This course is essential for anyone who uses a tractor in a professional capacity as part of their work in agriculture, horticulture, landscaping, grounds maintenance, greenkeeping, parks, gardens and also in amenity use. It will provide the individual with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to prepare and operate a tractor safely and to industry standards in line with current legislation.
This qualification will support progression into employment where safe operation of a tractor is part of the role. Safe operational skills are key to efficient use, good working practice and preventing accidents, leading to business benefits in terms of less machinery damage and down time.
Staff assessing these qualifications are approved Certificate of Competence City & Guilds NPTC Assessors. They do not have to be independent (not having taken part in the training of candidates), This effectively means that the same person can train and assess this qualification. Assessment may be carried out on the same day for one experienced operator, generally it will take place the day after completion of trainng.
You will study the underpinning knowledge essential for correctly maintaining a tractor and attachments and receive tuition in how to maintain and safely operate a tractor and attachments. It may include a loader, but this needs to be requested at the time of booking training.
The test of covers the use of the tractor in a range of situations: driving safely and correctly around a suitable course (including reversing with a trailer), trailer hitching, attaching 3-point linkage and Power Take Off (PTO) driven attachments. There is an optional unit that covers the use of a tractor fitted with a front-end loader.
There are two units;
221 Prepare and operate a tractor and attachments
This contains three learning outcomes which are divided into assessment criteria. the assessment criteria are are used in the assessment process. These are:
222 Operate a loader
This contains two learning outcomes which are divided into assessment criteria. The assessment criteria are are used in the assessment process. These are:
This qualification is now only delivered in the workplace on a suitable site using a tractor and attachments provided by the organisation requesting the training. Before training or assessment, it may be necessary to visit the site to ensure that the site, the tractor and equipment are suitable. (This may incur an extra cost, and a milage charge at 0.45 per mile)
This qualification can be examined by a City & Guilds NPTC Assessor who delivered the training. It may also be assessed by an Independent Assessor who was not involved in the training.
One experienced tractor operator person can be prepared for assessment and assessed in one day. However, inexperienced or novice tractor operators will need to be trained over two or three days and assessed on another mutually convenient date (usually the day following training).
Assessment can take 1.5 – 3.0 hours and will always be at the venue where you trained.
You will receive a City & Guilds NPTC Certificate, The Level 2 Certificate of Competence in Tractor Driving and Related Operations (0014-31). If you were trained with a loader and opted to be assessed with a loader that endorsement will appear on your certificate.
Note: This is issued directly by City & Guilds NPTC.
There are three options:
1. For experienced tractor operators who only need to brush up their skills and be prepared for assessment can be achieved in one day. Training is £160.00 , registration through CEPT is £ 27.00 and certification with City & Guilds NPTC is £35.00, assessment by a City & Guilds Assessor is £72.00 total payable £294.00. Please note there is no V.A.T payable as B.E.S.T. In Horticulture Education is a Not-for-Profit Organisation.
2. For tractor operators who have some experience who need more training a two day course is recommended. Training is £320.00, registration through CEPT is £ 27.00 and certification with City & Guilds NPTC is £35.00, assessment by a City & Guilds Assessor is £72.00 total payable £454.00. Please note there is no V.A.T payable as B.E.S.T. In Horticulture Education is a Not-for-Profit Organisation.
3. For totally inexperienced persons who have no experience of tractor operation who need a significant amount of training a three day course is recommended. Training is £480.00, registration through CEPT is £ 27.00 and certification with City & Guilds NPTC is £35.00, assessment by a City & Guilds Assessor is £72.00 total payable £614.00. Please note there is no V.A.T payable as B.E.S.T. In Horticulture Education is a Not-for-Profit Organisation.
Courses will take place at your own site please contact us. We would be pleased to discuss viability, date(s) and cost. Please contact Tony Davies by email. tonydavies@bestinhorticulture.co.uk
To book your place on a course please contact Tony Davies by email: tonydavies@bestinhorticulture.co.uk
We have a very high success rate in preparing candidates for assessment, to date we have achieved 98% success!
Please note it will be your, or your organisations responsibility to supply the machine, attachments and all items of PPE for this course including safety footwear and work gloves.
You can go on to undertake training in a variety of Certificates of Competence applicable to your role. For example:
If you work as a garden maintenance operative (gardener), the following might be useful:
- Manual handling
- Safe application of pesticides (Pa1)
- Hand held applicators (Pa6)
- Occasional chainsaw user
- Brushcutter/strimmer
- Hand held hedge trimmer
- Pedestrian mower
- Leaf blower/vacuum
- Amenity shredder
- Ride on mowers
- Compact tractors
If you work as a landscaper, the following might be useful:
- Manual handling
- Safe application of pesticides (Pa1)
- Hand held applicators (Pa6)
- Occasional chainsaw user
- Brushcutter/strimmer
- Plant machinery 360 degree excavator
- Dumper
- Abrasive wheel machine
We have collected together some quick links to useful pages that you should find helpful.
B.E.S.T in Horticulture Education Limited, Registered in England No 14088275. (A not for profit organisation)
B.E.S.T. in Horticulture Ltd. Registered in England № 7739766.
