arboriculture qualifications

Level 2 - Skilled Worker (Blue)

Refresher Training for Arborist Blue Skilled Worker LISS/CSCS Cards

Any Chainsaw qualifications that are applicable to the blue skilled LISS/CSCS card category and are more than 5 years old will require either, evidence of refresher training, or evidence of upskilling to a higher level chainsaw qualification.

Any refresher training must be supported by certification from Lantra or a City and Guild Digital Certificate at a grade 3 or above (full access to the digital certificate must be given so we can validate the grade).

It is the employers’ responsibility to ensure the individual is adequately trained and competent in all related areas of their job role. This will also be applicable on renewal of all cards.

LISS/CSCS Refresher Chainsaw Guidance

Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-Cutting ONLY

Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance
Level 2 Award in Cross-cut Timber Using a Chainsaw

Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cutting

Tree Climbing & Aerial Rescue ONLY

Level 2 Award in Accessing a Tree Using a Rope and Harness
Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Rescue Operations

Level 2 Award in Tree Climbing and Rescue

Stump Grinder ONLY

Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of a Stump Grinder (QCF)

Stump Grinder ITA

Groundsman (Blue)

Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance
Level 2 Award in Cross-cut Timber Using a Chainsaw
Level 2 Award in Accessing a Tree Using a Rope and Harness
Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Rescue Operations
ITA Woodchipper/City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Manually Fed Wood-chipper

Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cutting
Level 2 Award in Tree Climbing and Rescue
ITA Woodchipper/City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Manually Fed Wood-chipper

Ground-based Chainsaw User (Blue)

Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance
Level 2 Award in Cross-cut Timber Using a Chainsaw
Level 2 Award in Felling and Processing Trees up to 380mm

Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cutting
Level 2 Award in Felling and Processing Trees up to 380mm

Advanced Ground-based Chainsaw User (Blue)

Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance
Level 2 Award in Cross-cut Timber Using a Chainsaw
Level 2 Award in Felling and Processing Trees up to 380mm
Level 3 Award in Felling and Processing Trees over 380mm
Level 3 Award in Severing Uprooted or Windblown Trees using a Chainsaw
Level 3 Award in Assisted Fell Operations
Level 2 Award in Supporting Colleagues Undertaking Off Ground Tree Related Operations

Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cutting
Level 2 Award in Felling and Processing Trees up to 380mm
Level 3 Award in Felling and Processing Trees over 380mm
Level 3 Award in Severing Uprooted or Windblown Trees using a Chainsaw
Level 3 Award in Assisted Fell Operations
Level 2 Award in Supporting Colleagues Undertaking Off Ground Tree Related Operations

Arborist Chainsaw User (Off Ground) (Blue)

Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance
Level 2 Award in Cross-cut Timber Using a Chainsaw
Level 2 Award in Felling and Processing Trees up to 380mm
Level 2 Award in Accessing a Tree Using a Rope and Harness
Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Rescue Operations
Level 3 Award in Aerial Cutting of Trees with a Chainsaw Using Free-fall Techniques Or Level 2 Award in using Chainsaw from a Rope and Harness (0039-23)

Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cutting
Level 2 Award in Felling and Processing Trees up to 380mm
Level 2 Award in Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue
Level 3 Award in Aerial Cutting of Trees with a Chainsaw Using Free-fall Techniques Or Level 2 Award in using Chainsaw from a Rope and Harness (0039-23)

Advanced Arborist Chainsaw User (Off Ground) (Blue Card)

Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance
Level 2 Award in Cross-cut Timber Using a Chainsaw
Level 2 Award in Felling and Processing Trees up to 380mm
Level 2 Award in Accessing a Tree Using a Rope and Harness
Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Rescue Operations
Level 3 Award in Aerial Cutting of Trees with a Chainsaw Using Free-fall Techniques Or Level 2 Award in using Chainsaw from a Rope and Harness (0039-23)
Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Pruning
Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Rigging

Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cutting
Level 2 Award in Felling and Processing Trees up to 380mm
Level 2 Award in Tree Climbing and Rescue
Level 3 Award in Aerial Cutting of Trees with a Chainsaw Using Free-fall Techniques Or Level 2 Award in using Chainsaw from a Rope and Harness (0039-23)
Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Pruning
Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Rigging

Utility Arborist Surveyor (Electrical Networks)

Lantra Level 2 Award in Utility Arboriculture - Basic Electrical Knowledge (or industry-accepted equivalent)
Lantra Level 3 Award in Utility Arboriculture – Surveyor (Electrical Networks)

City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate of Competence in Utility Arboriculture
Units: UA1 Basic Electrical Knowledge
UA2.1Tree species recognition, growth characteristics and associated hazards
UA5.1 Utility Arboriculture Surveyor – Practices
UA5.2 Utility Arboriculture Surveyor – Principles

Utility Arborist Surveyor (Railway Networks)

Lantra Level 2 Award in Utility Arboriculture - Basic Electrical Knowledge (or industry-accepted equivalent)
Lantra Awards Level 3 Award in Utility Arboriculture – Surveyor (Railway Networks)

Professional Tree Inspector

LANTRA Professional Tree Inspection (or equivalent recognised awarding body/registered organisation)

Forest Machine Operator - (The applicant must be trained, qualified and competent in each individual forest machine they operate) (Blue Card)

Forest Worker Feller Buncher Operator

City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations - Base Machine
City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations - Felling

Forest Worker Harvest Operator

City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations - Base Machine with Felling and Processing

City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations - Base Machine
City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations – Felling

Forest Worker Forward Extraction Operator

City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations - Base Machine with Forwarder

City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations - Base Machine
City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations – Forwarder

Forest Worker Skidder Extraction Operator

City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations - Base Machine with Skidder

City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations - Base Machine
City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations – Skidder

Forest Worker Establishment Operator

City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations - Base Machine
City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations - Drainage and Mounding

Forest Machine Operations - Flail/Mulcher

City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations - Base Machine
City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations – Flail/Mulcher

Trainee Supervisor (Red) Working towards Level 3 Qualifications or Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager (Red)

Level 3 Certificate in Forestry and Arboriculture (QAN 500/8719/8)
Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture (QAN 500/8724/1)
Level 3 Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture (QAN 500/8564/5)
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture (QAN 500/8720/4)
Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber (QAN 501/0304/0) Pathways:
0083-31 Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber (Forestry Harvesting)
0083-32 Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber (Forestry Establishment and Maintenance)
0083-33 Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber (Forestry Social)
0083-34 Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber (Forestry Green Wood Trades)
0083-35 Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber (Arboriculture)
Level 3 Diploma in Arb (BTEC) Edexcel
Level 3 National Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture
ABC Level 3 Technicians Certificate in Arboriculture
HNC Level 3 in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry (SQA)
National Diploma in Forestry (BTEC) Edexcel
National Diploma in Tree Management and Aboriculture
Edexcel level 3BTEC National Certificate in Forestry and Arboriculture

Level 3 - Supervisor (Gold)

Level 3 Certificate in Forestry and Arboriculture (QAN 500/8719/8)
Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture (QAN 500/8724/1)
Level 3 Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture (QAN 500/8564/5)
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture (QAN 500/8720/4)
Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber (QAN 501/0304/0) Pathways:
0083-31 Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber (Forestry Harvesting)
0083-32 Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber (Forestry Establishment and Maintenance)
0083-33 Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber (Forestry Social)
0083-34 Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber (Forestry Green Wood Trades)
0083-35 Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber (Arboriculture)
Level 3 Diploma in Arboriculture (BTEC) Edexcel
Level 3 National Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture
ABC Level 3 Technicians Certificate in Arboriculture
HNC Level 3 in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry (SQA)
National Diploma in Forestry (BTEC) Edexcel
National Diploma in Tree Management and Aboriculture
Edexcel level 3BTEC National Certificate in Forestry and Arboriculture

Supervisory units must be included in the unit breakdown

Trainee Manager (Red) or Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager (Red)

ABC Level 4 Diploma in Arboriculture
ABC Level 6 Professional Diploma in Arboriculture
Level 5 Diploma in Principles of Leadership & Management in Landbased Settings (QCF) (Require relevant field unit breakdown)
ABC Level 4 Certificate in Arboriculture

Level 4 - Manager (Black)

ABC Level 4 Diploma in Arboriculture
ABC Level 6 Professional Diploma in Arboriculture
Level 5 Diploma in Principles of Leadership & Management in Landbased Settings (QCF) (Require relevant field unit breakdown)
ABC Level 4 Certificate in Arboriculture

Red Trainee (AQP) Academically Qualified Person - Working towards a relevant Arboriculture degree:

Arboriculture related Degree (proof of enrolment)

(AQP) Academically Qualified Person (White/Yellow)

Kew Diploma
Professional Diploma in Arboriculture (L6)
HND in Arboriculture (BTEC) Edexcel
HNC in Arboriculture (BTEC) Edexcel
Bachelor Degree in Forestry and Forest Products
Bachelor Degree in Forest and Woodland Management
Bachelor of Science in Arboriculture and Tree Management
MSc in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry

If you hold a Level 4 (or above) qualification relevant to this sector and it is not listed, please contact BALI for review of this qualification

Trainee (PQP) Professionally Qualified Person (Red)

Provide proof of current membership as a Technician/Associate/Student/ member of the Arboricultural Association

Institute of Chartered Foresters - Provide current evidence of your Technician/Associate/Student membership

(PQP) Professionally Qualified Person (White/Yellow):

Provide proof of current membership as a Full/Fellow Professional Member of Arboricultural Association

Institute of Chartered Foresters - Provide current evidence of your Chartered/Fellow membership

NOTE: OVERSEAS QUALIFICATIONS

If you have a land-based related qualification that was awarded outside the UK and is not currently recognised by LISS/CSCS you should contact Ecctis so that they can review your qualification and determine whether it is comparable to an NVQ, SVQ or other qualification appropriate to your occupation and the LISS/CSCS SmartCard you wish to apply for.

To find out further information please click here.

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