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Looking for a “chainsaw ticket” and finding a maze of terms? You are not alone. In UK arboriculture and forestry, a chainsaw ticket usually refers to a recognised certificate of competence, often City & Guilds NPTC qualifications. When advertising roles that involve chainsaw use, employers look for formal units that prove training and assessment.
The Health and Safety Executive is clear that anyone using a chainsaw at work must be properly trained and competent, with a relevant certificate of competence or national award where work is on or in trees. Competence and refresher training reduce risk, support compliance and protect people. In this post, we’ll explain what a “chainsaw ticket” is and how to gain the qualifications you need.
“Chainsaw ticket” is everyday language for a recognised qualification that shows you are trained and competent to use a chainsaw. Some people also call it a chainsaw licence. In UK guidance, the formal terms are certificate of competence or national award, typically assessed to City & Guilds NPTC standards.
HSE states that anyone using a chainsaw at work must have adequate training and be competent for the task. Where work is on or in trees, workers should have received appropriate training and obtained a relevant certificate of competence or national award.
This is rooted in PUWER. Employers and the self-employed must ensure chainsaw operators are adequately trained, with independent assessment widely used to confirm that competence. Refresher training is also recommended to maintain good practice.
All of this matters because chainsaws are ultimately high-risk tools. A significant share of fatal and major injuries in tree work are linked to the use of chainsaws. Recognised certification helps reduce risk, satisfies client and insurer expectations, and makes skills portable between jobsites.
Today, the official term for a “chainsaw ticket” is a certificate of competence from NPTC City & Guilds. Each of these awards you skills in a certain Level 2 unit. This helps employers to compare like for like.
In the past, these units had CS codes, where CS stands for chainsaw. Though these codes are no longer in official use, they remain very common in forestry and arboriculture.
Candidates may sometimes take both of these courses together. Great Oaks offers this as its Ground-Based Chainsaw Operator course. This reflects the way work tasks build from maintenance and cross-cutting to safe felling and processing.
Tip: Don’t worry if you still hold paperwork that shows CS30 or CS31 instead of the current units. It will still be recognisable to employers. The updated titles align with the same core competencies, with modernised assessment criteria and terminology.
Chainsaws are unforgiving. That’s why ensuring proper safety on sites is so important. Recognised certification helps employers to ensure that anyone performing tree work has the appropriate skills and training. This helps to protect people and allows organisations to meet their legal duties.
The risk profile is well documented. HSE notes that the vast majority of fatal and major injuries in tree work are linked to chainsaw operations, struck-by incidents, or falls. In recent years, direct contact with a chainsaw alone has caused multiple fatalities and many serious injuries. Robust training, assessment and supervised practice reduce these risks.
A recognised chainsaw ticket signals that core competencies have been independently assessed. It supports safe systems of work, satisfies client and insurer expectations, and improves audit readiness on site. For those planning a broader skills pathway, it also forms the base for related tree surgeon qualifications.
A recognised chainsaw ticket opens the door to real, paid work. It shows you can maintain a saw, cross-cut safely, and fell small trees to a standard employers can trust. That competence travels with you from site to site.
Many contractors prioritise candidates who hold current NPTC units and can evidence recent work. A solid first ticket can help you move from general labouring into technical tree work. As your responsibilities increase, so does your earning potential. For a bigger picture on pay and progression, see our guide to tree surgeon salary.
If you are planning a longer-term move into climbing, surveying or utilities work, start with the foundations. Secure your first units, gain hours on the tools, then map your next steps. Our step-by-step overview on how to become a tree surgeon shows typical routes, timeframes and skills.
When you train with us:
With consistent practice, additional units and a tidy portfolio of site experience, you will be trusted with more complex work and better roles.
The chainsaw ticket an employer asks for will depend on the work involved. A grounds maintenance role, a forestry role and a tree surgery role may all involve chainsaw use, but the level of training needed can be different.
For many ground-based roles, employers may look for evidence of chainsaw maintenance, cross-cutting and small-tree felling. For climbing roles, they may also ask for tree climbing and aerial rescue, followed by further training before using a chainsaw from a rope and harness.
| Employer requirement | What it usually relates to |
|---|---|
| CS30 or maintenance and cross-cutting | Maintaining a chainsaw and cross-cutting timber on the ground |
| CS31 or small-tree felling | Felling and processing small trees |
| CS38 or climbing and aerial rescue | Accessing trees safely and carrying out aerial rescue |
| CS39 or chainsaw from rope and harness | Using a chainsaw while working from a rope and harness |
| Refresher training | Updating existing skills and maintaining competence |
Some employers still use legacy CS codes in job adverts, even where the modern qualification titles are different. This is why it is important to check both the task being described and the course or assessment that matches it.
For a fuller career pathway, see our guide on how to become a tree surgeon.
Train in a setting that mirrors real work. Our dedicated chainsaw training centre in Preston combines workshop learning with woodland plots, so skills move smoothly from bench to site.
Small cohorts help you learn faster. We run small-group chainsaw courses so tutors can focus on each candidate’s technique, from chain tensioning to hinge placement.
Quality is built into the programme. We are an ARB Approved Contractor and our teams hold a broad set of industry credentials. You can view our accreditations to see the standards we work to.
Your assessor will test practical competence and underpinning knowledge against the relevant units. When you are ready to gain your NPTC certificate, we help you organise the assessment and understand exactly what will be measured.
Not sure which chainsaw course is right for you? In the table below, we’ll break down which NPTC units correspond to different on-site tasks.
| Task on site | Typical activity | NPTC unit(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Maintain a saw and cross-cut timber on the ground | Pre-use checks, sharpening, safe starting, tensioning, straight cross-cuts | 201 & 202 |
| Fell and process small trees | Felling plan, escape routes, hinge and back cuts, snedding and processing | 203 |
| Clear windblow or tensioned timber | Assess tension/compression, step cuts, safe distances | 201 & 202 (with specific training) |
| Assist on forestry or utilities sites | Cross-cutting, stacking, brash handling, winch support under supervision | 201 & 202 |
Training plans vary with experience. Most candidates complete maintenance and cross-cutting over two to three days, with small-tree felling adding another two days. Assessment is booked once your tutor is happy with the consistency and pace of your work. These are signs that you’re ready to qualify as a chainsaw operator.
What’s typically included:
What you bring:
How assessment works:
Time and cost planning:
Do I legally need a chainsaw ticket to work on the ground?
You must be adequately trained and competent. HSE states that before using a chainsaw on or in a tree, workers should have appropriate training and a relevant certificate of competence or national award, unless under training and adequately supervised.
What is the difference between NPTC and Lantra?
City & Guilds NPTC uses independent assessment against defined national standards, which is why it is the route we train and assess. City & Guilds NPTC uses independent assessment against defined unit standards. Lantra is another awarding body you may see mentioned elsewhere; at Great Oaks every course is trained and assessed under City & Guilds NPTC. Employers commonly accept either, provided the training and assessment match the work.
Is CS30 or CS31 still valid?
Yes. The legacy codes map to current City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 units. CS30 aligns with 201/202 for maintenance and cross-cutting, and CS31 aligns with 203 for felling and processing up to 380 mm.
How risky is chainsaw work, really?
HSE reports that the vast majority of fatal and major injuries in tree work are linked to chainsaw operations, struck-by incidents or falls. In one long-term snapshot, 60 people were killed between April 2000 and March 2013 during tree work activities. Competence and good practice reduce those risks.
How often should I take refresher training?
Industry guidance recommends regular refreshers. A common benchmark is at least every five years to maintain competence and good practice.
What PPE do I need for training and assessment?
Expect chainsaw protective trousers, suitable boots with protective toecap and grip, a helmet with visor and hearing protection, and task-appropriate gloves. HSE’s chainsaw guidance also covers first aid and other essentials.
Can I use my own saw on the course?
Many providers allow it if the saw is serviceable and safe. Maintenance and cross-cutting units require the saw and tools to meet manufacturer guidance and assessment conditions. Check joining instructions before attending.
What are the minimum age or fitness requirements?
Operators must be fit to operate safely. Employers should ensure medical fitness for the tasks undertaken and comply with HSE guidance on training and competence. Local joining instructions will set any age conditions for attendance and assessment.
How big are course groups?
At Great Oaks, we limit numbers on many of our courses to ensure effective coaching and safe supervision during practical cutting and felling.
Whether you call it a chainsaw ticket, chainsaw licence or certificate of competence, the right qualifications can open doors. Courses such as CS30 and CS31 are essentials for anyone looking to start a career in arboriculture or forestry. This includes working as a tree surgeon. Fortunately, if you live in the Preston area, there’s a specialised, City & Guilds approved assessment centre on your doorstep.
To secure a place on one of our chainsaw courses, simply get in touch via one of these methods:
Course dates and prices are on the booking page. If you are not sure which unit you need, call the training centre on 01772 369694.
Our Training Centre in Preston is ideally placed for learners across Lancashire and the North West.
We regularly train candidates from:
Preston
Blackpool
Chorley
Lancaster
Blackburn
Southport
Courses take place in real woodland environments and are led by instructors with years of field and teaching experience.
Great Oaks Tree Services & Training Academy is based in Kirkham, near Preston, and delivers NPTC chainsaw courses to learners across the North West. Whether you’re searching for chainsaw training in Lancashire or need certification near Preston, we’re your trusted training provider.
01772 369694 ✉️ training@greatoakstreeservices.co.uk
01772 369694 ✉️ training@greatoakstreeservices.co.uk
We license Great Oaks training centres in protected territories across the UK, for experienced NPTC qualified professionals and for arb contractors who want to train their own teams. Read about the franchise.
Careers
Climbing, grounds maintenance and utility work.Climbing, grounds and utility work.
Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor.
Last minuteAvailability
Starts Monday 19 October 2026
3 days plus 1 for assessment
£9671 place
Entry requirements: Ground Based Chainsaw Operator and Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue
Book this date, Using a Chainsaw from a Rope and HarnessOr call the training office on 01772 369694
