Online Chainsaw Refresher Training
Online theory and CPD refresher training.
Already trained, qualified and got your tickets? Refresh the theory behind chainsaw maintenance, cross-cutting, and safe working with flexible online study. The course is designed for people with previous chainsaw experience that already hold an NPTC or LANTRA certification. The course revisits core knowledge and supports continuing professional development.
Study online from anywhere. There is no need to travel to a training venue for this e-learning course, saving you time and money. If your employer requires further refresher training or a practical check, discuss the right training and assessment for your work before relying on an online theory course.
- Approval
- IIRSM-approved online course
- CPD
- 5 CPD hours
- Record
- Theory certificate recording completion
- Coverage
- Study online anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
For experienced operators and employers
The course may suit the following groups. Employers can use it as one part of a planned learning and CPD programme and keep its completion evidence with their training records.
- Arborists and tree-care workers
- Forestry workers
- Grounds-maintenance teams
- Contractors
- Woodland and estate management staff
What the course covers
The IIRSM-approved course provides 5 CPD hours and a theory certificate recording completion. It supports knowledge associated with City & Guilds NPTC 0039-20 Units 201 and 202, historically known as CS30, including chainsaw maintenance and cross-cutting theory.
It does not issue or renew an NPTC or Lantra Certificate of Competence, assess practical chainsaw use, or qualify someone to fell trees. CS31 relates to different felling skills: check the current unit and assessment requirements with your employer or assessment centre if that is the refresher you need.
Refresher intervals depend on the work
HSE's INDG317 gives suggested intervals of two to three years for occasional chainsaw users and five years for full-time users. FISA 805, updated in August 2025, discusses three-to-five-year refresher/update training and recommends recorded updates at least every five years for most of the operations it covers. It also says identified weaknesses should be addressed sooner.
These are recommendations, not a universal certificate expiry date or a fixed legal deadline for every operator. Employers should consider the task, how often the equipment is used, changes in risk, and the worker's competence. HSE says employers must provide required training during working hours and at no cost to employees.
A learning resource, not a substitute for competence checks
Online theory can help refresh and record knowledge, but it does not by itself establish practical competence or complete an employer's duties under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). Employers remain responsible for deciding whether additional instruction, supervision, hands-on refresher training, or assessment is needed for the work being done.
Common questions
Does a chainsaw ticket expire after three years?
Not as a universal rule. HSE INDG317 suggests two to three years for occasional users and five years for full-time users. FISA 805 discusses three-to-five-year refresher or update training and recommends recorded updates at least every five years for most operations it covers. These are recommendations, not a fixed legal deadline or certificate expiry date.
Does this course renew an NPTC or Lantra certificate?
No. It does not issue or renew an NPTC or Lantra Certificate of Competence, assess practical chainsaw use, or qualify anyone to fell trees.
What are CS30 and CS31?
CS30 is the historical name for City & Guilds NPTC 0039-20 Units 201 and 202, covering chainsaw maintenance and cross-cutting. The course supports knowledge associated with those units. CS31 relates to different felling skills: check current unit and assessment requirements with your employer or assessment centre.
Does it satisfy PUWER?
Not by itself. Online theory can help refresh and record knowledge, but employers remain responsible for deciding whether instruction, supervision, hands-on refresher training or assessment is needed for the work being done.
Sources
HSE guidance cited here relates to Great Britain. If you work in Northern Ireland, also check HSENI and local workplace requirements. Outside the UK, confirm the rules and qualifications that apply where you work. Always consult the current source guidance and your employer or training provider.
Refresh your chainsaw theory online
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