Added on 30/12/2011Article

AA Technicians Certificate


By Chris Skellern (2000)



Introduction


The Arboricultural Associations(AA) technicians certificate examination started in 1988 and now attracts numerous applicants every year. According to the AA, it is aimed at those in supervisory management, middle management, supervisory and technical posts. It is considered an equivalent to the BTEC National Diploma and acts as a useful step towards the RFS Professional Diploma qualification. The AA operate an open access approach to applicants and hence there are no pre-entry requirements.
The AA do not supply training for the examination, they only organise the examinations. They do, however offer an information sheet, syllabus and copies of past examination papers.

The Examination


The examination consists of two parts, the written section and the practical section. You must take and pass the written section before you can take the practical. Each section takes 1 day to complete, with the written section being held at a choice of two colleges (one of which is usually Merrist Wood, Guildford, England). The practical is usually held at a college near Shrewsbury, England.

The Written Section


This part of the exam is taken in June and consists of two papers, with time allowed of 2.5 hours per paper. You sit one paper in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each paper consists of a compulsory short answer section and a longer answer section where you can choose 4 questions from 8. You need to achieve an overall 50% aggregate pass mark with a 45% pass mark on each paper to proceed onto the practical section of the examination. You are not permitted to talk to other applicants or use any kind of reference aids during the exam.

The Practical Section


This part of the exam is taken in September and consists of four parts. You take 2 parts in the morning and 2 parts in the afternoon. Each different part tests you on a particular theme. The four themes are likely to concentrate on (1)trees and development, (2) woodlands, (3) identification and (4) site operations/safety. You need to obtain an overall 50% aggregate pass to achieve the qualification with at least a 40% pass in each individual part. If you fail, you can retake the practical section on two more occasions in any 5 year period; fail both times and you must start again and retake the written section.

Upon arriving for the practical exam you are split into small groups and given a timetable showing the order in which the parts are to be taken. You are not permitted to talk to other applicants or use any kind of reference aids during the exams. The identification part consists of 20 numbered foliage samples and 10 numbered pests/diseases samples to identify and comment upon. It is not enough to simply name the sample using the correct spelling of the botanical name but also to comment upon its arboricultural use and with the case of the pests and diseases, to comment upon suitable control measures.

During the remaining parts you are given a specific task to carry out in the allocated time. This may be for example, to carry out a tree survey, or a woodland survey or an implication study for a development. The questions are answered in writing with drawings allowed, to illustrate any points you need to make. During each of these practical parts, the examiner will call you away from the group for ten minutes, to ask you specific oral questions on the subject of this part of the practical. For example, during the development part of the exam, the examiner may quiz you on BS5837 or trees in relation to clay soils. You need to achieve a percentage pass in each oral examination.

General


I successfully passed both parts of the exam this year (1999) and offer the following notes to others who are considering taking the AA tech cert.

If you can, take a preparatory course at a college; I took such a course at Merrist Wood and found it invaluable. It is essential to be aware of all recent legislation and practice relating to arboriculture and such a course will ensure you are informed. You also have the opportunity to meet like-minded people. The Merrist Wood course students included tree officers, arborists, consultants and some with no previous knowledge or experience.
Obtain copies of past examination papers and practice sitting the exam without distractions. You need to manage your time by allocating so many minutes per question.
You should know your weaknesses and concentrate on revising those particular areas. For instance, can you instantly produce a BS5837 based tree survey schedule template, or a risk assessment template or perhaps a woodland survey template? If you can not, you must learn to.
One of my revision techniques used a handheld Dictaphone with information recorded onto microtape. During the car journey to the exam I played the tapes continuously until I knew legislation, dates, acts of parliament, botanical names of trees/fungi etc off by heart.
You must be suitably equipped for the practical section with protection against rain. They operate the exam in all weather conditions. I took the development section in a stand of trees, in the pouring rain with sheep nibbling my rucksack. An umbrella and weatherwriter folder is recommended.
During the oral examinations, the examiners will prompt you if you get stuck but will also happily lead you deeper into your hole if you try to fool them!

Example Examination Questions


Here are a few edited examples of questions from the long answer section of the 1999 written examination section.

•What points should be considered during an assessment of a tree in proximity to clay soils? Discuss pruning as a means of management on clay soils?
•List 10 reforms and the corresponding problem which led to the proposed change on the DETR TPO consultation paper?
•Describe with diagrams the different types of bracing systems?
Name an author and describe his theory of 'Motivation in the Workplace'?
•Define the criteria, the importance of retaining and the outline principles for managing veteran trees?
•Explain the arboricultural implications for LOLER and PUWER?
Describe the steps required to renovate a neglected area of semi-natural woodland.
•Describe the criteria to be considered when choosing Advanced Nursery Stock. Explain what steps are necessary to ensure successful establishment of this stock.
•Describe the role and movement of water (1) in the soil, (2)through the plant and (3) into the atmosphere.

Other questions dealt with bats, purchase of equipment, planning, health & safety, reclaimed land planting, physiology and disease control.