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84 www.rfs.org.uk Quarterly Journal of Forestry
Education
RFS Qualifications in
Arboriculture, Forestry and
Silviculture
The RFS Certificates in Arboriculture, Forestry and Silviculture are
nationally-recognised qualifications for arboriculture and forest
operatives that combine technical knowledge, skills and safety. Ted
Wilson and Adam Todd explain what is involved.
Skills and training are very much at the top of the
agenda for the arboriculture and forestry sectors in
Britain at the present time. Without a highly engaged
and well-qualified workforce, it will not be possible to deliver
the ecosystem services that society requires from our trees
and woodlands. Uncertainty about the resilience of our forest
resources due to economic and environmental change
implies we need a workforce for the future that is adaptable
and innovative.
In this article we provide an outline of the RFS Certificates
in Arboriculture, Forestry and Silviculture, which are
nationally-recognised technical qualifications. Holders of
these certificates combine good theoretical knowledge with
the practical skills needed to succeed as an arboricultural or
forestry crafts-person or operative.
Background
Traditionally the arboriculture and forestry sectors lagged
behind other professions in terms of training and
qualifications. As recently as 1990 nearly 60% of the
workforce had no qualifications beyond secondary level
(Eurostat, 2010). This had changed by 2010 to the extent that
75% of the workforce has further and higher education
qualifications (Eurostat, 2010). However, there remains a
perception that arboriculture and forestry are low-skill
industries (Wilson et al., 2017). Well-established training
pathways are essential if we are to attract new entrants to
arboriculture and forestry. Evidence suggests that young
people, in particular, are attracted to jobs where there is
excellent training, skills development and opportunities for
progression (Leslie et al., 2006).
For over 40 years the Royal Forestry Society has awarded
the RFS Certificate in Arboriculture. This is a highly
successful qualification, and to date over 520 people have
completed all the course requirements. The structure for this
award was based on the RFS organising the training and
administering the examinations. However, in more recent
years, there became a need for change and modernisation
so that the RFS qualification could be brought into line with
the national Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), now
called the Registered Qualification Framework (RQF).
In 2014 the Royal Forestry Society entered into a
partnership with ABC Awards, a leading national awarding
organisation that develops diverse, high-quality vocational
qualifications. This enabled the Society to build on the RFS
Certificate in Arboriculture, and devise new awards in
Forestry and Silviculture. Under the leadership of Phil Tanner,
former education manager with the RFS, the aim was to
provide a flexible pathway for people already working in
these fields to complement their training and experience, and
to formalise their existing knowledge. An additional element
of our awards has been the emphasis on health and safety,
which is a key concern for all arboriculturists and foresters.
Through training and skills development it is possible to
promote safer working practices in our sectors, where sadly
there has been for too long a poor safety record.
Copyright: The Royal Forestry Society - click to visit website.
April 2017 Vol 111 No.2 www.rfs.org.uk 85
Course structure
Each RFS Certificate comprises a taught course at QCF
Level 2 (Arboriculture, Forestry) or Level 3 (Silviculture), plus
a suite of eight practical certificates of competency. Each
element is a stand-alone qualification. When combined as a
portfolio of academic and skills competencies, candidates
are eligible to apply for their chosen RFS Certificate. The
structure of RFS Certificates is illustrated in Figure 1.
The RFS does not provide direct delivery of any course
material. Each programme has been designed so that
candidates can complete each element at their own pace,
and with approved educational and training providers of their
own choice. There are several learning routes, including full-
time, part-time and distance-learning options that make it
possible to fit learning around work commitments. Many of
the practical training courses are offered through colleges or
independent training providers on a day or block-release
basis.
Candidates should ensure that the courses and training
they take meet programme requirements, by checking the
RFS qualifications web pages (www.rfs.org.uk/learning/rfs-
qualifications) or making contact with the education team at
RFS head office. Candidates can only apply for the RFS
Certificate when they have completed all the required
elements (i.e., theory qualification and practical certificates).
Theory qualification
The Level 2/3 Certificates in Arboriculture, Forestry and
Silviculture are validated by ABC Awards. RFS has worked
closely with ABC Awards to develop the curriculum for each
certificate. For this reason, the ABC Level 2/3 awards are
recognised as the ‘qualification standard’ for the theoretical
component of RFS Certificates.
The ABC Level 2/3 qualifications are as follows:
lABC Level 2 Certificate in Arboriculture
– leading to RFS Cert Arb
lABC Level 2 Certificate in Forestry
– leading to RFS Cert For
lABC Level 3 Certificate in Silviculture
– leading to RFS Cert Silv
Each ABC Level 2/3 Certificate is a stand-alone
qualification. It is a theoretical course at craft/operative level
and is assessed by a portfolio of evidence (i.e. as a general
rule there are no exams). Each ABC Certificate is composed
of 3-5 mandatory units (subject courses) and 1-2 optional
units. The RFS has worked with ABC to develop the
curriculum for each unit. However, it is important to note that
the ABC qualifications are not the same as a full RFS
Certificate, which requires the additional practical certificates
of competency.
The Level 3 Certificate in Silviculture was introduced to
offer a progression route for those who already hold a Level
2 award, and it therefore contains a more advanced and
focused curriculum.
Equivalency recognition
In 2016 we conducted an interim review of our qualifications
and decided that we would consider alternative theory
qualifications on a case-by-case basis, so long as the
relevant award is at Level 2/3, or above, and accredited by a
recognised examination/qualifications awarding body, such
as City and Guilds. For advice and information about the
acceptability of alternative qualifications we advise
candidates to contact the education team at RFS at the
earliest opportunity.
Practical certificates of competency
For the certificates of competency in practical skills, the RFS
recognises qualifications awarded through NPTC (City &
Guilds) and Lantra. These are the leading awarding bodies
for land-based and environmental training courses and
qualifications in the UK.
The practical component of the RFS Certificate comprises
a suite of eight certificates of competency or licenses to
practice. Four of these are prescribed as compulsory units,
and four must be selected from a list of optional units. Titles
and coding for compulsory and optional certificates of
competency are provided on the course web pages. RFS
Figure 1. The structure and requirements for RFS Certificate
qualifications in Arboriculture, Forestry and Silviculture.
86 www.rfs.org.uk Quartely Journal of Forestry
86 www.rfs.org.uk Quarterly Journal of Forestry
can only accept certificates of competency that are formally
assessed as licenses to practice, not lesser certificates of
training or attendance. We adhere strictly to our qualifications
template to ensure all candidates have been assessed to
meet current health and safety requirements.
Application procedure
From 1 March 2017 we have introduced a new application
procedure. The entire process is now completed online, with
the application form downloaded and returned complete with
high resolution scans of relevant certificates. Applications
can be submitted at any time and it takes up to eight weeks
to be reviewed and for a certificate to be issued. There is a
fee of £75 for each successful application. Full details are
online on the qualifications web pages.
Holders of a RFS Certificate may use the relevant post-
nomial abbreviations: Cert Arb RFS, Cert For RFS or Cert Silv
RFS. Successful candidates are eligible for free membership
of the RFS for one year. Details of how candidates can claim
their free membership will be provided in a letter sent with the
award certificate.
In line with best practice for qualifications and
accreditation, the RFS has introduced a new application
procedure and database that fully complies with current data
protection legislation. As an awarding body, we provide
verification of RFS Certificate holders to employers and
trading standards authorities who may require confirmation
of a person’s professional qualifications. Additionally, we are
in the process of developing an online register that contains
the names of holders of RFS certificates. This may be helpful
to those wishing to be recognised for professional reasons;
an opt-out is possible for those not wishing their name to
appear online.
Health and safety
Although not a formal requirement, RFS strongly
recommends that all candidates for RFS qualifications
complete first aid at work training, and maintain a valid first
aid certificate while working with trees or in a woodland
setting. This is important for personal health and safety, as
well as for the well-being of colleagues. Further information
about health and safety in the forestry sector is available from
the Forest Industry Safety Accord (FISA). Our commitment to
health and safety lies at the core of our activities. We endorse
the Forest Industry Safety Accord (FISA) and want to see the
forest become a safer workplace.
Conclusion
Qualifications and accreditation are a key feature of modern
professional practice. The RFS Certificates are unique
qualifications for the arboriculture and forestry sectors,
combining key elements for technical knowledge, skills and
safety. They recognise hard work, dedication and
professionalism in the practice of arboriculture and forestry at
the craft or operative level. In addition, RFS Certificates are
recognisable to the wider public, who may not otherwise be
aware of the skills and safety requirements of our sectors.
Websites
RFS Qualifications – http://www.rfs.org.uk/learning/rfs-
qualifications/
ABC Awards – http://www.abcawards.co.uk
Forest Industries Safety Accord – http://www.ukfisa.com/
References
Eurostat (2010) Eurostat Labour Force Survey: Forest Sector Workforce in
the United Kingdom. European Commission, Brussels. 2 pp.
Leslie, A.D., Wilson, E.R. &. Starr, C.B. (2006) The current state of
professional forestry education in the United Kingdom. International
Forestry Review, 8(3):339-349
Wilson, E.R., Ambrose-Oji, B. & Ferranti, E.J.S. (2017) Widening
engagement and diversity in forestry and forest science. Technical
Report. Royal Forestry Society, Banbury, Oxon. 19 pp.
Education
Edward (Ted) Wilson is the Education Manager at the
RFS. Email: ted.wilson@rfs.org.uk
Adam Todd is the Future Foresters Project Officer at
the RFS. Email: adam.todd@rfs.org.uk
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