>

Qualification Requirements

Qualifications required towards AA membership grades

Some AA membership grades require applicants to hold an arboricultural (or related) qualification at a certain level in order to be accepted to that particular grade. The grades concerned are Technician (which requires a level 3 or higher qualification) and Fellow and Professional Member (level 5 or higher). The following groups detail examples of arboricultural and non-arboricultural qualifications that are acceptable for entry to these grades. If you are in doubt as to whether your qualifications are adequate, please contact AA membership. In some circumstances other criteria will also need to be met – please see the relevant grade for details.

Level 3 Qualifications

  1. Examples of arboricultural qualifications and certifications at level 3 or higher accepted for AA Technician Membership
    1. NVQ/SVQ Tree Work (Arboriculture) – Level 3 or Diploma in work-based Trees and Timber (Arboriculture)
    2. AA Technicians Certificate in Arboriculture (or post 2011 QCF equivalent)
    3. EAC European Tree Technician
    4. ISA Board Certified Master Arborist
    5. BTEC National Award, Certificate or Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture
    6. C&G Advanced National Certificate (Arboriculture)
    7. National Award (Arboriculture)
    8. National Diploma (Arboriculture)
    9. BTEC or C&G Level 3 Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture.
    10. HNC Arb [Higher National Certificate] in arboriculture or urban forestry (Level 4)
    11. ND Arb (RFS) [National Diploma in Arboriculture] attained before 1990
    12. Surrey County Diploma in Arboriculture 1988
    13. OND Agricultural Subjects Commercial Horticulture (Arboriculture Option) 1978
    14. Advanced Diploma in Work Based Learning Studies (Arboriculture and Community Forest Management) (Middlesex University)
    15. ABC Awards Level 4 Diploma or Certificate in Arboriculture
  2. Examples of related, non-arboricultural qualifications at level 3 accepted for AA Technician Membership grade (subject to adequate arboricultural CPD and experience)
    1. National Certificate - Level 3 (BTEC/EDEXCEL only) in Forestry, Horticulture, Countryside Management/Ecology, Landscape
    2. BTEC National Award, Certificate or Diploma in Horticulture or Countryside Management
    3. C&G Advanced National Certificate in Horticulture or Countryside Management
    4. BTEC or C&G Level 3 Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma in Horticulture or Countryside Management
    5. Diploma in Work-based Trees and Timber (Forestry establishment and maintenance, or Forestry social)
    6. Advanced National Certificate in Forestry, Horticulture, Countryside Management/Ecology, Landscape
    7. National Award in Forestry, Horticulture, Countryside Management/Ecology, Landscape
    8. National Diploma in Forestry, Horticulture, Countryside Management/Ecology, Landscape
    9. HNC in forestry; environmental science (e.g. ecology, countryside management etc.); horticulture (with arboricultural specialism); landscape design/landscape management (Level 4).
Please note: unfortunately we are not able to accept C&G NPTC Level 3 Certificates of Competence for Technician membership. 
 

Level 5 (or above) Qualifications

  1. Arboricultural qualifications at level 5 or accepted for AA Fellowship and Professional Membership grades
    1. Dip Arb (RFS) [the Professional Diploma in Arboriculture] (or post 2011 QCF equivalent)
    2. BSc or MSc [Degree or Masters] in arboriculture, urban forestry or Middlesex University’s Arboriculture & Community Forestry Management or Resource Management (Arboriculture)
    3. FdSc Arboriculture
    4. HND Arboriculture
    5. ABC Awards Level 6 Diploma in Arboriculture
    6. AALGO [Arboricultural Accreditation for Local Government Officers] – all units
    7. MICFor/FICFor [Member or Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters] attained by an arboricultural route / Chartered Arboriculturist.
  2. Related non-arboricultural qualifications at level 5 or above accepted for AA Fellowship and Professional Membership grades (subject to adequate arboricultural CPD and experience)
    1. BSc/MSc /HND/ FdSc in forestry; environmental science (e.g. ecology, countryside management etc.); horticulture (with arboricultural specialism); landscape design/landscape management
    2. MICFor/FICFor attained by a non arboricultural route.

If relying on qualifications from group 2 above your application must be supported by evidence of appropriate experience in the arboricultural industry (a record of relevant CPD for the last three years and a summary of your employment history detailing areas of personal responsibility).

Qualifications Notes: The above lists are not exhaustive. Potential applicants with other relevant qualifications (including international) may apply if they can supply evidence of their arboricultural competence through qualifications and experience. The Association may request such additional evidence as it sees fit.