National Technical Certificate

The core grounds operative qualification offered by the Institute of Groundsmanship, which would be the minimum qualification expected for a qualified grounds person.

It was commonly referred to as the NTC. This was in existence until about the early 2000s. If the qualification was on the RQF then it would equate to a Level 2.

The qualification was typically offered as an evening class in college starting in September, for an academic year. The course syllabus covered the following:

• Soils.
• Fertilisers.
• Plant structure.
• Plant physiology.
• Plant classification.
• Weed control.
• Turf diseases and pests.
• Sportsground maintenance (natural grass and non-turf surfaces).
• Sportsground equipment.
• Amenity horticulture.

Practical aspects of the course covered a range of tasks. The purpose was that candidates had to be able to demonstrate they could suitably undertake typical work carried out on a sportsground.

• Identifications: grasses, seeds, and weeds.
• Maintaining sports surfaces.
• Fertiliser identification and application.
• Machinery use.
• Weed, pest and disease damage and control.
• Maintaining general playing fields.
• Management: managing staff and surfaces management including ordering and requirement estimating.
• Health and safety.

This qualification was assessed by means of one 3-hour written paper and 4 practical tests over 1½-hours. To pass the course a candidate needed a minimum of 55% in the written paper and a pass in at least 3 of the 4 practical tests.