The Arboricultural Association has recently produced a new leaflet about gaining a career in arboriculture and qualifications that will help progress such a career. A text version of the leaflet can be viewed below but a full colour brochure can be obtained by contacting admin@trees.org.uk

(Arboricultural Association
September 2006)

Arboriculture - the production and management of trees and woody plants where amenity is a primary objective. Examples of arboricultural activities include tree planting, pruning, felling, management and the provision of tree related advice.

There are a number of ways of starting a career in arboriculture:

Practical - undertaking tree planting, pruning, felling and other maintenance tasks (people called arborists or 'tree surgeons'). Because tree climbing and the use of arboricultural machinery is potentially dangerous there is almost always a need for some training and certification before commencement.

Most employers will help employees gain certification whilst working but basic chainsaw certification is a legal requirement and is likely to be necessary before employment (see Competence-Based Craft-Level Awards following).

Training - there is a growing range of qualifications at various levels available to people wanting to start (and progress) a career in arboriculture. The most appropriate qualification will depend on the persons age, experience, existing qualifications and aspirations. The main arboricultural qualifications are shown below.

A combination of the two - e.g. day release, block release or distance learning whilst undertaking a practical job.

Apprenticeships an Apprenticeship is a government funded work-based training programme aimed primarily at young people between the ages of 16 and 25.

Apprenticeship

an Apprenticeship is a government funded work-based training programme aimed primarily at young people.

Apprenticeships offer people the opportunity to "earn and learn", to learn the skills they need through a combination of work-based and off the job training, whilst being employed within their chosen industry.

Apprentices undertake National (or Scottish) Vocational Qualifications in arboriculture and tree work, certificates of competence in the safe use of chainsaws and pesticides, first aid training and core skills such as communication, numeracy and information technology.

See the Lantra website for more details www.lantra.co.uk/products/apprenticeships.asp or e-mail connect@lantra.co.uk
or telephone 0845 7078007.

A practical, academic or combined background can be a sound footing for moving into a managerial role:

Local Government - the 'Tree Officer' has considerable influence over prominent amenity trees and is usually either

Planning based administering tree protection law and having most influence over privately owned trees, or

Parks based managing the council's own trees and advising the council on tree health and safety management issues.

Arboricultural Consultant - an arboricultural consultant provides advice to tree owners and managers.

Arboricultural Contractor - a successful practical arboriculture ('tree surgery') company will require effective management and control, usually by a person who has worked their way up through the company. Depending on the size of the company they may still undertake some practical tasks or may be devoted solely to its management.

Various industry bodies provide accreditation schemes covering these three main areas of arboriculture:

For Tree Officers
The AA offers Arboricultural Accreditation for Local Government Officers (AALGO) - an NVQ style accreditation scheme assessing and certifying workplace competence.

For Consultants
The AA offers the Arboricultural Association Registered Consultant (AARC) scheme - a status that is conferred upon consultants who can demonstrate that they are competent in the wide field of arboricultural consultancy and communicate information to a range of client types from small domestic clients to magistrates, planning inspectors, etc.

The ICF also offers accreditation by awarding Chartered status to arboriculturists who meet similar criteria.

For Contractors
For individual arborists the EAC and the ISA offer accreditation to arborists demonstrating craft-level competence with underpinning knowledge.

For arboricultural contracting companies the AA offers the Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor (AAAC) scheme - a status that can be achieved by a company demonstrating that it is competent in the wide field of arboricultural contracting tasks within a culture of health and safety and customer care.

NQF levels for some qualifications are notional only. Type, location and duration of study and assessment methods are a guide only and may vary between colleges

National
Qualifications
Framework

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4-5

Level 6-8

Level of responsibility of task or skill

Routine practical skills carried out under supervision

Practical skills carried out under minimal (or no) supervision, underpinning knowledge of arboricultural principles required, communication with colleagues

Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and the public, sound theory knowledge that can be applied to tree management practices. Gives some supervision.

Management skills in formulation of solutions and responses to complex problems, training and development of others. Use high levels of technical knowledge and expertise to generate ideas and resolve tree management problems

As for level 4-5 but in addition a strategic approach to the role. Development of new and creative approaches and involvement in research. Ability to critically review concepts and information. Highly specialised technical knowledge and skills across a range of arboricultural issues

Vocational Qualifications

NVQ/SVQ Level 2
Arboriculture
Work place, own pace, assessed

NVQ/SVQ Level 3
Tree work (Arboriculture)
Work place, own pace, assessed

Professional Qualifications

RFS Certificate in Arb


College or self study, day release or part time, 1 yr, exam and assessment

AA Technician's Certificate in Arboriculture

College or self study, day release or part time, exam and assessment

Academic Qualifications

National Certificate
College, full or part time, 2 yrs, exam and assessment

Higher National Certificate (NQF level 4)
College, full or part time, 2 yrs, exam and assessment

Honours Degree BSc (Hons)
College, FDSc plus 1 yr, exam and assessment

City & Guilds Phase II           Advanced National
Tree Surgery                          Certificate

College, 12 wk - 1 yr, full or part time, exam and assessment

Higher National Diploma (NQF level 5)
College, full or part time, 2-3 yrs, exam and assessment

Masters Degree(MSc)(NQF level 7)
BSc + 1 yr or more, full or part time research, exam and assessment

Career Opportunities

Arborist's assistant

Ground person

Climber

Self-employed contractor

Supervisor of tree-gang

Assistant tree officer

College instructor

Tree Surveyor

Owner/manager of
tree work company

Tree officer
(arboriculture/woodland)

College lecturer

Arboriculture/woodland consultant

Expert witness

Arboriculture contracts manager

Senior college lecturer

Senior Tree Officer/Advisor to government

Researcher

Senior arb/woodland consultant

Expert in specialist area

Arboricultural Qualifications

Qualifications can be:

Vocational (e.g. chainsaw certification
    NVQs, SVQs and apprenticeships).

These are competence based awards achieved by the assessment of work-based skills often at the workplace. Assessment may be continuous arranged to suit the candidate. The AA's accreditation schemes for Tree Officers (AALGO), Consultants (AARC) and Contractors (AAAC) fit this category of qualification

Professional (e.g. Technicians' Certificate
    in Arboriculture).

Organised by industry bodies and studied at home or on day/block release candidates enjoy being able to work (and earn) whilst learning and apply learning immediately to the workplace. It requires personal discipline, out-of-hours study, expenditure on books and usually concludes with an examination

Academic (e.g., National Certificate in
    Arboriculture, University Degrees etc)

Studied full or part time through a college candidates enjoy a structured and well resourced college learning environment, may receive a grant and may benefit from distance learning opportunities and continuous assessment. This type of study can be time consuming.

Competence-Based Craft-Level Awards

It is a legal requirement that anyone using a chainsaw in their work must be suitably trained and competent to do so. This usually means that they must take and pass a competence-based test.

Training leading to the assessment is available from a number of sources including land base colleges and independent trainers. Lantra Awards provides a comprehensive suite of training courses leading to NPTC competence-based tests (competencies or 'units') for chainsaw use and other arboricultural activities.

Chainsaw units range from on ground chainsaw use and felling to aerial use of a chainsaw in dismantling operations. There are specialised units for work near electricity services. Units also exist for other arboricultural machinery operation (e.g. wood chippers, stump grinders, mobile elevating work platforms) and skills (e.g. planting, cable bracing, hand tool pruning etc.).

Further details can be gained by contacting your local college, independent trainer or from NPTC or Lantra Awards. The possession of relevant certificates of competence will be extremely helpful in gaining work with arboricultural contracting firms.

Continuing Professional Development

Career progression will usually be matched to the arboriculturist's personal development or 'continuing professional development', CPD. It is important to keep a record of CPD.

CPD can take a variety of forms:

Formal training resulting in an academic or vocational qualification (see diagram overleaf). Arboriculturists should consult with the awarding body regarding the suitability of the qualification for their intended career progression and regarding pre-entry qualifications (if any)

Specialist training e.g. conferences, seminars and workshops arranged by trade and professional organisations

Reading newsletters and Journals, committee or project work as part of a trade or professional organisation, networking.