Course Information
Online May 31st from 9:00 am to noon. The renewal will only be available to those who have been TOW Qualified for at least three (3) years. To maintain your Qualification, you must be an ISAT member and an ISA Certified Arborist or ISA Board Certified Master Arborist.
Agenda
The Texas Chapter ISA and the Texas A&M Forest Service developed the Oak Wilt Identification and Management Qualification Course and Assessment (TOWQ). The TOWQ is good for five (5) years. This "Virtual Renewal" will extend your Texas Oak Wilt Qualification for a period of three (3) years. To maintain your Texas Oak Wilt Qualification, you can either retake the two-day course and have a five (5) year extension or you can attend this course and extend for three (3) years. This three-hour workshop will discuss past oak wilt research and where current research is heading. It will cover the status of PCR for oak wilt diagnosis and the latest results of the "Micro/Macro" injection studies.
Each participant that successfully completes the course will maintain the status of Texas Oak Wilt Qualified. Your qualification will continue to be listed on the Texas Chapter website as well as on any handout and other materials referencing qualified individuals. While you will be listed on the website as Qualified, to be listed as an oak wilt vendor, you must have a TDA/Structural pesticide applicators license. (Required to sell any pesticide application.)
Dr. David Appel, Texas A&M and Dr. Demian Gomez and Erin Davis, Texas A&M Forest Service will be conducting the training.
Check your TOWQ expiration date and other information on the ISAT website : https://isatexas.com/for-the-public/texas-oak-wilt-qualified-arborists/ Please let us know of any changes or corrections in your posted information.
3 Continuing education units available
Course Pricing
ISA member: $125.00 USD (You must be a member Click Here to renew)
Member pricing is an exclusive benefit to ISAT members only. You must be a current ISAT member at the time of registration.
Cancellation Policy
A processing fee of $50 USD will be charged for all cancellations received on or before May 15, 2023. Cancellations after May 15, 2023, will be charged the full amount of the registration fee. Cancellation requests must be emailed to [email protected].
Prerequisites:
Applicants must be Texas Oak Wilt Qualified for at least three (3) years, an ISA Certified (or Board) Arborist, and a Texas Chapter ISA member.
Dr. Appel is a professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology (PLPM) at Texas A&M University. Since coming to Texas A&M in 1981, his research program has focused on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and control of forest and shade trees, with an emphasis on the devastating oak wilt epidemic in central Texas.
Demian works as the Regional Forest Health Coordinator for the Texas A&M Forest Service with focus in Central and West Texas. Dr. Gomez obtained his Bachelor and MSc in Forest Entomology studying invasive forest pests in commercial pine and eucalyptus plantations, and a PhD from the School of Forest Resources and Conservation at the University of Florida in 2020. His doctorate research focused on identification resources, emerging forest threats and pathways of introduction
Erin is a Staff Forester with the Texas A&M Forest Service based in Kerrville, with experience in educating communities and landowners in oak wilt management, proper tree care, and land management. She has a degree in Renewable Natural Resources and Forestry from Texas A&M University.
