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Hey, I'm looking at taking an online course, at level 4 or higher in arboriculture. I have found a few and it seems the more popular is the ABC level 4 diploma. I have found another one through a different company, but it doesn't seem to well recognised (even though the modulator is ofqual approved) could someone help me out abit please.

https://adlonlinecourses.com/diploma-in-arboriculture-vht090?search=Arboriculture

 

 

thanks a lot,

 

oli. 

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Im with Paul on this one and the tutors for the link you showed dont really seem to have specialist knowledge on Arboriculture. Im just finishing Level 4 off with Treelife and would highly recommend them. Andy's knowledge is brilliant and has been a practical arborist for 15 years plus a many years of arb consulting and lecturing so you are getting the real deal!

 

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Agree with the above two comments; having highly regarded professionals within the tree industry who have very in depth tree knowledge is invaluable. Tree Life/Training Tree within the industry would also carry a lot more weight on the CV than ADL

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21 hours ago, Treeation said:

Im with Paul on this one and the tutors for the link you showed dont really seem to have specialist knowledge on Arboriculture. Im just finishing Level 4 off with Treelife and would highly recommend them. Andy's knowledge is brilliant and has been a practical arborist for 15 years plus a many years of arb consulting and lecturing so you are getting the real deal!

 

I don't know if it's just the knowledge that Andy and David have, or the delivery of it, that creates such a good learning environment.

 

I did something else a few years ago, purely on a correspondence course, which didn't work for me at all. It came across as far less structured and I struggled to come to terms with what I had to research, learn and understand.

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On ‎02‎/‎08‎/‎2017 at 06:11, Oliver Francis said:

Hey, I'm looking at taking an online course, at level 4 or higher in arboriculture. I have found a few and it seems the more popular is the ABC level 4 diploma. I have found another one through a different company, but it doesn't seem to well recognised (even though the modulator is ofqual approved) could someone help me out abit please.

https://adlonlinecourses.com/diploma-in-arboriculture-vht090?search=Arboriculture

 

 

thanks a lot,

 

oli. 

The ABC Level 4 Diploma is a UK based, regulated qualification.  In other words it is quality assured by ABC and ABC are checked by Ofqual. And, even though its through another awarding body, I have to admit that its very good. Its also taught by arborists.

 

The other course you found is not.  That is to say, Not UK based ( the company offering it is, but read the blub on their Arb diploma - that's the one with the pic of a fruit tree - the clue is in the line "self-employment, local and state government positions".  Not many 'states' in the UK.  I think I once worked out that this course originates in Australia).  Its NOT regulated.  In other words, as far as the UK system is concerned, its not a qualification. Then look at the qualifications and experience of the tutors on the course, they are not arborists.

 

Your choice, but I know where I'd put my hard earned pennies.

 

 

 

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Hey Stuart, 

 

thanks for your reply. The ABC diploma is definitely more recognised and as you say it is taught by arborist which is great. However the course in the link I posted is regulated by a UK based modulator (TQUK) and is indeed a legitimate diploma in arboriculture. I emailed the arboriculture association and they would accept that qualification to become a member. I work as an arborist day in day out and I am constantly learning from colleagues and my own experiences so even though it is not taught by arborists, I still learn from them everyday. I'm ideally wanting to up my plant knowledge, soil knowledge etc. the price difference is over £2,000 in the courses so as much as the ABC diploma seems tip top, I can't justify spending an extra 2k for the same qualification. I do appreciate the comment though.

 

p.s I found out a lot of that information after posting

 

Oli. 

Edited by Oliver Francis
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Hi Oli

 

The Ofqual General Conditions of Recognition require that, for a UK regulated qualification, the awarding organisation includes in the title, the awarding body's name and the level of the qualification, and the size of the qualification.  Hence, in the Lantra Awards Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Rigging.  Lantra Awards is the awarding body, it is a level 3, and an Award ( typically upto 120 hours of study - a Certificate is 130 - 360 hours and a Diploma 370 hours+).  So a quick Google search will throw up things like the:

City & Guilds Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture

BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Forestry and Arboriculture

ABC Level 4 Diploma in Arboriculture

 

A search on TQUK diploma in Arboriculture will bring up lots of other TQUK qualifications, such as  

TQUK Level 2 Emergency First Aid at Work

TQUK Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Business Administration

TQUK Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training

 

But strangely, no TQUK Level ?? in Arboriculture.  A visit to the Ofqual register (https://register.ofqual.gov.uk/) will show that TQUK don't do one.

 

Be aware that although a training company that offers Lantra courses and qualifications, and will show our logo on their website, that doesn't stop them offering training or qualifications from other bodies, or indeed training that they have dreamed up for themselves.  Some awarding  bodies (including Lantra and C&G) will accredit and certificate training courses for training providers, however we are not allowed to refer to these as qualifications, and the structure of Level and Size of course ( as in Level 5 Diploma ) must not be used.

 

So you see, the statement that "This Diploma in Arboriculture is endorsed by TQUK " is, at best misleading  as this is still not a 'Qualification'.   Good, bad or indifferent though the content might be, the problem may come if you ever need to depend on having a 'qualification' to get a job etc.

 

Next, cut a section of the text e.g. "private specialist contracting businesses, self-employment, local and state government ", and, with the inverted commas on place, put that in a Google search.

It will throw up The Careers guide.com  "http://www.thecareersguide.com/Course-Land_Based_Industries-General_Horticulture-Qualification_CERTIFICATE_IN_ARBORICULTURE__VHT090-104"   who run the course in Australia, where it originates.  If the content from Aus is being used, be aware that the soils in the UK, amongst other things, are a bit different to those down under.

 

I hope that clarify the situation

Stuart

 

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On ‎04‎/‎08‎/‎2017 at 09:28, Oliver Francis said:

Hey Stuart, 

 

I emailed the arboriculture association and they would accept that qualification to become a member.

 

Oli. 

Hi Oli,

 

I've just spoken with Jess, our Membership Officer, and her comment was it needs to be accredited, i.e. backed up by a recognized awarding body as Stuart has mentioned, and if this was not UK based it would need to be demonstrated it was at the same UK level...and that would probably be your responsibility via, for instance, an organization such as NARIC (www.naric.org.uk) for which a cost would be incurred (circa £120 I think.) Further, and importantly, she suggested that if for instance you wanted to progress to the ABC Level 6 Diploma they, ABC, may not recognize it / accept it...might be worth enquiring too.

 

Just some further thoughts to ponder and it might be worthwhile making the NARIC enquiry up front perhaps?

 

Regards,

Paul

 

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