Green Cert Level 5 and 6 - Blended Course

This course is for four groups mainly: farm successors getting qualified before a transfer; working farmers formalising what they already know; career-changers and returners coming into agriculture; and farm employees stepping up toward management. Most learners have a full-time job, a farm, or both — the course is built that way on purpose.

The Green Cert means completing both QQI awards below. We run them as one joined-up pathway, so you never fall into the gap between Level 5 and Level 6.

5M20454 Certificate in Agriculture

Core modules

• Principles of Agriculture · 15 credits
• Farm Safety & Farm Assurance · 15 credits
• Soils and the Environment · 10 credits
• Farm Business & Technology · 10 credits
• Safe Use of Pesticides Products · 15 credits
• Work Practice · 15 credits
• Communications · 15 credits

Electives — choose 25 credits

• Dairy, Beef or Sheep Husbandry · 10 each
• Grass Production · Tillage Crop Husbandry · 10 each
• Equipment for Crop Establishment · 10
• Chemical Fertiliser Application · 5

6S20487 Certificate in Farming

Core modules

• Farm Management & Business Planning · 10 credits
• Sustainable Farming in the Environment · 10 credits
• Farm Performance Measurement · 5 credits
• Work Practice · 15 credits

Electives — choose 10 credits

• Crop Production Management · 10
• Grassland Management · 5
• Applied Livestock Breeding · 5

This is a blended course. The majority of learning is done from home (live evening classes on Zoom plus self-directed study on our LMS), but you'll attend in-person Farm Days at partner farms we call farm hubs  roughly once per practical module, complete on-farm skills demonstrations, and do physical work placements.

Assessment Details

The Green Cert pathway includes two linked QQI awards:

QQI Level 5 Agriculture – 5M20454
Major Award – 120 credits

QQI Level 6 Farming – 6S20487
Special Purpose Award – 50 credits

Learners complete the Level 5 Agriculture programme before progressing to the Level 6 Farming programme.

Assessment deadlines are provided in the learner assessment schedule. Deadlines may vary depending on the intake, module, elective pathway, practical farm days and work placement dates. Learners should check all deadlines with their trainer or Course Coordinator.

Level 5 Agriculture Modules

The Level 5 Agriculture programme includes compulsory modules and a selection of elective modules. Learners complete the combination of modules required to achieve the full 120-credit award.

Core modules:

5N20368 Principles of Agriculture
5N20371 Farm Safety and Farm Assurance
5N20374 Soils and the Environment
5N20377 Farm Business and Technology
5N20380 Safe Use of Pesticide Products
5N1433 Work Practice
5N0690 Communications

Elective modules offered:

5N20396 Dairy Husbandry
5N20385 Sheep Husbandry
5N20388 Beef Husbandry
5N20399 Grass Production
5N20402 Tillage Crop Husbandry
5N20408 Equipment for Crop Establishment
5N1750 Chemical Fertiliser Application

The elective modules completed will depend on the learner’s approved pathway.

Level 6 Farming Modules

The Level 6 Farming programme is worth 50 credits.

Compulsory modules:

6N1947 Work Practice – 15 credits
6N3005 Farm Performance Measurement – 5 credits
6N20462 Farm Management and Business Planning – 10 credits
6N20463 Sustainable Farming in the Environment – 10 credits

Elective modules:

6N3525 Applied Livestock Breeding – 5 credits
6N20468 Crop Production Management – 10 credits
6N20472 Grassland Management – 5 credits

Learners must complete 10 elective credits. This can be achieved by completing Crop Production Management or by completing both Applied Livestock Breeding and Grassland Management.

Assessment

Assessment takes place throughout the programme. Depending on the module, learners may complete assignments, projects, portfolios, learner records, practical skills demonstrations and examinations.

Level 5 assessment:

Principles of Agriculture: Examination 50% and Skills Demonstration 50%.

Farm Safety and Farm Assurance: Assignment 20%, Examination 50% and Skills Demonstration 30%.

Soils and the Environment: Assignment 30%, Examination 60% and Skills Demonstration 10%.

Dairy Husbandry: Examination 50% and Skills Demonstration 50%.

Sheep Husbandry: Examination 50% and Skills Demonstration 50%.

Beef Husbandry: Examination 50% and Skills Demonstration 50%.

Equipment for Crop Establishment: Examination 40% and Skills Demonstration 60%.

Grass Production: Examination 50% and Skills Demonstration 50%.

Work Practice: Portfolio 40% and Learner Record 60%.

Chemical Fertiliser Application: Examination 40% and Skills Demonstration 60%.

Safe Use of Pesticide Products: Examination 100%.

Farm Business and Technology: Examination 50% and Skills Demonstration 50%.

Tillage Crop Husbandry: Examination 50% and Skills Demonstration 50%.

Communications: Portfolio 50% and Skills Demonstration 50%.

Level 6 assessment:

Farm Performance Measurement: Project 100%.

Farm Management and Business Planning: Assignment 20%, Examination 30% and Project 50%.

Sustainable Farming in the Environment: Assignment 60% and Examination 40%.

Applied Livestock Breeding: Portfolio 100%.

Crop Production Management: Assignment 50% and Examination 50%.

Grassland Management: Assignment 60%, Examination 15% and Skills Demonstration 25%.

Work Practice: Portfolio or Collection of Work 40% and Learner Record 60%.

Assessment Methods

An assignment assesses the learner’s ability to research, explain and apply knowledge to an agricultural topic or situation.

A project is a substantial piece of work completed over a set period. It may involve research, analysis, planning and the application of learning to a farm or agricultural business.

A portfolio is a collection of work completed during a module. It may include reports, plans, records, completed activities and other supporting evidence.

A learner record allows the learner to record and reflect on their work-placement experience, the tasks they completed and the skills they developed.

A skills demonstration requires the learner to complete practical tasks and demonstrate that they can work safely and competently.

An examination assesses the learner’s knowledge and understanding within a set period and under specified conditions.

Practical Work Placement

Work Practice is a compulsory part of both awards.

Learners must complete a minimum of 150 hours of practical work placement at Level 5 and a further 150 hours at Level 6.

Placement must be completed on an approved farm and in accordance with the programme’s work-placement requirements. Learners must follow all health, safety and biosecurity procedures and complete the required portfolio and learner record.

Grading

Pass: 50% to 64%

Merit: 65% to 79%

Distinction: 80% to 100%

Tutor Support

Forus Training provides a range of supports to help learners successfully complete the Green Cert pathway.

Learner Materials

Learners receive access to learning materials through the Learning Management System.

Materials may include module content, presentations, assessment briefs, practical guides, work-placement documents, examination guidance, induction information and learner forms.

Trainer Support

The trainer will provide support throughout the programme and will explain the course content, practical activities and assessment requirements.

Where permitted, trainers may provide feedback on draft assessment work.

Learners should allow up to 72 hours for an email response, excluding weekends and public holidays.

By appointment, trainers may also be available before or after a scheduled session. A telephone or online appointment may be arranged where appropriate.

Farm-Day and Placement Support

Learners will receive guidance on farm-day requirements, health and safety, biosecurity, suitable clothing, personal protective equipment, placement records and the responsibilities of the learner and host farmer.

Any placement difficulties should be reported to the Course Coordinator as early as possible.

Assessment Upload Facility

An online assessment upload facility is available. Instructions on naming, formatting and submitting assessment work will be provided during induction and through the Learning Management System.

Support with Preparing for Assessment

Short support presentations on Study Skills, Academic Writing and Harvard Referencing are available to learners.

These resources may be particularly helpful for learners returning to education after time away from formal study.

Technical Support

Technical support is available Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Telephone: 044 934 9400

Email: hello@forustraining.ie

Compassionate Consideration

A learner who cannot complete an assessment or part of the programme because of circumstances outside their control may apply for compassionate consideration.

Examples may include bereavement, illness, pregnancy, relocation or other serious circumstances.

Applications are considered under the P9 S7 C6 Compassionate Consideration Policy. Supporting documentation may be required.

Learner Welfare

Forus Training’s Learner Welfare Policy is integrated throughout the teaching and learning experience.

Learners experiencing personal, social, academic or wellbeing difficulties are encouraged to contact their trainer, Course Coordinator or a member of the Forus Training team as early as possible.

Supports for Learners with Disabilities and Specific Learning Difficulties

Forus Training is committed to equality and to providing reasonable accommodations for learners with verified disabilities, medical conditions or specific learning difficulties.

Reasonable accommodations are considered on an individual basis. They must not change the learning outcomes, assessment standards, practical competencies or health and safety requirements of the programme.

As the Green Cert includes farm activities, machinery, livestock handling and work placement, some requested accommodations may not be safe or reasonable in every situation.

Learners should inform the Course Coordinator of any support requirements as early as possible. Medical or other supporting documentation may be required.

Further information and application forms are available at:

https://forustraining.ie/knowledge-base/how-do-i-access-reasonable-accomodations/

You will be awarded the QQI Certificate in Agriculture (5M20454) and the Certificate in Farming (6S20487). Forus Training (the provider behind Green Cert Ireland) is a QQI-registered provider with over 25 years delivering training across Ireland