Arizona Community Tree Council Presents

PPQ-Prescription Pruning Qualification  Chandler, Arizona |  April 7-9, 2026

Registration Fees:  

Ideal for the whole team to learn together! 

Our Qualified Instructors are Dr. Ed Gilman, Professor Emeritus of the University of Florida, and Nick Markley, of the ISA Florida Chapter.

This practical, applied program guides arborists through the process of strategically planning, specifying, and implementing an objective-based pruning approach. It will make you a better arborist by showing you how to incorporate industry standards and ISA BMPs with current research and practice. The PPQ is the culmination of the commitment of the Florida Chapter ISA Pruning Credential Committee who are passionate about making trees more compatible with urban and suburban environments.

Vision statement: Develop a new industry paradigm whereby no tree – or group of trees – is pruned without a prescription.

Goal: Improve communication between prescriber, production arborist and tree owner. Increase clarity when preparing work orders.

What this program does: The new paradigm shifts the decision of which branches to prune from the production arborist to an informed prescriber. It establishes a protocol resulting in consistency between the arborist preparing the prescription and the production arborist. This credential teaches you how to prescribe and perform pruning in accordance with industry standards and ISA’s BMP supported by the latest research and experience.

Why should I get this qualification?

1. Improves professionalism for new and seasoned arborists.
2. Establishes a standardized, accountable, objectives-based pruning process.
3. Teaches an approach that increases life expectancy and clearance and reduces likelihood of failure.
4. Improves your ability to explain to tree owners, contractors, and crew why and how to prune.

Who should get this qualification?
Arborists who prune trees or prescribe pruning or people who prepare and manage pruning contracts.

There are two types of attendees for this training: Producers and Prescribers

A production arborist (Producer) working in trees, or anyone, seeking an organized process of evaluating tree owner and arborist conditions of concern, and an approach to pruning designed to solve these concerns.

A pruning prescriber (Prescriber) is a certified arborist.

Two training tracks are offered:
Day 1 – Producers – ISA certification is not a prerequisite.
Producers are finished with the training at the end of day one, and each receives a certificate of completion. There is no exam.

Day 1, 2 and 3 – Prescribers – Must be an ISA Certified Arborist.
The second and third day of training focus on preparing pruning prescriptions using many examples which include outdoor exercises. This is an interactive program with many activities. There is a review and a multiple-choice exam on the third day. Those passing the exam become PPQ qualified.

Manual: Producers and prescribers each receive a Pruning Prescription Manual and Workbook.

For more information on the qualification - please link to the Florida ISA website 

Prescription Pruning Qualification – Florida Chapter ISA (floridaisa.org)

Agenda:
Day 1: Producers and Prescribers in the same class

• Introduction with definitions
• Tree Architecture
• Response to Pruning Cuts
• Guiding Urban-compatible Tree Architecture (pruning)

Day 2: Prescribers only

• Prescription Approach to Pruning
• Preparing Prescriptions
• Outdoor Prescription Exercises and Discussion
• Mature Trees and Palms

Day 3 (half day): Prescribers only

• Review
• Exam