M C A
U P D A T E
MCA STUDY GUIDE 3.0
March 2020
Hello fellow MCAs,
Key Updates
for the
MCA Study Guide Revision
The days are getting longer and the sun is getting stronger. Spring is in
sight! That means warmer weather, spring blossoms, and baseball. It also
means that the April 10 MCA exam is right around the corner. That’s
right, it is back after taking the Fall off for a thorough revision.
It has been a busy year for the MCA exam committee. I want to thank
everyone involved for their amazing efforts revising and preparing ques-
tions for the new exam, Study Guide 3.0 and the MCA Overview Course.
Thank you to Russell Holman, MCA , Max Ford-Diamond, MCA , Julie
Coop, MCA and Mollie Freilicher, MCA for their extra efforts getting the
Overview Course ready for February 28.
For those preparing for the MCA exam, don’t forget that the exam is
being developed using the MCA Study Guide along with the additional
resources listed on the Study Guide web page.
massarbor.org/MCA_Study_Guide_UPDATE
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We hope you are finding the new A300 Best Management Practices man-
uals easy to access and use. Be sure to take advantage of the 10% discount
offered by our colleagues at TCIA if you’re purchasing these new materials.
A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to keep the MCA exam current
to reflect all the latest industry standards. In my opinion, the MCA pro-
gram truly represents the highest standard in our
industry, and it is important to our organization
to maintain the integrity that the MCA credential
represents. Again, cheers to everyone involved in
making this happen.
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We are expecting a full house at the April exam so
please get your exam application in as quickly as
possible. We are looking forward to a fantastic
turnout and to welcoming a new group of MCAs
this Spring.
Brandon Maltby, MCA
MCA Committee
Chair
All the best to my fellow MCAs and MAA
members!
Sales of MCA Study Guide 3.0 are open at
the MAA website. Purchase of the Study
Guide 3.0 grants login access to the new
online study guide at MassArbor.org.
Owners of the MCA Study Guide 2.0 are
automatically granted access to the online
MCA Study Guide 3.0.
In addition to access to the MCA Study
Guide 3.0, additional resource materials
are strongly recommended for exam
preparation. We will be using the latest
A300 Best Management Practice Manuals
to derive questions for certain topics on
the exam. You will find links for obtaining
these resources at MassArbor.org.
The MCA Committee has chosen these
supplemental resources for exam prepara-
tion because they provide the most com-
prehensive and current arboriculture
practices. These resources may be shared
in companies where multiple people are
preparing for the exam.
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April 10 exam registration is now open
at MassArbor.org. Register early to guar-
antee your seat.
R E C E R T I F I C AT I O N FA Q s
When is my sheet due? Where can I earn credits?
Tally sheets are due every year by February 15 for the
previous year. After February 15, a $50 late fee applies. Plan ahead for 2020 by using the Credit Opportunities link at the MAA web
page. Remember that 2 safety and 2 education credits are required each year.
What is the best way to submit my sheet? I’m having trouble earning safety credits
We encourage you to save resources by submitting electroni-
cally. You can use the online portal to upload your sheet at
the website or just email your sheet to [email protected]
in PDF or JPG format. (Yes, USPS mail is also still acceptable!) Many people wonder whether in-house safety training counts toward MCA
recertification credits. Yes, it does! This must be documented training – you
need signed attendance records and a record of the topics covered, the length
of time of the training and the agenda. If you have questions about your
in-house training, feel free to ask the MCA Committee.
MAA NEWS / March 2020 5