Monkeyface

Whoever you go with and whichever course you choose, make sure the course leads to an actual qualification provided by a government approved awarding body (e.g. ABC, BTEC, LANTRA, etc.) and not just a certificate from the learning provider, otherwise it may not be recognised by an employer.

For example

- ABC Awards are an awarding body that accredit the ABC level 2, 4 and 6 certificate/diploma in arboriculture

- BTEC / City and Guilds are an awarding body that accredit the level 2 and 3 diploma in arboriculture

Training providers are allowed to write their own courses, but unless they are vetted by an awarding body then they are not vetted for quality by anyone external to the training provider.

If the courses are not accredited by an awarding body then they may not be recognised by employers, either nationally or internationally or by industry associations (important if you need a qualification for membership levels).

The AA have some good information

Careers and qualifications Arboricultural Association - A guide to careers and qualifications

and a

directory of training providers for technical qualifications.

Arboricultural Association - Directory of UK Arboricultural education and training providers

Enjoy it whatever you do.

Have you contacted the tutors there for some support?

Check out the AA's leaflet on qualifications - http://www.trees.org.uk/Trees.org.uk/files/5d/5d1f7bb0-68d0-4164-a65c-89e026ec71d7.pdf

The last page of the leaflet has a column for level 7-8. I'd talk to Myerscough to see how they can help.

What work do you want to? This would determine appropriate courses.

Good on ya!

I was 28 when I made the change, previously working in IT / marketing / sales (ewwwww).

To see whether I liked the outdoors, I tried some volunteer weekends with BTCV in Kirkstall, Leeds, then signed up for a BTEC higher national diploma (then Houghall College, also maybe look at Askam Bryant to see what they offer), got part time work with one of my fellow students who was seasoned and never looked back.

If you don't want to start with the academic side, at a minimum you'd be best getting CS30 / 31, maybe even 38 (they're all called different way complicated numbers now, but chainsaw maintenance / cross cutting, small tree felling and climbing basically). If you fancy a go, maybe even CS39 (climbing with a saw) but if you get in a with good firm, starting on the ground and learning from your team before progressing into the trees can be handy too.

You could also look at doing one of the longer crafts courses where you do so many weeks residential with practical tickets and some theory (Merrist Wood, Kingswood Training, Plumpton college, etc.).

Alternatively, you could look to do some practical tickets on your own and some part time theory on the side (maybe the ABC level 2 certificate in arboriculture - some offer this at college, others distance learning - Tree Life, Myerscough, etc.).

There are also other higher level part time courses (such as the ABC level 4 diploma) but generally you should have some experience before trying this (The Training Tree, Merrist Wood, Tree Life, etc.)

Sorry if I've missed training providers! Try this link for the Arboricultural Association guide to careers:

Best of luck Christopher!...i owe a lot to my training at Houghal..it was the best thing i ever did for myself....

Me too, well said.

There's also The Training Tree, Plumpton and Merrist Wood.

Jack Kenyon was amazing at teaching level 2, 4 and 6, even though he didn't write the syllabus.

Anyone got any notes or learning outcome information I could use as guidance ?

Cheers

The ABC website has all the learning outcomes for arb level 2, 4 & 6. Here's level 2

http://www.abcawards.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Qualifications//1381-TOP__Qualification%20Guide.pdf

The Training Tree also run these courses in Cobham, online is on the way.

Practical, theory or both?

If you can spare one a day a week or an evening (depends where you are in the country), you could do the ABC level 2 certificate in arboriculture for the theory (pests and diseases, fungi, law, inspections, science, etc.) and do your tickets separately. If you do this and get enough tickets, you can also then apply for the RFS cert arb certificate.

Plant Names, A Guide to Botanical Nomenclature (R. Spencer & R. Cross & P. Lumley) is quite good.

I think you'd have a much better chance if you did you have at least your chainsaw maintenance / cross cutting ticket. Maybe have a chat with your nearest land based college? Where are you applying for apprenticeships?

Where are you looking John?

Has anyone got any pros and cons of doing it?

Anyone thinking of doing the level 4 next year?