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.

Chainsaw and Related Operations.

• CS30 - Maintain the Chain Saw
• CS42 - Stump Protection
• CS31A - Fell Small Trees (Conifer)
• CS31B - Fell Small Trees (Broadleaf)
• CS32A - Fell Medium Sized Trees (Conifer)
• CS32B - Fell Medium Sized Trees (Broadleaf)
• CS33A - Fell Large Trees (Conifer)
• CS33B - Fell Large Trees (Broadleaf)
• 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 - Operate the Chain Saw from a Rope and Harness
• CS40 - Carry out Pruning Operations
• CS41 - Carry out Dismantling Operations

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 up to and Including 400kv.

• AE1 - Electrical Hazard Awareness
• AE2A - Tree Work Operations (ground and platform)
• AE2B - Aerial Tree Work Operations
• AE3 - Arboricultural Team Leader
• AE4 - Arboricultural Team Leader (Electrical Earthing)
• AE5 - Risk Assessor/Surveyor

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