City and Guilds 0039-22 Climbing Trees and Aerial Rescue: what the handbook says

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. The pages used are the City and Guilds NPTC handbook for the award, the City and Guilds 2026 fees list, the NPTC scheme page, the Lantra Awards specification and the Forest Industry Safety Accord training guide. The award is the climbing and rescue certificate of competence in the City and Guilds aerial ladder. The guide on chainsaw and tree work tickets by country gives the short summary. This page adds the handbook detail.

At a glance

Item	What the official source says
Awarding body	City and Guilds, under the NPTC name
Title	Level 2 Certificate of Competence in Climbing Trees and Aerial Rescue
City and Guilds number	0039-22
Ofqual number	603/7355/6
Guided learning hours	40, with a total qualification time of 44 (handbook version 1.7, December 2025)
Age	16 or over
Grading	Met or not met
Unit	203, Tree climbing and aerial rescue
Status in the 2026 list	Open to certification, registration expiry December 31, 2027, certification expiry December 31, 2030

What the handbook says it covers

The handbook says the award is for people who climb trees as part of their work in arboriculture, forestry or other industries. Its cover list runs: risk assessment, emergency planning, legislation, industry best practice, environmental considerations, tree condition and working at height assessments, equipment and systems, tree climbing, aerial rescue by climbing suitability, and the rescue plan and its implementation. The handbook says the award supports progression into jobs where climbing and rescue is part of the role. It is not part of an apprenticeship framework.

Entry requirements

The handbook sets a minimum age of 16 and no prior award. The at-a-glance box says centres must make sure any pre-requisites stated in the "What is this qualification about?" section are met, and that section names none. Other City and Guilds handbooks name 0039-22 as an entry requirement: 0039-23, 0039-31 and 0039-32 each list it, and the utility arboriculture aerial pruning handbook, 0038-33, lists it too.

Assessment

The handbook describes one assessment type: a one to one practical assessment with oral questioning by an approved City and Guilds NPTC assessor. Grading is met or not met. The handbook says the practical observation and oral questioning should take between 2 and 3 hours. The version history shows the timing line was updated in version 1.7, December 2025. Candidates have to finish within 24 months of the date of initial registration, and registration is valid for two years. The unit text says assessors must hold a current First Aid at Work certificate and strongly recommends that candidates hold an Emergency First Aid certificate.

What the unit text lists

The unit has two learning outcomes: climb trees, and carry out aerial rescue. For the first it names the legislation points a candidate is asked about: the Health and Safety at Work Act, the lifting equipment regulations (pre-use check by the climber and a recorded interim inspection for equipment with high wear), the personal protective equipment regulations and the work at height regulations. It names the Arboricultural Association technical guide 1, Tree climbing and aerial rescue, as the industry guide.

The unit text lists these working considerations for climbing: a primary system and a backup system, attached to independent anchors where possible; slack in the climbing ropes not above 500mm; no potential fall distance above 500mm; and karabiners with a spring-loaded, self-locking gate that needs at least three distinct movements to open. It names the access methods moving rope technique, stationary rope technique, ladders, spikes or climbing irons and a mobile elevating work platform. It separates a personal fall protection anchor from a positioning anchor. Its tree condition list names cavities, decay fungi, deadwood, flaking bark, V shaped unions, cracks, nesting insects, power lines and targets underneath.

Aerial rescue in the handbook

The handbook says rescue by climbing may not be appropriate because of dangerous tree structure, extra site hazards such as power lines, or extra risk to the casualty or rescuer. Its rescue plan list names completing the emergency procedures as part of the site risk assessment, having the rescue equipment on hand, a competent and designated rescuer, a rescue line, and first aid equipment that includes a tourniquet and haemostatic gauze or cloth. It lists four rescue methods: two-person rescue from a pole, three-person rescue with a belay, a mobile elevating work platform and stationary rope technique. Candidates are observed doing a crown rescue and a rescue from a standing stem using climbing irons. The incident is then reported to a supervisor, and where it applies to the Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR. The handbook also lists inspecting the equipment afterwards, to find out whether it contributed to the accident, and quarantining it.

The Forest Industry Safety Accord training guide, FISA 805, updated August 2025, says trained skills such as first aid and aerial rescue need specific, regular practice and updating. City and Guilds runs a CPD module for this award, 0041-03, Level 2 CPD Module in Climbing Trees and Aerial Rescue, Ofqual number 610/6050/1. The 2026 list shows it open to certification.

The Lantra Awards climbing and rescue award

Lantra Awards has its own Level 3 Award in Access a Tree Using a Rope and Harness and Aerial Rescue, Ofqual number 610/6135/9. Its specification gives 42 guided learning hours and a total qualification time of 49, with two mandatory units, one on access and one on aerial rescue. The operational start date is September 1, 2025. It sets no formal entry requirement, says it is not appropriate for learners under 16, and says it is a prerequisite for all the other Lantra aerial arboriculture awards. It is graded pass or fail and is assessed inside the provider, with external verification.