Tree course recommendations

[Olis]

Haya, 

 

I'm keen to retrain as a tree surgeon. I've spoken to a couple of tree surgeons and they've both suggested that I do an intensive course that gives me all of the npct tickets as it gives a better overview of tree health and species ID than doing them individually. I was specifically recommended Merrist Wood's 10 week course. However they're not running one until next year. 

 

Plumpton college has a 8 week course covering the same content sooner but I wondered if you guys had any recommendations for courses.

 

Realistically I'm probably only going to want to do practical tree surgery for 7-10 years before moving into a more theoretical role so I am interested in a holistic approach.

[Retired Climber]

If you actually want to make a career out of it do a more academic qualification. Any donkey can pass the NPTC certificates; they are pretty much un-failable in order to give those not capable of much else to get some qualifications. 

[Ian Clarke]

Kingswood training in Kent is a very good choice for nptc qualifications. I don't know if they have anything running atm but worth a shout.

And as retired climber says do a level 2/4 to start an academic side of things. I would recommend tree life run by Dave Dowson. They are based in Leicestershire.

[Olis]

1 hour ago, Ian Clarke said:

Kingswood training in Kent is a very good choice for nptc qualifications. I don't know if they have anything running atm but worth a shout.

And as retired climber says do a level 2/4 to start an academic side of things. I would recommend tree life run by Dave Dowson. They are based in Leicestershire.

Kingswood actually have courses for the first couple of nptc qualifications in May, which is the soonest I've seen it. Useful to know they're good, thank you

[Olis]

4 hours ago, Retired Climber said:

If you actually want to make a career out of it do a more academic qualification. Any donkey can pass the NPTC certificates; they are pretty much un-failable in order to give those not capable of much else to get some qualifications. 

Plus a tree surgery route into the field doesn't pay particularly well. I know its probably not the most sensible thing to be doing but I really want to spend a bit of time doing a job where at the end of the day you've got something to show for your efforts 

[Chris at eden]

23 minutes ago, Olis said:

Plus a tree surgery route into the field doesn't pay particularly well. I know its probably not the most sensible thing to be doing but I really want to spend a bit of time doing a job where at the end of the day you've got something to show for your efforts 

Not sure what you are saying. Do you want to work as a tree surgeon or go straight into a technical role?  

[Olis]

Hi Chris.

 

Looking back over my work history I've always changed the focus of my career after 5 to 7 years and I suspect I'll continue to want a new challenge after about that time. I'm keen to get into tree surgery in a way that makes it easy for me go on to get the qualifications to be an inspector or a tree officer, rather than getting qualifications as cheaply as possible and then working on commercial stuff where quality isn't the focus

[Retired Climber]

8 hours ago, Olis said:

Hi Chris.

 

Looking back over my work history I've always changed the focus of my career after 5 to 7 years and I suspect I'll continue to want a new challenge after about that time. I'm keen to get into tree surgery in a way that makes it easy for me go on to get the qualifications to be an inspector or a tree officer, rather than getting qualifications as cheaply as possible and then working on commercial stuff where quality isn't the focus

You don't go into the more 'academic / theory' side of the work for th money. How much do you think an LA tree officer earns? 

[Khriss]

Odd one,  just doing  several years climbing then moving on into an administrative role? Its more a choice to do it for yr younger end of yr career then hop up into specialised pursuit. When yr too tired fr the everyday, plus you may end up with knackered back or joints from climbing that dog you thru yr life    k

[Chris at eden]

On 19/04/2021 at 23:25, Olis said:

Hi Chris.

 

Looking back over my work history I've always changed the focus of my career after 5 to 7 years and I suspect I'll continue to want a new challenge after about that time. I'm keen to get into tree surgery in a way that makes it easy for me go on to get the qualifications to be an inspector or a tree officer, rather than getting qualifications as cheaply as possible and then working on commercial stuff where quality isn't the focus

That is basically what i did.  I did a 1 year course full time at a college in Somerset in 1997.  It covered the climbing, chainsaws and felling on Monday and Tuesday.  Then Wednesday, Thursday and Friday it was the theory.  I was 23 at the time.  I then worked on the tools until i was 30 before i got a job as a junior TO.  If you are a similar age and want to do a bit of the practical side then i would recommend this approach. 

 

You can go straight to the advisory side though.  Someone else said look at the Level 2, 4 and 6 qualifications through tree life.  This is good advice.  I had already covered level 2 with my full time course above but i did level 4 with tree life back in 2005, well the old Tech Cert version.  That will get you an interview for a junior TO job or surveyor, i got a junior TO job with it.  I then did L6 in 2012, got a better TO job, I actually got the job in 2010 on the understanding i upped my qualifications to at least L5.  I finished L6 in 2014 and started doing consultancy, the next step up.  I am now doing expert witness training which is a step up again.  Point is, if you go straight to advisory, you don't have to stand still.  There is a lot of space to grow into.  There are different areas also - risk, subsidence, planning, etc.  

 

cheers 

 

chris