Up to 70% Subsidy | *New* ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) Course and Assessment, 2-4 Mar 2026

ISA Hong Kong Chapter has scheduled the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) Course and Assessment in Hong Kong on 2-4 Mar 2026. 

*This training and assessment is recognised by Study Sponsorship Scheme of the Urban Forestry Support Fund, with subsidy up to 70% of tuition and assessment fee.

For details: https://www.greening.gov.hk/ufsf/en/home/index.html

The ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ), by International Society of Arboriculture, provides a standardized and systematic process for assessing tree risk. The results of a tree risk assessment provide tree owners and risk managers information in making informed decisions that will promote the safety of people and property and enhance tree benefits, health, and longevity.

ISA TRAQ is widely recognised internationally. TRAQ holders are tree care professionals who have specialized knowledge in tree risk assessment. ISA Hong Kong Chapter regularly hold TRAQ course and assessment in Hong Kong. The programme is conducted by instructors with extensive experience. To earn the qualification, eligible candidates must complete a training course, and pass both a comprehensive written assessment and a performance-based assessment.

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), under the guidance of its Credentialing Council and with the support of subject matter experts, announced significant updates to the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (ISA TRAQ) program in February 2025 through the Arborist News publication. These programmatic changes will become effective 5 November 2025, and include updates to the credential’s terms of validity, training materials, and written and performance-based examinations. Please click the following link to review the changes: https://bit.ly/newTRAQ_changes

Key Changes to the ISA TRAQ Program (effective 5 November 2025)

• Term of Validity: The ISA TRAQ credential will now be valid for seven (7) years, extended from its previous five (5) year term.

• Elimination of ISA TRAQ Renewal Program: To earn a new certificate for the ISA TRAQ credential after expiration, credential holders must complete the full ISA TRAQ program, including retraining and retesting. The ISA TRAQ Renewal program will be discontinued following publication of the updated program.

Date: 2 – 4 March 2026, 2.5 days 

Time: 9am-6pm (2-3 Mar), 9am-1:00pm (4 Mar)

Venue: Stone House, No.133 Junction Road, Kowloon, Stone House (Map)

Max. Class size: 20 ppl 

Instructor - Mr. Kevin Eckert

Kevin Eckert is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist® and an ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist® with over 40 years of experience as a worker, climber, trainer arborist and consultant conducting tree risk assessments for safety and according to formal tree risk assessment processes. He actively conducted tree risk assessments for private and government agencies in the U.S., China, Hong Kong, and Costa Rica in tropical and temperate environments. Kevin has been training arborists in practical and general arboriculture for many years. He is a mentor for ISA TRAQ apprentice instructors and served as arboriculture lecturer at the University of Hawaii and Hong Kong University, SPACE Program.

Application:

ISA Credential Holder is eligible to enroll for the TRAQ Program, please fill in the application form and submit together with payment slip.

For non ISA Credential Holders:

Please review the TRAQ Prerequisite Eligibility Catalogue, create an account with ISA https://wwv.isa-arbor.com/MyAccount/createAccount and submit your application for ISA approval before 20 Jan 2026 and enroll for the course upon approval. Please refer to the application video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vEJrbTZX2Y. An application submission fee will apply, $40 USD for ISA members and $50 USD for all others.

Course Fee:

Early Bird Pay before 12 Jan 2026

HK$5,700 for current Chapter Professional Member + ISA member,

HK$5,900 for ISA Member; 

HK$6,700 for Non-member

Pay before 29 Jan 2026

HK$6,300 for current Chapter Professional Member + ISA member,

HK$6,500 for ISA Member; 

HK$7,300 for Non-member

Retake TRAQ Assessment:

You will need to retake the component you did not pass until you get pass both the written and performance-based components within 1 year from the original TRAQ exam date.  Retake fee is $120 USD, please apply via ISA portal. You can select retake written exam in the upcoming TRAQ event or in computer-based at PearsonVue Center.

Payment:

Please deposit the payment to ISA Hong Kong Chapter's bank account*, email the bank-in slip and application form to certification@isahongkong.org. 

*Hang Seng Bank: (Bank code 024) 789-314119-001 or FPS ID: 101827012, (ISA Hong Kong Chapter Ltd.)

Application Form:  https://bit.ly/TRAQ260302_Form

Application Deadline: 29 Jan 2026

Refund policy:

·     A full refund if the registration is not accepted or class is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

·     After the application is submitted and approved by ISA, no refund would be given if the applicant could not attend the class due to personal reasons.

·     Registrations cannot be transferred to another individual. If you are registered and cannot attend the course - your registration can be moved to a future course. Administration fee of HK$500 may be charged for any changes of the application due to personal reasons.

TRAQ Study Materials:

Course manual and workbook are available for all successful enrolled participants. Manual will be provided in digital format and workbook will be provided at the class. Participants may purchase TRAQ manual and clipboard in the ISA Web Store.

Course Content:

The course content includes Levels of Assessment, Target Assessment, Site Assessment, Tree Biology and Mechanics, Tree Inspection and Assessment, Data Analysis and Risk Categorization, Mitigation, and Reporting. 

Qualification Period

The ISA TRAQ credential is valid for seven years. To reinstate your qualification after each seven-year period, you must retain and retest. You may complete the ISA TRAQ program as early as 18 months prior to your expiration date. No CEUs are needed to maintain this qualification. ISA credential holders will be offered 14.5 CEUs for attending the course.

More information about TRAQ can be viewed on the ISA Headquarters website, including:

*  About Tree Risk Assessment Qualification

*  Understanding the differences between a certification and a qualification

*  Tree Risk Assessment Candidate Handbook

For enquiry, please contact us at 3757 8078 or certification@isahongkong.org

Regards,

Certification Committee

ISA Hong Kong Chapter

Download TRAQ Application Form