RFS Certificate in Forestry – Practical Awards of Competence

The below list gives the mandatory and optional practical elements you need to apply for RFS certification, alongside these you will also need an appropriate theory course at Level 2 or higher.

To complete your RFS Certificate in Forestry you will need to complete:

All four mandatory modules from List 1

Four optional modules from List 2

All awards in competence must be full NPTC/Lantra “tickets of competence” or licenses to practice. We cannot accept certificates of training or attendance.

We may also accept other NPTC or LANTRA qualifications which are a substitute for one of the qualifications listed below. Should you wish to provide alternative tickets it is best to contact us before applying to ensure we can accept them.

We are unable to refund an application that is made that doesn’t meet our criteria.

Chainsaw certification must have been gained in the previous 5 years or you must be able to provide evidence of having attended refresher training. Your RFS Certification will be valid for 5 years from the date of issue, after which time you will need to reapply.

List 1: Mandatory Modules

Emergency First Aid at Work + Forestry (EFAW + F)*

Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-Cutting**

NPTC: 003920 (CS30) Lantra: 600/5699/X 600/5700/2

Level 2 Award in Felling & Processing Trees up to 380mm

NPTC: 002004 (CS31) Lantra: 600/5703/8

Level 3 Award in Felling & Processing Trees Over 380mm

NPTC: 002101 (CS32) Lantra: 600/5704/x

List 2: Optional Modules

Level 2 Certificate of Competence in Manually Fed Woodchippers

Level 2 Certificate of Competence in Brush Cutting Operations

Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of a Forestry Clearing Saw

Level 2 Award in Branch Removal & Breakdown of a Crown

NPTC: 0039-25 (CS37) Lantra: 600/5708/7

Level 2 Certificate of Competence in Powered Pole Pruner Maintenance and Operation

NPTC: 0039-26 (CS48) Lantra: 600/5708/7

Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides using Pedestrian Hand Held Equipment

NPTC: 0021654(PA1 & PA6)

Level 2 Certificate of Competence in the Safe Use of All-terrain Vehicles (ATVs)

NPTC: 001432

Level 2 Award in Compact Tractor Driving and Related Operations

Level 2 Award in Agricultural Tractor Driving and Related Operations

NPTC: 001407

Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations – Base Machine

Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations – Forwarder

NPTC: 002016

Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations – Felling

NPTC: 002017

Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations – Processing

NPTC: 002018

Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations – Skidder

NPTC: 002020

Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations – Processing Timber (Mobile)

NPTC: 002031

Level 3 Award in Severing Uprooted or Windblown Trees using a Chainsaw

NPTC: 0039-37 Lantra: 600/5706/3

*must be in date

**must be dated within the past 5 years or evidence of having attended a refresher must also be provided