Skip to content

Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Level 3 Standard

Overview

Approx. duration: 48 months

Start date: September and January

Attendance: One day a week at the Rural Campus

Entry Requirements:

  • Individual employers will set their selection criteria for applicants
  • Apprentices need to be employed for a minimum of 30 hours a week and have a contract of employment
  • Entry onto the Apprenticeship is subject to a thorough skills scan assessment to clarify course suitability
  • Entry onto the Apprenticeship is subject to 4 GCSEs including Maths and English 9-4/A-C or Functional Skills Level 2
  • Apprentices aged 16-18 years are subject to the mandatory requirement to study towards and achieve English and Maths Functional Skills at Level 2 where the Apprentice only holds the level 1 qualifications (GCSE grades D-G/3-1)
  • Following the updated ESFA Apprenticeship rules, from 11th February 2025. Apprentices who begin their apprenticeship training when aged 19+ will no longer be subject to this mandatory requirement. It is now the decision of the apprentice and their employer at the start of their apprenticeship to choose to study towards a Maths and English qualification

On-programme learning:

  • Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Standard
  • Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating Level 3
  • Nationally Accredited Certification Scheme for Gas Fitting Operatives Assessments CCN1 and CENWAT
  • English and Maths (if required) Level 2

End-point assessment:

Delivered by City and Guilds

Progression:

Project Manager, Gas Engineer, Site Supervisor or progress onto a higher level Apprenticeship.

Course Summary:

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
  • Pumps
  • Heat emitters
  • Bathroom furniture
  • Controls as part of a cold water, hot water and central heating
  • Above ground drainage and rainwater 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.

Institute for Apprenticeships

 

Apprenticeship Vacancies