Qualifications Framework level

EQF level

European Qualifications Framework (EQF) has 8 levels (1 – the lowest, 8 – the highest).

Levels reflect the complexity level of acquired knowledge, skills and competences (learning outcomes).


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LQF level

Latvian Qualifications Framework (LQF) has 8 levels (1 – the lowest, 8 – the highest).

Levels reflect the complexity level of acquired knowledge, skills and competences (learning outcomes).

LQF covers stages of education starting from the basic education (level 1 – special basic education) to the highest education (level 8 – doctoral studies).


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Level of professional qualification
Latvia has a system of five professional qualifications levels (PQL, 1 – the lowest, 5 – the highest).

PQL system covers only professional qualifications (basic education, secondary and higher education stages).

PQL reflects readiness of a person to perform work of certain stage of complexity and responsibility.
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Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are knowledge, skills and competences acquired during a certain period of learning.

In Latvia, learning outcomes are stipulated by state education standards and occupational standards (for the professional qualifications).

Learning outcomes of higher education are defined by higher education institutions.


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Tree carer (Arborist)

  • Knowledge

    PROFESSIONAL knowledge:
    At the concept level:
    1. Structure of roots and their distribution in soil.
    2. Tree defence mechanism, compartmentalisation of damages in trees (CODIT).
    3. Impact of wind and soil on the tree.
    4. Mechanical properties of wood.
    5. Ecological, landscape-specific, and cultural-historical values, options for their preservation.
    6. Types of hoisting equipment and mechanisms.
    7. Resistance of materials.
    8. Laws and regulations regarding construction works.
    At the comprehension level:
    1. Cartographic designations.
    2. Orientation in the surroundings.
    3. Fuel filling conditions.
    4. Laws and regulations regarding work and traffic organisation.
    5. Road traffic rules.
    6. Assortment of wood.
    7. Causes and consequences of seedling damages.
    8. Accompanying documents of trees.
    9. Soil types.
    10. Signs of tree hazard for securing an anchor point.
    11. Types of shapes of artificial crowns.
    12. Techniques (manual, mechanised) for cutting the shapes of artificial crowns and auxiliary equipment to be used (ladder, scaffolds, hoist, cutting mechanisms, patterns).
    13. Techniques for securing and bending back branches and trunks.
    14. Most common taxa of trees and their Latin names.
    15. Types of wood damages.
    16. Types and marking of crown securing systems.
    17. Use of crown securing systems, its justification.
    18. Tree taxa age phases, indications, influence on the intensity of care.
    19. Criteria for specially protected trees, regulatory basis, permissible activities, and agreements.
    20. Container plant cultivation and care.
    21. Laws and regulations regarding tree felling.
    22. Process of obtaining the tree felling permit.
    23. Impact of weather conditions during the completion of the work task.
    24. Options for further processing of tree felling remains and assortments, and their stacking.
    25. Structure and operating principle of the chip crusher.
    26. Structure and operating principle of the stump grinder.
    27. Ways to relocate mechanisms.
    28. Types of irrigation systems.
    29. Physiology of woody plants.
    30. Types of materials for covering tree roots.
    31. Tree species and their root systems.
    At the application level:
    1. Basic knowledge of drawing up documents.
    2. Use of GPS.
    3. Planning in setting up the workplace.
    4. Installation of safety and road signs.
    5. Work and traffic organisation schemes.
    6. Traffic control gestures and signals.
    7. Rules for use of manual, electrical, and motor-operated instruments.
    8. Calculation of the amount of the stacked material.
    9. Preventive measures to reduce damages to seedlings.
    10. Loading process.
    11. Cargo placement and restraint in a vehicle.
    12. Technique for securing seedlings within the storage area.
    13. Ways and methods of storing seedlings.
    14. Most common taxa of trees and their Latin names.
    15. Seedling standards.
    16. Branch pruning technique.
    17. Root pruning technique.
    18. Types of planting holes and technology for their creation.
    19. Types of irrigation and aeration systems and their installation.
    20. Types of tree levelling.
    21. Cargo lifting and movement.
    22. Tree stabilisation methods.
    23. Surface irrigation systems.
    24. Techniques for the protection of the trunk and roots.
    25. Pit levelling.
    26. Climbing techniques (free climbing, rope climbing techniques).
    27. Use of rope, climbing, and securing inventory and mechanisms.
    28. Use of hoists and mobile platforms.
    29. Use of scaffolds.
    30. Protection of the cambium.
    31. Ways to tie knots, their selection and use.
    32. Ways to prune branches, pruning times and extent.
    33. Effects of pathogenic organisms on trees.
    34. Auxiliary mechanisms for lowering branches.
    35. Inspection of crown securing systems.
    36. Assembly and disassembly of crown securing systems.
    37. Techniques for the movement through tree crowns in groups of trees.
    38. Care for grafts.
    39. Fruit-tree crown types, techniques for pruning branches, and pruning times.
    40. Care for tree rows and alleys.
    41. Sawing-off techniques and their application.
    42. Mechanical properties of wood.
    43. Types of wood damages.
    44. Designing of lowering systems, calculation of loads and resistances.
    45. Calculation of the mass of cut-off part of wood.
    46. Types of hoists and their use.
    47. Installation of a winch and ways to apply it.
    48. Installation of a pulley system and ways to apply it.
    49. Installation of cableways.
    50. Principles and the regulatory framework of the elimination of the consequences of an accident.
    51. Options for moving the chip crusher on site.
    52. Chip crusher safety systems.
    53. Options for moving the stump grinder on site.
    54. Stump grinder safety systems.
    55. Protection of the surrounding objects, items etc. against emissions from a mechanism.
    56. Placement and restraint of mechanisms in a vehicle.
    57. Tree protection equipment.
    58. Personal and collective tree protection equipment.
    59. Installation of irrigation systems.
    60. Methods for digging up tree roots.
    61. Tree care techniques.
    62. Materials for the care and treatment of damaged parts of the tree.
    63. Types and application of climbing equipment marking.
    64. Methods for inspecting climbing equipment.
    65. Conditions for the operation of climbing equipment.
    66. Types and application of climbing equipment care products.
    67. Types and application of oils and lubricants.
    68. Types of electrical instruments.
    69. Conditions for the operation of electrical instruments.
    70. Types of motor-operated instruments.
    71. Conditions for the operation of motor-operated instruments.
    72. Conditions for use and storage of combustible mixtures.
    73. Types of specialised machinery.
    74. Operating materials, oils, and fluids of specialised machinery.
    75. Conditions for safe operation of specialised machinery.
    GENERAL knowledge:
    At the concept level:
    1. Laws and regulations regarding information technologies.
    2. Basics of ergonomics.
    At the comprehension level:
    1. Vocabulary.
    2. Grammar and language functions.
    3. Types of verbal interaction. Language styles and characteristics of intonation.
    4. Diversity of language and communication in different contexts.
    5. Essence, significance, and norms of Labour rights.
    6. Essence and principles of labour protection.
    7. Environmental protection requirements.
    8. Assessment of workplace risk factors.
    9. Ways to store plant protection and fertilisation equipment.
    10. Types of plant protection and fertilisation equipment.
    At the application level:
    1. Official language.
    2. Foreign language(s).
    3. Intercultural interaction.
    4. Calculation.
    5. Units of measurement and shapes.
    6. Mathematical terminology.
    7. Application software in preparation of documents.
    8. Types, programmes, and use of electronic means of communication.
    9. Positive interaction techniques.
    10. Labour protection when working at high altitude.
    11. Labour protection signs, road signs, and hand signals.
    12. Work organisation and technologies.
    13. Application and types of personal and collective protective work equipment.
    14. Safe work practices.
    15. Provision of first aid to an injured person.
    16. Principles of professional interaction.
    17. Equipment and markings, and their use.
    18. Safe filling of internal combustion engine fuels and oils.
    19. Use of biodegradable oils and fuels.
    20. Correct filling, transportation, and storage of motor-operated instruments, fuels, and oils.
    21. Essence and principles of fire and electrical safety.
    22. Elimination of the consequences of an accident.
    23. Instructions for use of plant protection and fertilisation equipment, work instruments, and mechanisms.
    24. Impact of weather conditions on dusting and fertilisation works.
    25. Measures of pesticide utilisation.
    26. Types of biodiversity.
    27. Law on Species and Biotopes.
    28. Environmentally friendly work practices.
    29. Safe work practices.

  • Skills

    PROFESSIONAL skills:
    1. To orientate oneself on the map and in the surroundings.
    2. To recognise symbols on the map.
    3. To determine the geolocation.
    4. To fill in the work sheet.
    5. To recognise the trees and location specified in the work task.
    6. To evaluate the work territory.
    7. To place the first aid kit in an easy accessible place.
    8. To set up the fuel filling place rationally.
    9. To cordon off the work territory with warning tape.
    10. To arrange guide posts and cones.
    11. To place road and safety signs.
    12. To read work and traffic organisation schemes.
    13. To use gesture signals understandable for car drivers.
    14. To divert the pedestrian traffic around the delimiting territory.
    15. To refrain from expressing dissatisfaction of any kind (towards pedestrians and car drivers or their requests).
    16. To stack timber.
    17. To pile branches.
    18. To collect tree felling remains.
    19. To choose the instruments, mechanisms, and machinery most appropriate for cleaning up the workplace.
    20. To clean up the workplace after work.
    21. To calculate the amount of the utilisable materials.
    22. To load and unload seedlings in the transport vehicle.
    23. To secure the seedlings in the transport vehicle.
    24. To store the seedlings within the storage area.
    25. To assess the quality and suitability of the planting stock on site.
    26. To repair damages caused during the transportation.
    27. To remove the packaging material from the branches and roots.
    28. To prepare the root system for planting.
    29. To dig soil with manual instruments and small-scale machinery.
    30. To prepare the substrate for the planting hole.
    31. To set up the aeration and irrigation system.
    32. To carefully construct the foundations of the root and stump protection system.
    33. To assemble the anti-root protection system.
    34. To lift a seedling into the planting hole.
    35. To level a seedling.
    36. To fill the substrate into the planting hole.
    37. To uncover tree roots.
    38. To prepare the tree roots for transplantation.
    39. To prepare the tree crown for transplantation.
    40. To move a tree to the new place.
    41. To plant the tree in the new planting hole.
    42. To anchor the root ball.
    43. To attach the tree to posts.
    44. To set up guy wires for the stabilisation of a tree.
    45. To irrigate a tree.
    46. To set up trunk protection.
    47. To create the surrounding soil.
    48. To mulch the surrounding soil.
    49. To prune tree branches.
    50. To set up protectors of trunk roots.
    51. To choose the most appropriate access method.
    52. To climb a tree, applying the chosen access method.
    53. To lift the tree crown.
    54. To thin the tree crown.
    55. To reduce the tree crown.
    56. To clean the tree crown.
    57. To reduce a portion of the crown.
    58. To restore the crown of an old tree.
    59. To pollard the tree crown.
    60. To espalier the tree crown.
    61. To trim the tree crown.
    62. To create a Bonsai tree.
    63. To independently assess risk factors while climbing.
    64. To shorten dangerous branches.
    65. To saw off dangerous branches.
    66. To lower the branches on the ground safely.
    67. To assemble the safety system.
    68. To inspect the existing safety system.
    69. To replace the safety system.
    70. To care for secular trees and specially protected trees (with dendrological, cultural-historical, ecological, and landscape-specific value).
    71. To care for groups of trees (alleys, parks, rows).
    72. To care for grafts.
    73. To create the crown of fruit-trees.
    74. To care for trees in containers situated in roof gardens.
    75. To examine the tree felling permit.
    76. To choose the appropriate felling direction.
    77. To choose the appropriate sawing-off technique.
    78. To saw a woody plant accurately.
    79. To lower the cut-off parts of the tree.
    80. To saw off a tree from the hoist.
    81. To saw off a tree, standing on the climbers.
    82. To assess the risk factors of sawing off a tree.
    83. To use auxiliary devices and mechanisms for sawing a tree.
    84. To saw off a tree, using the crane and other hoisting devices.
    85. To use appropriate work equipment and specialised machinery.
    86. To use appropriate and safe work practices.
    87. To demarcate the place of accident.
    88. To delimb the trunk.
    89. To cross-cut the trunk.
    90. To lift trunk parts and branches.
    91. To move trunk parts and branches.
    92. To chip wood parts.
    93. To grind stumps.
    94. To move mechanisms.
    95. To read the work task.
    96. To assess the physical condition of a tree.
    97. To choose appropriate tree protection equipment.
    98. To tie back tree branches.
    99. To use personal protection equipment (PPE).
    100. To cooperate with the construction worker.
    101. To apply tree care materials and equipment.
    102. To set up informative tree protection signs.
    103. To determine the moisture content of soil.
    104. To assemble irrigation systems.
    105. To use irrigation systems.
    106. To dig up tree roots.
    107. To prune tree roots.
    108. To bandage tree roots.
    109. To moisture tree roots.
    110. To identify the damages to tree parts and their extent.
    111. To choose a branch, trunk, and root care technique.
    112. To place bandages on the damaged tree parts.
    113. To cover the damaged tree parts.
    114. To inspect the climbing equipment.
    115. To choose climbing equipment in working condition.
    116. To keep up with the technical condition of climbing equipment during the work.
    117. To replace the damaged climbing equipment.
    118. To care for climbing equipment in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer.
    119. To repair the detected damages to the climbing equipment.
    120. To maintain electrical instruments in working order.
    121. To choose battery-operated or direct coupling electrical instruments.
    122. To identify damages to electrical instruments.
    123. To use electrical instruments in accordance with the nature of the work.
    124. To fill up the appropriate combustible mixture.
    125. To prepare cutting blades for work.
    126. To identify damages to motor-operated instruments.
    127. To fill up operating fluids.
    128. To prepare the specialised machinery for work.
    129. To prepare the specialised machinery for transportation or movement.
    GENERAL skills:
    1. To communicate in the official language (A2).
    2. To communicate in foreign language both orally and in writing (B1).
    3. To substantiate the solution of a task mathematically.
    4. To apply the basic mathematical principles and techniques.
    5. To communicate by using information technologies.
    6. To use signals while performing works.
    7. To use work clothing highly visible in the natural surroundings.
    8. To apply the norms of employment legal relationship.
    9. To comply with labour protection requirements.
    10. To use labour protection laws and regulatory documents.
    11. To comply with labour protection requirements for work at high altitude, which involves rope systems and hoists.
    12. To execute works on site in a team of at least two treeworkers (arborists).
    13. To use warning signs and hand signals.
    14. To select the appropriate personal protective work equipment and safety devices.
    15. To keep track of the technical condition of the protective work equipment and safety devices.
    16. To contemplate the potential risk locations and factors.
    17. To take a decision to remedy or mitigate risks.
    18. To use the ABC method to prevent the most critical conditions and preserve and sustain life.
    19. To provide first aid in occupational accidents.
    20. To transport the injured person from the tree.
    21. To recognise the marking and pictograms.
    22. To inspect the inventory and its safety devices.
    23. To control work practices.
    24. To select own appropriate work inventory.
    25. To comply with the requirements for use of motor-operated instruments.
    26. To refrain from polluting environment with fuels, oils or other operating fluids.
    27. To act in the event of electrical damages and electrical injuries in compliance with the requirements of laws and regulations.
    28. To have thorough knowledge of the types of plant protection equipment.
    29. To use plant protection equipment in accordance with the instructions.
    30. To complete the tasks assigned by the work manager.
    31. To choose the appropriate weather conditions to perform works.
    32. To utilise the remaining pesticides.
    33. To inform the public about the performance of works and the required waiting period.
    34. To ensure a favourable protection regime for specially protected species.
    35. To recognise biodiversity value in trees.
    36. To preserve hollow trees and branches so that they would not endanger the public.
    37. To be aware of the significance of dead wood for the biodiversity.
    38. To relocate habitats of specially protected species in accordance with the instructions of an expert.
    39. To choose manual or motor-operated instruments depending on the potential disturbance to specially protected species.

  • Competences/ autonomy

    PROFESSIONAL competences:
    1. Ability to fill in the work sheet carefully by including all necessary information and using the available internet and other resources.
    2. Ability to set up a rational and safe workplace, anticipating all duties to be carried out within the scope of the work task.
    3. Ability to equip the workplace in accordance with work and traffic organisation schemes, using auxiliary materials to demarcate the territory.
    4. Ability to organise the vehicle and pedestrian traffic on site safely, accurately, and responsibly.
    5. Ability to independently bring the place of work execution in order upon finishing the work, accurately determining the amount of the utilisable materials.
    6. Ability to perform tree seedling logistic work under the supervision of the work manager, using small-scale loading mechanisms and inventory.
    7. Ability to prepare a tree for planting, applying appropriate tree and root pruning techniques.
    8. Ability to prepare planting holes, using small-scale machinery, and install the auxiliary equipment of the planting hole under the supervision of the work manager.
    9. Ability to perform the works for planting and transplanting trees in a team, under the supervision of the work manager.
    10. Ability to perform the works for stabilising trees in a team, applying tree stabilisation methods.
    11. Ability to perform post-planting works individually, using appropriate materials and manual instruments.
    12. Ability to work at high altitude individually, choosing the most appropriate access methods to reach the work position and complying with labour protection requirements.
    13. Ability to take a decision when choosing the way and place to prune branches and creating natural tree crown shapes.
    14. Ability to create artificial crown shapes individually or in a team, under the supervision of the work manager, using different auxiliary materials, instruments, and patterns.
    15. Ability to remove dangerous branches individually or in a team, using appropriate instruments and auxiliary devices.
    16. Ability to set up crown securing systems individually or in a team, choosing appropriate height and suitable place for setting it up.
    17. Ability to create and care for the crowns of special trees individually.
    18. Ability to create and care for the crowns of protected trees individually or in a team, under the supervision of the work manager.
    19. Ability to evaluate tree felling documentation before commencing the work and comply with the laws and regulations of tree felling.
    20. Ability to accurately saw down a tree individually or in a team, choosing appropriate sawing-down technique and instruments.
    21. Ability to safely and accurately saw down a tree in parts individually or in a team, using appropriate instruments and auxiliary equipment.
    22. Ability to safely and accurately saw down a tree of high complexity in a team, using specialised auxiliary devices and mechanisms for sawing.
    23. Ability to assess the situation responsibly and rationally and take part in removing trees involved in the accident, using safe work practices.
    24. Ability to utilise tree felling remains, using appropriate instruments and mechanisms and applying ergonomic work practices.
    25. Ability to perform tree preparation works under the supervision of the work manager, choosing the most appropriate tree protection equipment.
    26. Ability to fulfil labour protection requirements at construction objects, using personal and collective protective work equipment.
    27. Ability to set up personal and collective tree protection equipment in accordance with the work task.
    28. Ability to complete and install irrigation systems in accordance with the work task.
    29. Ability to ensure favourable growing conditions for the roots of the tree, taking measures to protect the root system.
    30. Ability to identify tree damages and take appropriate measures for their care.
    31. Ability to responsibly choose and use the existing climbing equipment in working order, in accordance with the work task.
    32. Ability to perform climbing equipment maintenance works in good quality, in accordance with the identified damages.
    33. Ability to maintain the electrical and motor-operated instruments and specialised machinery in working order, in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer, and use them in accordance with the nature of the work.
    GENERAL competences:
    1. Ability to communicate in the official language both orally and in writing (A2).
    2. Ability to communicate in one foreign language (B1).
    3. Ability to apply mathematical thinking to complete a work task.
    4. Ability to use information and communication technologies to complete a work task.
    5. Ability to actively communicate with different persons on site, using mutually beneficial conversation methods.
    6. Ability to perform work at high altitude by anticipating the possible risks, selecting inventory and equipment in good technical condition, and accurately complying with labour protection requirements for work at high altitude.
    7. Ability to comply with work, labour protection, and environmental protection regulations, in conformity with the requirements of laws and regulations.
    8. Ability to responsibly and independently use personal and collective protective equipment and safety devices, keeping up with their technical condition.
    9. Ability to assess and remedy the potential risks while completing the work task.
    10. Ability to provide first aid.
    11. Ability to evaluate and use appropriate inventory for work.
    12. Ability to use ergonomic work practices and inventory.
    13. Ability to perform works, using motor-operated instruments responsibly and avoiding possible environmental pollution.
    14. Ability to work with plant protection equipment, complying with the requirements for use of plant protection equipment and avoiding potential environmental pollution.
    15. Ability to recognise the habitats of specially protected species and provide them a favourable protection status in compliance with environmental protection requirements.

Qualification acquisition requirements

Previous education
Certificate of general basic education
Ways to acquire 
Qualifications can be acquired in the framework of education programs or in the evaluation and recognition of non-formal knowledge, skills and competences acquired (in vocational education LKI Levels 2-4).
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Formal (through education programmes) or
Formal (through non-formal education acquired competence recognition process, completing the qualifications professional examination)
ECTS credit points 
The unit of the volume of Latvian higher education studies - 1 credit point corresponds to one week of study work in full-time studies (40 credit points per study year).

1 The credit point of Latvia corresponds to 1,5 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credit point.
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0
Duration of study 
Duration of qualification in full-time studies
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1 year

Qualification document

Awarding body

Vocational basic and secondary education institution

- Bulduri Secondary School of Gardening, Ltd

Type of awarding bodies:

- Bulduru Tehnikums

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Qualifications Framework level

EQF level

European Qualifications Framework (EQF) has 8 levels (1 – the lowest, 8 – the highest).

Levels reflect the complexity level of acquired knowledge, skills and competences (learning outcomes).


Go to the Glossary section
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3

LQF level

Latvian Qualifications Framework (LQF) has 8 levels (1 – the lowest, 8 – the highest).

Levels reflect the complexity level of acquired knowledge, skills and competences (learning outcomes).

LQF covers stages of education starting from the basic education (level 1 – special basic education) to the highest education (level 8 – doctoral studies).


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3

Level of professional qualification

Latvia has a system of five professional qualifications levels (PQL, 1 – the lowest, 5 – the highest).

PQL system covers only professional qualifications (basic education, secondary and higher education stages).

PQL reflects readiness of a person to perform work of certain stage of complexity and responsibility.


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2

Qualification field, stage and type

Thematic field (ISCED 2013)
International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) developed by UNESCO.
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Agriculture (081)

Detailed field: (ISCED 2013)

Horticulture (0812)

Education
Stages of Latvian education system included in the LQF:
- basic education
- secondary education
- higher education
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Secondary education

Qualification type
ITypes of Latvian education:
-General education
-Professional education
-Academic education
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Vocational

Full or partial

Full qualification

Sector Qualifications Structure: Construction sector

Kvalifikācijas tips:
Base qualification:
Connected to:

Link to the descriptions of the Sector Qualifications Structure levels

Other information

National Education Information System

National Database of Education Opportunities

Active qualification

Last changes: 06.03.2024

Posted: 07.05.2016