City and Guilds 0039-26 Powered Pole Pruner Maintenance and Operation: 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 NPTC scheme page, the City and Guilds 2026 fees list and the Lantra Awards ground-based chainsaw specification. The award covers the pole-mounted pruning saw, petrol or battery powered. 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 Powered Pole Pruner Maintenance and Operation
City and Guilds number	0039-26
Ofqual number	603/7645/4
Guided learning hours	16, with a total qualification time of 19 (handbook version 1.6, December 2025)
Age	16 or over
Grading	Met or not met
Unit	207, Powered pole pruner maintenance and operation
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 operate and carry out powered pole pruner tasks as part of their work in arboriculture, forestry or other industries. Its cover list runs: hazards, risks, controls, emergency planning, legislation, industry good practice, roles, and maintenance of powered pole pruners. It says successful candidates could go on to develop other skills in operating chainsaws. It is not part of an apprenticeship framework.

Entry requirements

The handbook sets a minimum age of 16 and names no prior award. The at-a-glance box says centres must make sure any pre-requisites stated in the "Who is this qualification for?" section are met, and that section names none. Unlike the felling and aerial awards, the handbook does not require 0039-20 first.

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 1 and 2 hours. 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.

What the unit text lists

The unit has one learning outcome with four criteria: hazards, risks, controls and emergency planning; legislation and industry best practice; maintenance of powered pole pruners; and using a powered pole pruner. The law it names is the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations. The industry good practice providers it names are the Forest Industry Safety Accord, regional forestry bodies, the Arboricultural Forestry Advisory Group and the Arboricultural Association.

The safety features it asks candidates to explain are the guide bar cover, a chain with low kickback characteristics, the exhaust, anti-vibration mounts, the on and off switch, the safety decals and the throttle trigger lockout. For battery machines the handbook lists the hazards as battery and machine not compatible, the machine live with the battery in place, no on and off switch, battery misalignment, battery storage and disposal, the battery falling from the machine, electric shock, short circuit and fire while charging, water contamination and lack of power. It lists the benefits as less weight, vibration and noise, no emissions, clearer talk on site, less maintenance, no fuel transport and no fuel spills.

The maintenance list covers the spark plug, air filter, cooling system, exhaust and spark arrestor, sprocket, starter, greasing, fuel and oil filters, guide bar and chain, including chain pitch, gauge, length, drive links and cutter type, filing angles and depth gauge setting. The handbook gives three methods for a trapped pole pruner, all starting with switching off the engine: lifting the branch end with an aid while a work partner stands alongside, propping the machine and lifting the branch with a trimmed branch or pole, or using a second machine to cut at least 300mm (12 inches) away.

In the operating section the handbook states a minimum safe working distance of fifteen metres and an angle of the pole pruner that does not go above 60 degrees when cutting. It lists the pruning methods as the through cut, the step cut and natural target pruning, and says the operator is not directly below falling branches. Its protective kit list names safety boots, gloves, head, ear and eye protection, non-snag outer clothing and a harness, all to conform to the applicable CE or EN standards where appropriate.

The Lantra Awards pole pruner award

Lantra Awards has its own Level 2 Award in Using a Powered Pole Pruner, Ofqual number 600/5708/7, inside its ground-based chainsaw specification. The specification says there are no prerequisites, and adds that candidates who have completed the Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance will find many of the principles transfer. The single unit, Use a powered pole pruner, is listed at 7 guided learning hours. Lantra's two-day course page says the course is an integrated training and assessment course and that a minimum level of fitness is an essential requirement.