuing education website. “What I’ve learned throughout my career is that everyone learns differently. This education program needs to be as diverse as its audience, and the classes will be offered in both formats—online and live.”  

Courtright believes that while some arborists simply want to cut trees, others are interested in the biology and science of arboriculture. “We are raising the bar,” he said. “I’ve never been happy with the bare minimum. In a year, the educational offerings for arborists will look very different.” 

Members of the LAA will receive discounts on continuing education classes and will be able to access the LAA’s library of training courses year-round.