Arb Assoc'-

[Peter Marsh]

Hello, not really sure any level of membership to the AA is really worth it!!!! I am however, willing to be convinced.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

It seems to me that this reqiures input from some big guns from the acedemic fraternity, though if i was one of them having seen the mickey mouse type remarks i would feel less than enthusiastic.

 

I will say this, I have worked on projects that where assesed and advised, planned out by "consultants" on a great deal more money than I, I know from personel and repeated example that qualifications do not make you an "expert"

 

i am doing my degree at the moment, learning a great deal too, but i do not see why i have to waste my very limited time and resources going of utilities or nursery practice at this stage of my game? if I was going to change anything it would be to ensure that each level of cert is not in any way shape or form or elemts reapeated in the one below.

 

If you want to advance and study a specialist subject within arboriculture and gain a bachelors why study principles and nursery practice? im going to be nowhere near those areas! that to me is a waste.

 

God the spelling and gramma is awful! i must type with less emotion and speed!

 

I think maybe we need to see a shake up to match the many arboriculture areas of study. some want to go to forestry, others the production and nursery, me i am a man of fungi, ecology and ancient veteran trees.

 

if you think we have it bad in arboriculture, just try getting into mycology, now theres a subject youll find hard to study, there is no route!

Edited December 17, 2009 by Tony Croft aka hamadryad

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

i will also add, membership and progression within its system is what we proffesionals subscribe to in order not only to support the many areas the AA try to advance assist etc but to prove a continual and sustained program of personal and proffesional development. Wether you agree with much of what the organisation does or is, excluding yourself hurts you and the idustry. get involved or you have no basis for an opinion, am i wrong?

[David Humphries]

I think maybe we need to see a shake up to match the many arboriculture areas of study. some want to go to forestry, others the production and nursery, me i am a man of fungi, ecology and ancient veteran trees.

,

 

Try giving Andy Cowan a call, there is a move a foot to put together an Arb/Ecology degree with aspirations to have something in place to sign onto in the next year or two, but ya didn't here that from me right

 

 

 

 

.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

funny you should say that!

[Arbocop]

My question was however.."what is the difference between a National Certificate and a National Certificate..."

Honestly, the whole thing turns into some kinda elaborate "hoop jumping" exercise....I wanted to work as an arborist:cursing:

 

edit: I thought you had finished with the Prof Dip?

 

the level was dependant on the awarding body.

 

I used to be a senior arb lecturer and when i forst took on the job we offered a l2 n l3 with the same name.

 

some of yoiu may have noted the consultation with the QCF units and the idear of this is to help remove some of these overlaps.

 

it is always very difficult when people draw a line in the sand be it a membership, or an award or a qualification, but there will always be those that dont quite get there and the closer they are the more infurating it is.

 

i have simpathy with you for having a desire to recognise your skills with a prof membership and not quite making the required criteria.

 

however there are so many roughts to qualification and with a mix of your experiance you would bring much to any organisation, but see wheather you whant it enough to get that qualification to become a member.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

The day I get my fellowship will be a proud day for me, thats what i want

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Dear Arbtalk members, and in particular 'Bundle 2' who posted this question.

As the person at the Association who determines 'Technician Member' applications I would like to offer further comment on this posting if I may.

Whilst I recognise your frustrations, more particularly as someone holding not just one BUT two qualifications AND that if they sat with a different awarding body they would qualify you for Technician member, I'm afraid we entirely 'map' the AA membership grades against the National Qualifications Framework (NQF, as was) now QCF (Qualifications & Credits Framework)). The difference between C&Gs & BTEC, as I have been informed, is that the latter is generallly a 2 year course, as opposed to 1 year, and the technical content of the course is correspondingly to a higher level.

Regarding your PTI certification, which isn't techncially a 'qualification' as such as it hasn't been through the due process and registered with the QCA (Qual. & Curriculum Authority), whilst very well recognised (and very hard to achieve) is classed as CPD and would, for instance, support an application from an 'equivalent' qualification holder at level 3, i.e. ND Hort. / ND Forestry.

Hoping this clarifies matters, at least a little,...I need a (strong) coffee now!'

Thanks all..

Paul

[Bundle 2]

Dear Arbtalk members, and in particular 'Bundle 2' who posted this question.

As the person at the Association who determines 'Technician Member' applications I would like to offer further comment on this posting if I may.

Whilst I recognise your frustrations, more particularly as someone holding not just one BUT two qualifications AND that if they sat with a different awarding body they would qualify you for Technician member, I'm afraid we entirely 'map' the AA membership grades against the National Qualifications Framework (NQF, as was) now QCF (Qualifications & Credits Framework)). The difference between C&Gs & BTEC, as I have been informed, is that the latter is generallly a 2 year course, as opposed to 1 year, and the technical content of the course is correspondingly to a higher level.

Regarding your PTI certification, which isn't techncially a 'qualification' as such as it hasn't been through the due process and registered with the QCA (Qual. & Curriculum Authority), whilst very well recognised (and very hard to achieve) is classed as CPD and would, for instance, support an application from an 'equivalent' qualification holder at level 3, i.e. ND Hort. / ND Forestry.

Hoping this clarifies matters, at least a little,...I need a (strong) coffee now!'

Thanks all..

Paul

I appreciate your taking the time to post by way of clarification as to the intricacies of" drawing a line in the sand" as you put. Clearly there needs to be someway of going ahead with respect to membership .

I can assure you that despite my lack of recognised qualification, I am quite capable of reading the AA's ruling on this and working it out for myself. What my question really seeks an answer to is the arbitrary way in which any level appears to be awarded; in saying this let me make it clear that I am glancing at issues in school curriculae and seeing perhaps similarities with A'levels for example. Are they really so much easier to obtain than once they were? And whilst awarding bodies take time out to ponder the next step in order to keep quals current and to a standard, what are we to do about the void left in the interim.

Please dont feel called upon to respond in any way on my account.

I see a tendency perhaps within the industry that places a great deal of emphasis on qualifications. This is not wrong.

I see this trend throughout the countries recent history....and at a time of credit calling on its debtors, it seems those who stand to lose the most are those with significant investment in their education.

You are certainly right about one thing Paul..it is most frustrating

[Tom D]

Dear Arbtalk members, and in particular 'Bundle 2' who posted this question.

As the person at the Association who determines 'Technician Member' applications I would like to offer further comment on this posting if I may.

Whilst I recognise your frustrations, more particularly as someone holding not just one BUT two qualifications AND that if they sat with a different awarding body they would qualify you for Technician member, I'm afraid we entirely 'map' the AA membership grades against the National Qualifications Framework (NQF, as was) now QCF (Qualifications & Credits Framework)). The difference between C&Gs & BTEC, as I have been informed, is that the latter is generallly a 2 year course, as opposed to 1 year, and the technical content of the course is correspondingly to a higher level.

Regarding your PTI certification, which isn't techncially a 'qualification' as such as it hasn't been through the due process and registered with the QCA (Qual. & Curriculum Authority), whilst very well recognised (and very hard to achieve) is classed as CPD and would, for instance, support an application from an 'equivalent' qualification holder at level 3, i.e. ND Hort. / ND Forestry.

Hoping this clarifies matters, at least a little,...I need a (strong) coffee now!'

Thanks all..

Paul

Does this mean that I can get proffesional membership as opposed to technician grade? I hold the AA Tech a BSc in biology and I also have the PTI. Or do i need to do a couple of years at technician grade first?