Level 3 Plumbing & Domestic Heating Apprenticeship

Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technicians plan, select, install, service, commission and maintain all aspects of plumbing and heating systems. Plumbing and domestic heating technicians can find themselves working inside or outside a property. Customer service skills and being tidy and respectful are important qualities as they can often find themselves working in customers homes as well as on building sites.

As a competent Plumbing and Heating Technician, the installation of plumbing and heating systems includes accurate measuring, marking, cutting, bending and jointing metallic and non-metallic pipework. Appliances and equipment can include gas, oil and solid fuel boilers as well as pumps, heat emitters, bathroom furniture or controls as part of a cold water, hot water, and central heating or above ground drainage and rainwater systems.

Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technicians are at the forefront of installing new and exciting environmental technologies like heat pumps, solar thermal systems, biomass boilers and water recycling systems. It is important for a plumbing and heating technician to be able to work independently or as a team and use their knowledge and skills to ensure that both the system and appliances are appropriately selected and correctly installed, often without any supervision, and done so in a safe, efficient and economical manner to minimise waste.

Apprentices will be supported in the workplace and online via Zoom by a qualified and competent assessor/trainer. All students must complete 20% off-the-job training through a range of learning methods including college sessions. You will be assessed by written assignments, completing a small scale project and an End Point Assessment which will include a multiple choice test, a presentation and professional discussion.

Apprentices must hold recognised qualifications in English and Mathematics prior to commencement on the programme. These include Functional Skills Level 2 qualifications or GCSEs at Grade 4 (C) or above.

By the end of this apprenticeship the candidate will have satisfied the requirements for registration as EngTech by the Engineering Council through The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) and or The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

On completion of the health and safety assessment, as determined, by the assessment plan the candidate will have satisfied the requirements to obtain a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Card through the Joint Industry Board for Plumbing and Mechanical Engineering Services (JIB-PMES) at the appropriate grade.

All course fees associated with Apprenticeships are paid by the employer. If your employer pays into the Apprenticeship Levy your fees will be paid through this process. If your employer is not a levy paying employer then training for 16 18 year old learners is free and the training is subsidised for Apprentices over 19 years old. Course fees paid by the employer will vary but are likely to be in the region of £300 to £1200 depending on the qualification.

All apprentices must be employed in a relevant area to their apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are mostly delivered in the workplace. Some qualifications involve classroom delivery and this can take place at College or on employer premises. The College offers a range of day release and 1:1 tuition options to suit the needs of employers and apprentices alike. Your assessor, who will support you through your apprenticeship, will visit you in the workplace every 4 to 6 weeks.

Once you have completed your online application you will receive an invite to interview. Once you have received an offer you will be invited to attend an induction session at the College which will be followed up with a visit with your employer. When your enrolment has been completed, your delivery and assessment can commence.