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This residential combination course is for the Arboricultural Climber who wants to use a chainsaw in a tree, and would provide a successful candidate with the following qualifications:

The unique Level 3 Tree Surgery Business Start-Up Course has been designed to help with business planning for those who wish to go self-employed. Course B also includes a period of relevant work experience so that candidates can see how the skills they have learnt are put into practice in a commercial environment.

The NPTC tests for the felling and climbing units are undertaken by an independent assessor. The cost of these assessments is fully covered by your course fees. We arrange the assessments for the felling units within a few days of the end of the felling course. However, we do not always arrange the climbing assessments straight after the climbing course for the following reasons:

1. Passing the felling units is a pre-condition of taking the CS39 assessment, so if a candidate did not pass CS30 or CS31, they would have booked and paid for a test they couldn’t take.
2. After 5 continuous days of climbing a significant number of candidates are sufficiently tired that their performance on a test would be significantly impaired.
3. Climbing is a skill which it can take some time to become proficient at, and consequently a candidate who takes the time to practice and hone his skills is much more likely to pass. Because the assessment involves undertaking 2 simulated rescues, speed of movement in the tree is important.

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. NPTC is a national organisation, and the climber can then either take the exam 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. Either way, we will pay for the assessment. However, if a candidate has a specific reason for taking the assessment at, or soon after, the end of the course, (for example because they are going abroad) it is not usually a problem to arrange this.