Combination Arborist Course
The Combination Arborist Course is an intensive 4-week course specifically designed for those looking for a new career in tree surgery or candidates who currently work within the industry but without qualifications. Our course provides a successful candidate with the following qualifications:
- NPTC Units 201 (CS30) – 2-day Chainsaw Maintenance and Crosscutting + 1-day NPTC Assess
- NPTC Unit 202 (CS31) – 4-day Felling & Processing Trees up to 380mm diameter + 1-day NPTC Assess
- NPTC Units 203 (CS38) – 6-day Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue + 1-day NPTC Assess
- NPTC Unit 204 (CS39) – 3-day Aerial Cutting Of Trees With A Chainsaw Using Free-Fall Techniques +1-day NPTC Assess
- NPTC Unit 222 – Use of Woodchippers – this is run as a 1-day NPTC ITA course
- LANTRA Cert. – BTI Basic Tree Inspection – 1-day course
The City & Guilds NPTC Assessments for the felling and climbing units are undertaken by an independent City & Guilds NPTC Assessor. The cost of these assessments is fully covered by your course fees.
We arrange the assessments to be within a few days of the end of the individual courses.
Some of the City & Guilds NPTC units have pre-requisites, so you will need to pass these units before moving onto the next – see below:
- NPTC 204 (CS39) – pre-requisites: 201/202 (CS30/31) – chainsaw maintenance, cross cutting & felling up to 380mm and 203 (CS38) – tree climbing and aerial rescue
- NPTC 203 (CS38) – none
- NPTC 202 – (CS31) – pre-requisites: NPTC 201 (CS30) – chainsaw maintenance and cross-cutting
- NPTC 201 – (CS30) – none
- Passing the chainsaw (CS30) and felling (CS31) units is a pre-condition of taking the NPTC Unit 204 (CS39) assessment, so if a candidate did not pass NPTC Units 201 (CS30) or NPTC Unit 202 (CS31), they will not be able to progress to the Unit 204 until they have successfully passed the pre-requisites: NPTC Units 201/202 (CS30/31) and Units 203 (CS38). We will book you in for an assessment retake as quickly as possible. Candidates pay for any assessment retakes required.
- We also find that after continuous days of climbing a significant number of candidates are physically tired and feel that their performance on a test would be significantly impaired. If this is the case, where possible, we can defer the assessment until the candidate feels they are confident enough to pass. This must be organised with the office and it will depend on when the next available assessment date is.
- Climbing is a skill which it can take some time to become proficient, and consequently, a candidate who takes the time to practice and hone their skills is much more likely to pass. The assessment involves undertaking two simulated rescues, speed of movement in the tree is important – this comes with time and practice
What we sometimes recommend is for candidates to get a job in the industry and climb for a few months (which is perfectly legal as long as they are with a qualified climber) and then book their assessment.
City & Guilds NPTC is a national organisation and the climber can then either take the assessment locally or come back to us and take it here in Kent. If we have sufficient numbers we can often arrange a 1-day refresher on the previous day. However, if a candidate has a specific reason for NOT taking the assessment, or soon after, the end of the course (for example because they are going abroad) it is not usually a problem to re-arrange this. But we do require notice, as the Assessors are booked months in advance, and are paid for the whole day. We, will, of course, do all we can to find someone to take your place, but this does require notice please.
Cost and Booking
Course fee: £3300.00 (including VAT & NPTC Assessments)
Accommodation
Unfortunately, we are no longer able to offer accommodation. Please call the office to discuss this further, as there are some local options available.
