Technicals in Horticulture and Forestry & Arboriculture (0174)

Last Updated: 14 Jul 2023

The following qualifications are now closed, all other qualifications under 0174 remain open for registrations:

0174-30 601/7453/5 Level 3 Advanced Technical Certificate in Horticulture
0174-32 601/7455/9 Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Horticulture (720)
0174-35 601/7507/2 Level 3 Advanced Technical Certificate in Forestry and Arboriculture


The Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma and Extended Diplomas in Horticulture are for learners who are interested in developing the specific technical and professional skills and knowledge that will lead to meaningful employment in the Horticulture industry. Learners will explore a wide range of industry areas.

The Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture is for learners who are interested in developing the specific technical and professional skills and knowledge that will lead to meaningful employment in the Forestry and Arboriculture industry. Learners will explore a wide range of industry areas.

The Level 2 Technical Certificate in Horticulture is aimed at learners that are looking to start a career in the horticultural industry.  Learners could progress into employment, onto an Apprenticeship, or further their studies by taking other qualifications at Level 3.

The Level 2 Technical Certificate in Forestry & Arboriculture is aimed at learners that are looking to start a career in the forestry and arboricultural industries. Learners could progress into employment, onto an Apprenticeship, or further their studies by taking other qualifications at Level 3. Learners may progress into employment or within their current role or onto further learning including university or an Apprenticeship.

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UCAS City & Guilds tariff tables: UCAS tariff tables 

Discover our range of resources and support materials to help you effectively deliver our Technical Qualifications.

Please be aware that some of the qualifications in this suite have been updated with changes for delivery from September 2023. 

Please use the latest handbook indicated in the ‘Centre Documents – September 2023’ tab and refer to the version control table in the front of the handbook for information on the changes.

The Level 2 Technical Certificate is aimed at learners aged 16 – 18; 19+. 
The Level 3 suite of Technicals are aimed at learners aged 16 – 18; 19+.
Available to deliver in the following:
  • England
  • Wales – please check QiW website for available funding
  • Northern Ireland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?
To deliver these qualifications, centres/colleges will need to provide their learners with a suitable learning environment and the resources they need to complete the practical and theoretical aspects of the qualification.

To find all the resource requirements, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

Level 2

Learners interested in the Level 2 Technical Certificate in Horticulture will study theoretical aspects of the subject and apply them to practical tasks.
 
Compulsory topics include:
  • Health and safety
  • Working in the horticulture industry
  • Plant naming, identification, selection and science
  • Establishment and maintenance of plants outdoors
  • Care, maintenance and use of tools and machinery
  • Horticulture business skills
  • Work experience (150 hours)
Learners will also be able to choose additional optional topics, including:
  • Commercial gardening and landscaping
  • Sports turf technology
  • Developing hard landscapes
  • Production techniques in horticulture
Learners interested in the Level 2 Technical Certificate in Forestry & Arboriculture will study theoretical aspects of the subject and apply them to practical tasks.
 
All the following topics are compulsory:
  • Working in a forestry or arboriculture related business
  • Introduction to the forestry and arboriculture sectors
  • Health & Safety
  • Tools and equipment
  • Environment and conservation
  • Introduction to plant science
  • Tree classification and Identification
  • Tree establishment
  • Tree and Woodland management
  • Work experience (150 hours)
For more information, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

The Level 2 Technical Certificate in Horticulture could lead to the following employment opportunities:

  • Trainee landscaper/gardener
  • Trainee local authority parks/gardens worker
  • Trainee nursery worker
  • Trainee golf greenkeeper/groundsman

The Level 2 Technical Certificate in Forestry & Arboriculture could lead to the following employment opportunities:

  • Trainee arboriculture/forestry worker
  • Trainee forestry team member
  • Trainee tree nursery worker
Level 2 Technical Certificate in Horticulture (0174-20)
Last Registration Date: 31 Jul 2026

Level 2 Technical Certificate in Horticulture

  • Accreditation No: 603/0868/0 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Technical This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 360 - 360 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 600 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: 5 This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £151.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 2 Technical Certificate in Forestry & Arboriculture (0174-21)
Last Registration Date: 31 Jul 2026

Level 2 Technical Certificate in Forestry & Arboriculture

  • Accreditation No: 603/1175/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Technical This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 360 - 360 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 600 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £151.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3

Learners interested in the Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma and Extended Diplomas in Horticulture will study theoretical aspects of the subject and apply them to practical tasks.

Compulsory topics include:
  • Safe working practices
  • Identification, selection and planting of plants
  • Maintain turf
  • Machinery operations
  • Plant health and protection
Learners will also be able to choose additional optional topics, including:
  • Advanced horticultural science
  • Sustainable development
  • Plant propagation activities
  • Landscape and garden design
  • Construct and maintain decorative landscape features
  • Computer aided design in horticulture
  • Horticultural production techniques
  • Advanced nursery stock production
  • Construct and establish sports and amenity turf areas
  • Manage sports turf surfaces
  • Water management
You could specialise in:
  • Professional Horticulture
  • Sports Turf
Learners interested in the Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Forestry & Arboriculture will study theoretical aspects of the subject and apply them to practical tasks.

Compulsory topics include:
  • Safe working practices
  • Machinery operations
  • Plant and soil science
  • Tree felling and chainsaw use
  • Pests, diseases and disorders of trees
Learners will also be able to choose additional optional topics, including:
  • Planning forestry projects
  • Woodland habitat management
  • Tree science
  • Silviculture
  • Emergency tree works
  • Timber processing and conversion
  • Specialist forestry and arboricultural machinery
  • Support arboriculture operations from the ground
  • Advanced arboricultural practices
  • Tree surveys and inspections
You could specialise in:
  • Forestry
  • Arboriculture
What Careers Can This Lead To?
The Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma and Extended Diplomas in Horticulture could lead to the following employment opportunities:
  • Landscape operative
  • Gardener
  • Landscape contractor
  • Garden/grounds maintenance manager
  • Fresh produce technician
  • Production supervisor
  • Landscape team Leader/supervisor
  • Park team supervisor
  • Landscape site manager
  • Freelance landscaper
  • Commercial unit manager
  • Golf greenkeeper
The Level 3 Advanced Technical and Extended Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture could lead to the following employment opportunities:
  • Entry level tree worker
  • Tree worker (ground)
  • Tree worker (aerial)
  • Forest craftsperson
  • Forestry contractor
  • Forest operator
  • Forest supervisor
Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma in Horticulture (0174-36)
Last Registration Date: 31 Jul 2025

Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma in Horticulture (540)

  • Accreditation No: 601/7456/0 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Data unavailable This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £202.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Horticulture (0174-37)
Last Registration Date: 31 Jul 2025

Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Horticulture (Professional Horticulture) (1080)

  • Accreditation No: 601/7454/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Data unavailable This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £233.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Horticulture (Sports Turf) (1080)

  • Accreditation No: 601/7454/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Data unavailable This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £233.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture (1080) (0174-38)
Last Registration Date: 31 Jul 2025

Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture (Arboriculture) (1080)

  • Accreditation No: 601/7517/5 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: VRQ This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 1080 - 1080 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 1800 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: 5 This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £233.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture (Forestry) (1080)

  • Accreditation No: 601/7517/5 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Technical This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 1080 - 1080 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 1800 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: 5 This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £233.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form

0174 Level 2

Forestry and Arboriculture

Assessment materials

Horticulture

Assessment materials

0174 Level 3

Forestry and Arboriculture

Assessment materials

Synoptic assignments

Unit assignments

Horticulture

Assessment materials

Synoptic assignments

Unit assignments

Version A

Version B

Purpose and Recognition

16-19

Recognition