NPTC Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cutting

Course overview

This chainsaw maintenance and cross cutting course is designed to prepare a novice chainsaw user for the NPTC City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate of Competence in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cutting.

Training is for 2 days, followed by a 1-day assessment. Start time 09.00, finish time 17.00.  These days may not follow consecutively.

Courses are taught by experienced, highly skilled tutors who attend annual specific industry training programmes. The arboriculture workshops are fully resourced with all the tools and equipment needed for the course. The proactive approach of the department ensures that all the chainsaws and related tools and equipment are up-to-date with technology and current legislation.

Merrist Wood has developed an excellent reputation for arboriculture expertise and coupled with our award-winning Learning Philosophy, we are able to offer a practical education, tailored to your needs.

All of this ensures Merrist Wood College is the place to study this course.

 

 

The course includes:

  • Identification and inspection of key parts of the chainsaw
  • Preparing and operating the chainsaw to work safely without risk to the user, other people and the environment
  • Carrying out daily and routine maintenance on the chainsaw
  • Undertake risk assessments and emergency procedures on a work site
  • Safe and effective operation of a chainsaw to crosscut timber

Following your training an independent Assessor will assess you against criteria set by City & Guilds. If you require any additional support, please ensure this is declared on your enrolment application or you call the Contact Centre once you have enrolled.

Should you fail the assessment you will need to book a new assessment date. Fees for an additional assessment will be £300. Please email this to NPTC@activatelearning.ac.uk

Your certificate and NPTC card will be issued directly from City & Guilds, not from Merrist Wood College. A link to your certificate will be emailed to the email address supplied at enrolment. To enable you to have an NPTC card you are required to supply a head and shoulders photograph to the Contact Centre once you have enrolled.

Without a photo, you will not receive a card.

Please see the link below for information to read before you start the course.
 
City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate of Competence in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-cutting (0039-20) (nptc.org.uk).
 
Prior to attending the course you are required to provide a passport photo for your NPTC E-Card.
 
Please complete the registration form, ensuring you provide your NPTC Candidate number, if you have one. You will also need to prove evidence of any NPTC prior achievements.
Please email all these to exams@activatelearning.ac.uk.
 
You will need:
Your own Personal Protective Equipment:
*Chainsaw protective helmet (complying with EN 397)
*Chainsaw protective trousers (type C) (complying with EN 381-5)
*Chainsaw protective gloves (complying with EN 381-7)
*Chainsaw protective boots (complying with BS EN ISO 20345:2004 and bearing a shield depicting a chainsaw
Ear defenders (complying with EN 352)
Face Visor (complying with EN 1731/Safety Glasses EN 166)
Personal first-aid kit, including a large-wound dressing
*The items marked with an asterisk should bear the chainsaw logo and show the chain speed to which they have been tested.
 
Catering facilities may or may not be open on site, therefore you are more than welcome to bring a packed lunch and drinks.
 
Please check the website for all additional information.
 
Important Arrival Information
  • Please park in the student car park at The Harris Centre.
  • Head to the Harris Centre reception to sign in and collect your lanyard. (Reception opens at 8:30am.)
  • Once registered, drive to the Equine car park and meet your tutor at the Arboriculture Short Course Centre.
  • Classes begin at 9:00am, so please allow enough time to sign in and arrive on time.
  • See the map for all location details.

 

NPTC Card/ID

Your certificate and NPTC card will be issued directly from City & Guilds, not from Merrist Wood College. A link to your certificate will be emailed to the email address supplied at enrolment. To enable you to have an NPTC card, you are required to supply a head-and-shoulders photograph to the Contact Centre once you have enrolled. Your passport photo needs to be provided at the time of enrolment. You are also required to bring in a form of photo ID to obtain your student lanyard and NPTC card.

Please ensure you bring all relevant certificates on your first day.

You could go onto our other arboriculture courses or, following successful assessment, maintain and use a chainsaw commercially.

Other courses offered at Merrist Wood College include:

  • Felling
  • Chainsaw Use Rope and Harness
  • Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue
  • Manually Fed Wood Chipper Operations
  • Chainsaw Refresher Day
  • Arboriculture (Tree Management) Level 4, Award, Certificate and Diploma

Please see the link below for information to read before you start the course.

 

Catering facilities may or may not be open on site, therefore you are more than welcome to bring a packed lunch and drinks.

The cost includes all instruction, assessment, and use of equipment but not use of personal protective clothing.

Please note: PPE can no longer be hired from the College.

A map of the college will be supplied in your joining instructions. Please ensure you arrive early to locate your meeting place and ensure a prompt start time. You must report to the Harris Centre reception and sign in (opens at 8.30am), they will issue you with a lanyard that must be worn whilst you are on campus. Once you are signed in you need to go to the Short Course Centre at the bottom of the drive. There is parking in the Equine car park.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What time does the course start?

 The course starts 9am. 

You must report to the Harris Centre reception and sign in (opens at 8.30am), they will issue you with a lanyard that must be worn whilst you are on campus. Once you are signed in you need to go to the Short Course Centre at the bottom of the drive. There is parking in the Equine car park.

What time does the course finish?

The course finishes at 5pm. 

Depending on when your assessment is, you may finish earlier on your assessment day.

You must return your lanyard to the Harris Centre reception and sign out (closes at 5pm) or hand your lanyard to the assessor.

What happens if I need a replacement certificate?

Please contact Customer Services at City & Guilds and request a replacement. 

Email – lbs_information@cityandguilds.com

Tel: 02476 857300

My certificate hasn’t arrived?

Please contact Customer Services at City & Guilds and request a replacement. 

Email – lbs_information@cityandguilds.com

Tel: 02476 857300

Is there a restaurant on site?

There are two catering outlets on site. These are only operational during term time. You are more than welcome to bring your own packed lunch and drinks.

Course Starts in 0 Days

Mon 15 June 2026

This course is fully booked

Enrol now

Enrol now

Enrol now

Enrol now

Alternatively enrol by phone quoting OC02CS0A013Q

Meet the tutors

We want our learners to feel welcome, safe and at ease when attending our classes, especially if this is your first time attending an adult education class or if you're coming back to education after a break.
If you're interested in one of courses, meet our tutors first! You'll see they have similar passions and interests and, most importantly, the right qualifications to help you make the most of your time and money.

View all tutors

You may also like

View more courses