Link to NPTC website.

The National Proficiency Tests Council is a Registered Charity which provides a full range of National and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (NVQs/SVQs) for the land based and related industries. The following units are relevant to arboriculture. Full details of these and other units, including many specific to forestry, are available on the NPTC website.

February 2009:  Consultation on proposed changes
The Sector Skills Council has spent the last two years in discussion with the forestry and arboricultural industries to revise the National Occupational Standards for chainsaw users.  As a result of this consultation, all of the chainsaw units in the NPTC Certificate of Competence have been reviewed by a select group of chainsaw operators.  This group was comprised of employers/contractors, trainers and assessors from arboricultural and forestry backgrounds.  The revised assessment schedules are still only at the proposal stage and can be viewed HERE.  Comments on the revised Units and the overall structure can be sent to consultation@nptc.org.uk by 16 March 2009. 

The Assessment Schedule booklets for the following units can be downloaded free from the NPTC website. 

Chainsaw and Related Operations.

• CS30 - Maintain the Chain Saw
• CS31 - Fell & Process Small Trees
• CS32 - Fell & Process Medium Sized Trees
• CS33 - Fell & Process Large Trees 
• CS34 - Clear Individual Windblown Trees
• CS35 - Clear Multiple Windblown Trees
• CS36 - Cross-cut and Stack Produce
• CS37 - Breakdown Medium Sized Broadleaf Crowns
• CS38 - Climb Trees and Perform Aerial Tree Rescue
• CS39 - Use of a Chain Saw from a Rope and Harness
• CS40 - Carry out Pruning Operations
• CS41 - Undertake Sectional Felling Operations
• CS42 - Stump Protection
• CS44 - Fell Standing Stems

Arboricultural/Forestry and Related Machinery operations

• AO2098 - Hedge Laying
• AO2198 - Mobile Elevated Work Platforms
• AO110398 - Specialist Pruning Trees (Fruit Trees)
• AO0198 - Planting
• AO030198 - Bracing & Supporting (Cable/Propping/Rod)
• AO030298 - Bracing and Supporting (Rope)
• AO0698 - Brushwood Chipper
• AO0798 - Stump Grinder
• AO0898 - Chainsaw Maintenance and Operation (CS30,31,32)
• AO0998 - Pruning Operations (CS40)
• AO1098 - Dismantling Operations (CS41)
• AO110298 - Specialist Pruning (Hedge from Ground Level)
• AO120198 - Maintain and Operate Brush Cutter
• AO120298 - Maintain and Operate Clearing Saw / Brush Cutter
• AO130198 - Chainsaw Planking Attachment
• AO130398 - Mechanical Hedge Trimming (MO10)
• AO130498 - Mobile Saw Bench
• AO130598 - Mobile Peeler
• AO110198 - Specialist Pruning (Shrubs)
• AO130798 - Mobile Sawmill
• AO1498 - Brashing and Pruning with Hand Saw

Arboricultural Works Within the Proximity Zone of Overhead Lines.

• Mandatory Unit
  • UA1 - Basic Electrical Knowledge (Ground Worker)
• Optional Units
  • UA2 - Prune Trees
  • UA3 - Receive Safety Documentation
  • UA4 - Application and Removal of Earths/LV Bonds
  • UA5 - Site Survey

The NPTC presents details of all their available qualifications and training centres on the NPTC website.