Arborist codes of ethics compared: ISA, Arboriculture Australia and the European Arboricultural Council

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It gives the structure of each code in our own words and does not reproduce their text. The codes bind the members or credential holders of the body that wrote them. They are not law, and none of them sets climbing technique or prices.

The three codes side by side

Body	Who it covers and where it sits
ISA	People seeking an ISA credential (candidates) and everyone certified by ISA, whatever other membership they hold. ISA says the code is part of the application for every credential program and that signing it is a requirement for ISA certifications and qualifications. A separate set of ethics case procedures governs complaints.
Arboriculture Australia	Registered Members, who are practitioners qualified under the Australian Qualifications Framework at the level of their category. The 2024 code also calls itself a professional standard for all arborists.
European Arboricultural Council (EAC)	The delegates of all EAC member countries approved the code in a video conference in November 2020, held in place of an in-person annual meeting because of the pandemic. The EAC page describes it as general outlines of how the EAC and arborists should behave, with specific guidance on harassment, safety and conflicts of interest. The page does not print the code's text.

What the ISA code covers

The ISA code of ethics and release authorization has two parts. The first is responsibilities to ISA, the profession and the public. Its items cover following the law and accepted professional standards, giving truthful information on certification and renewal, protecting exam security, cooperating with ISA on ethics matters, reporting one's own conduct that may break the code, and avoiding conduct clearly against professional, ethical or legal standards. The second part is responsibilities to clients, employers, employees and the public, in three groups. Performing services covers safe and competent work, knowing one's limits and referring work on, confidentiality with listed exceptions, truthful credentials and advertising including estimates, and respect for others' intellectual property. Conflicts of interest covers disclosure, avoiding conflicts, and not offering or accepting significant payments or gifts to win work. Public health and safety covers following safety procedures and telling the proper agencies about unsafe conditions or legal violations. ISA describes its code of ethics policy as a central guide for day-to-day decisions and a communication tool with customers.

What the Arboriculture Australia code covers

The Arboriculture Australia Registered Member Code of Ethics, marked as reviewed in 2024, has three sections. Obligations: following the association's rules and insurance requirements, the law, and accepted practice including codes of practice, Australian Standards and Minimum Industry Standards; cooperating with investigations; and reporting one's own conduct that may break the code. Responsibilities: safe and competent services, working only within one's ability, referrals, confidentiality with two exceptions, truthful credentials, advertising and quotes that do not claim outcomes that cannot be substantiated, and respect for intellectual property. Statement of Professionalism: 19 items, including truthful advertising, giving clients an accurate outline of works and costs, disclosing commercial interests and conflicts, not offering or accepting rewards to gain work, following work health and safety procedures, no disparaging remarks about fellow Registered Members, and telling the association about evidence of unethical conduct by another Registered Arborist.

How complaints are handled

The ISA ethics case procedures say ISA alone has the authority to pursue or deny an ethics matter, that the procedures are not formal legal proceedings, and that any party may use an attorney, who may be directed to deal with ISA through its legal counsel. Complaints are made in writing by a complainant, and a compliance and ethics specialist decides whether a charge becomes a formal complaint. A rejected complainant has 30 days to appeal to the Ethics Review Committee. The committee can order, among other actions, specific training, private or public reprimand, certification probation of up to three years, suspension of between six months and two years, or revocation. An adverse decision can be appealed within 30 days on four limited grounds. ISA says its policy of pursuing people who falsely claim an ISA credential or break the code is meant to protect certified arborists' reputations.

The Arboriculture Australia code names a duty to cooperate with the association's investigations and to report to its Board, but sets out no complaint procedure in the document. The EAC page gives none either.

Where else ethics appear in credentials

Contractor schemes are covered in the guide to approved contractor schemes. The credential rules are in the guide to ISA credentials.