Education and training for chainsaw operation – timber harvesting
Get your chainsaw operator licence for timber harvesting. We'll prepare you and your employees for safe felling and delimbing — complete the theory online, with practical training out in the field. The course concludes with a valid chainsaw operator licence.
Interested in this course?
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What the chainsaw logging course (timber felling) is
The chainsaw logging course (timber felling) is a professional training programme after which you receive the licence card for operating a hand-held motorised chainsaw in timber felling — covering the felling of standing trees, delimbing, and cross-cutting timber during felling operations. It is the most demanding variant, with the highest training scope.
Under § 3 ods. 1 of Decree No. 46/2010 Coll., a natural person may operate a chainsaw only on the basis of a valid licence card; for timber felling the required document is the timber-felling licence card (§ 16 ods. 1 písm. a) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll., Annex No. 1a písm. t), issued by an authorised education and training provider. For pruning and bucking already-felled timber, the other-activities course is sufficient; the forestry machinery course is also related.
Who the course is for
The course is aimed at individuals (forestry workers, chainsawyers, forest managers) as well as companies in forestry and land management that need to ensure licensed chainsaw operators for timber felling.
For an individual
The chainsaw licence card for timber felling is the fundamental qualification in forestry and logging. Felling standing trees is highly hazardous (falling tree, kickback), so a qualified chainsaw operator has a stable position in the labour market, and the licence card is typically a condition of employment.
For a company and employer
Under § 6 and § 12 ods. 2 písm. d) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll., an employee may operate a chainsaw in timber felling only on the basis of a timber-felling licence card and authorisation. The licence card is tied to a specific person; operating without one during an inspection risks a fine, and in the event of an accident also criminal liability.
Timber felling versus other activities
The law distinguishes two separate licence cards. The timber-felling licence card has a higher training scope because felling standing trees is the most hazardous part of chainsaw work.
| Type | Typical work | Minimum training duration |
|---|---|---|
| Timber felling (this course) | felling standing trees, delimbing, cross-cutting during felling | at least 56 hours (20 h theory + 36 h practical) |
| Other activities (separate course) | pruning, bucking felled timber, green-space maintenance | at least 23 hours (15 h theory + 8 h practical) |
The timber-felling licence card also authorises the work covered by the other-activities licence card, but not the other way around — a holder of only the other-activities licence card may not fell standing trees.
Course content and final examination
The course is based on Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. (Annex No. 11, group 10, item 10.2) and has a minimum scope of 56 hours — 20 hours of theory and 36 hours of practical work. It may only be conducted by an authorised education and training provider.
Theory and practical component
In the theory component you cover the legal regulations, chainsaw construction and maintenance, directional felling technique, delimbing and cross-cutting, risks in timber felling, and first aid. The practical field training focuses on sawing, delimbing, and safe working procedures directly on the felling site.
Final examination
Professional knowledge is assessed by a written test and practical examination before an examining board. On successful completion, the chainsaw-operation licence card for timber felling is issued.
Legal basis, obligations and penalties
Chainsaw operation in timber felling is governed primarily by Decree No. 46/2010 Coll. (BOZP (occupational health and safety) in forestry work) and Act No. 124/2006 Coll.
Key regulations
Under § 3 ods. 1 of Decree No. 46/2010 Coll., only a person with a valid timber-felling licence card may operate a chainsaw in felling. This is the licence card pursuant to § 16 ods. 1 písm. a) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. (Annex No. 1a písm. t). Conditions for issue are a minimum age of 18 years and medical fitness (§ 16 ods. 2 a 4); a secondary vocational school student may operate a chainsaw from the age of 16 during practical instruction under constant supervision.
Penalties for breaches
If the labour inspectorate finds felling operations without a valid licence card, fines apply under § 19 of Act No. 125/2006 Coll.:
| Breach | Fine | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| BOZP (occupational health and safety) regulation breach (employer) | up to 100 000 € | § 19 ods. 2 písm. a) |
| Accident with serious bodily injury / death | at least 20 000 € / at least 33 000 € | § 19 ods. 2 písm. a) |
| Serious breach of BOZP (occupational health and safety) obligations | from 1 000 € to 200 000 € | § 19 ods. 3 písm. a) |
| Operating without a valid licence card | from 300 € to 33 000 € | § 19 ods. 2 písm. b) |
Note: the outcome is a licence card (§ 16 ods. 1 písm. a)), not a 'certificate of completion of education and training'. The licence card is issued by an authorised education and training provider, not by the labour inspectorate.
Document, validity and renewal
The chainsaw-operation licence card for timber felling is issued for an indefinite period pursuant to § 16 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. Its validity is contingent on the continuous fulfilment of obligations (§ 16 ods. 12):
- Refresher instruction: at least once every 3 years (§ 7 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.). Decree No. 46/2010 Coll. does not set a shorter interval, so the general rule applies.
- Refresher professional training (AOP): within 5 years of issue and then within every 5 years thereafter (§ 16 ods. 8); the minimum scope for timber felling is 8 hours.
- Preventive medical examination (LPP): within 5 years (§ 16 ods. 6); if medical fitness is lost, the licence card ceases to be valid.
Refresher instruction (3 years) and refresher professional training (5 years) are two separate obligations. We can track and remind you of both deadlines for your company, so your chainsaw operators' licence cards remain valid.
How to obtain the licence card — procedure
The path to the chainsaw licence card has six steps — our team guides you through them from the medical assessment to the issuing of the licence card.
Medical assessment Obtain a medical fitness-for-work assessment — at the time the licence card is issued it must be no more than six months old (§ 16 ods. 4 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.).
Registration and scheduling Contact us with the number of participants. The timber-felling course has a higher scope (at least 56 hours); we will agree on the date and arrangements.
Theory preparation The instructor covers the regulations, chainsaw construction and maintenance, felling, delimbing and cross-cutting technique, and BOZP (occupational health and safety) principles in timber felling.
Practical field training Under supervision, participants practise sawing, delimbing and cross-cutting trees, directional felling, and safe working procedures directly on the felling site.
Final examination Professional knowledge is assessed by a written test and practical examination before an examining board.
Issuing the licence card On successful completion, an authorised education and training provider issues you the chainsaw-operation licence card for timber felling. We will notify you of the refresher-instruction, LPP (preventive medical examination) and AOP (refresher professional training) deadlines.
Participation conditions, deadlines and legal basis
| Item | Value | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | at least 18 years (secondary vocational school student from 16 under supervision) | § 16 ods. 2 of Act No. 124/2006 + § 3 of Decree No. 46/2010 |
| Medical fitness | medical assessment no more than 6 months old | § 16 ods. 4 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. |
| Qualification document | chainsaw-operation licence card for timber felling (issued by an authorised education and training provider) | § 3 of Decree No. 46/2010 + § 16 ods. 1 písm. a) of Act No. 124/2006 |
| Minimum training scope | at least 56 hours (20 h theory + 36 h practical) | Annex No. 11 item 10.2 of Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. |
| Refresher instruction | at least once every 3 years | § 7 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. |
| Refresher professional training (AOP) | within 5 years (minimum scope 8 h) | § 16 ods. 8 of Act No. 124/2006 + Decree No. 356/2007 |
| Licence card validity | indefinite (subject to fulfilment of obligations) | § 16 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. |
Course scope
Participation requirements
Completed compulsory school attendance, age at least 18 years, medical fitness certificate not older than 6 months.
Course scope
Basic course: 24 hours. Repeated familiarization: 3 hours. Update professional training: 6 hours.
Repeated familiarization and update training
Familiarization with regulatory changes every 36 months (§7 para. 5). Update training every 5 years (§16 para. 8 of Act 124/2006).
Why choose Alpha Safety?
- Certified instructors with years of experience
- Official certificates and credentials issued
- Flexible training schedules
- Training throughout Slovakia
- Individual approach to each participant
Duration
57 hours (basic course)
Format
Online theory + field training
Related courses
Stručná odpoveď
The “Chainsaw operation – logging” course is intended for company employees who operate a hand-held chainsaw during logging. It combines theory with practical field training (felling, limbing and cross-cutting technique, safe procedures and chainsaw maintenance). After successful completion, the participant obtains a chainsaw operator's licence card issued by a person authorised to provide education and training.
Časté otázky – Chainsaw – timber harvesting
The course is for employees who operate a hand-held chainsaw during logging at the company – forestry workers, green-space maintenance staff and land managers carrying out felling. A participant must have completed compulsory primary schooling, be at least 18 years old and hold a valid medical assessment of fitness. We deliver the training for a group directly at your premises or in the field.
The programme combines a theoretical and a practical part. The theory covers legal regulations, chainsaw construction and maintenance and safe working procedures; the practice takes place in the field (felling, limbing, cross-cutting). For the education and training of persons operating a hand-held chainsaw during logging, Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. (Annex No. 11, group 10, item 10.2) lays down a duration of at least 56 hours, of which at least 36 hours is the practical part.
After successful knowledge verification, the participant obtains a chainsaw operator's licence card under § 16 ods. 1 písm. a) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. (chainsaw operation is in Annex No. 1a under letter t), which is why a licence card is issued, not a record of completed education and training). The licence card is issued by a person authorised to provide education and training, whose authorisation is granted by the National Labour Inspectorate under § 27 ods. 3. The licence card proves to the labour inspection that the operator has been properly trained.
The licence card is issued by a person authorised to provide education and training and holding an authorisation from the National Labour Inspectorate, not by the labour inspectorate. The inspectorate may only withdraw the licence card in the event of a breach of regulations. From 1 April 2021, the issuance of licence cards was transferred from the inspectorates to authorised persons (Act No. 73/2021 Coll.).
Under § 7 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll., refresher familiarisation is carried out at least once every three years. Decree No. 46/2010 Coll. on forestry work does not lay down a shorter interval. In addition, the licence-card holder must complete refresher professional training within five years (§ 16 ods. 8); its duration for logging is at least 8 hours. Familiarisation and refresher training are two separate obligations.
A participant must be at least 18 years old and have medical fitness evidenced by a medical assessment no older than six months (§ 16 ods. 2 a 4 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.). An exception is a secondary vocational school pupil, who may operate the chainsaw from the age of 16 during practical instruction under the constant supervision of an instructor.
Professional knowledge is verified by a written test and a practical examination before an examination board. After successful completion, a chainsaw operator's licence card for logging is issued.
Under § 16 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll., the licence card is issued for an indefinite period. It becomes invalid if the holder does not undergo a preventive medical examination (within 5 years, § 16 ods. 6), fails to complete refresher professional training (within 5 years, § 16 ods. 8) or has the licence card withdrawn (§ 16 ods. 12).
Under § 19 of Act No. 125/2006 Coll., an employer faces a fine of up to EUR 100 000, for a serious breach from EUR 1 000 to 200 000, and for an activity without a licence card from EUR 300 to 33 000. In the case of an accident causing serious harm the fine is at least EUR 20 000, and in the case of death at least EUR 33 000. The licence card is tied to a specific person.
A licence card issued under Slovak regulations is valid throughout the territory of the Slovak Republic. For work abroad, recognition of the qualification is governed by the rules of the given state and the employer's requirements, so we recommend checking the specific conditions.
Yes. Operating a hand-held chainsaw is a hazardous activity, so a participant must hold a medical assessment of fitness for the work, no older than six months. The company arranges it through its occupational health service (PZS) provider.
Yes, we deliver the training for a group of employees in person, including practical field training. We can teach the theory on your premises and the practice at a suitable felling site. We adapt the scope and dates to the size of the group and your operation.
These are two separate licence cards. Logging (felling trees) has the highest requirements under Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. (Annex No. 11, item 10.2) – at least 56 hours. Operating a chainsaw for other activities (pruning, cross-cutting already felled timber) has a duration of at least 23 hours under item 10.3. The logging licence card also authorises other activities, but not vice versa.
Basic course 169,90 € per person (prices exclude VAT). Refresher training 21,90 €. Update professional training (AOP) 44,90 €. We confirm the exact price based on the number of participants and the training format.
Interested in timber harvesting chainsaw training?
Contact us and we will schedule a training date.