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Vocational Plumbing Courses Are Changing

- Published February 10, 2011

The new QCF award scheme is expected to revolutionise the way vocational plumbing courses throughout the UK are taught, providing their graduates with more skills and training relevant to the demanding requirements of employers.

The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) is in the process of being rolled out across the UK and expected to take full effect in March this year. Once the QCF awards have been implemented they expect to cover a wide range of vocational courses. These courses have been specially designed to meet the demands many employers require that were not previously available.

Why does Plumbing Courses need to change?

The QCF awards have been introduced due to the changing environment in which many trainees were not previously prepared and has been implemented to counter this.

The body behind the QCF awards, the Quality and Curriculum Development agency (QCDA), have designed the course in an effort to standardise the training throughout the EU. This has been done by working with the European Qualification Framework (EQF). This means that trainees can then potentially work in any country throughout the EU.

A number of learning bodies including the QCA and Learning Council were asked by the government to review the current award scheme and its effectiveness in the industry. The review found that many of the current qualifications offered left a gap between what the trainees had learnt and what the industry required.

The new QCF award rectifies this through including on-site experience to expand your portfolio and prepares you for a job in the industry.

Another new benefit that these plumbing courses now include is the ability to build units across a number of modules. This gives you more freedom to learn the modules that you want to specialise in when starting work.

New Plumbing Courses Offered

If you are interested in joining the plumbing and mechanical services industry as a plumber or the heating and ventilation industry as a plumber and/ or gas fitter, there are two awards/ qualifications that you can now follow.

• Diploma in Plumbing and Heating Level 2 6189-11 Plumbing maintenance and installation, internal drainage, above ground drainage, rainwater and guttering installation.


• Diploma in Installing and Maintaining Domestic Heating Level 2 6189-21 Plumbing and central heating maintenance and installation, internal drainage

Both plumbing courses have interchangeable units and consist of centre led training and assessment. You will also need to complete theory training, self study and on-line GOLA examinations.

For a full break down of training units included with each award please refer to the course content which can be found here. Alternatively if you’re interested in these new plumbing courses and would like to speak to an advisor for further information then you can contact us on the number above or fill out a form and we will contact you.

Why Choose a Diploma
Diplomas are recognised as a valid qualification and endorsement of competence by industry, employers and across the European Union.

Through gaining the experience you will better prepared for when you start your career as a plumber either with a company or on your own as you will have already experienced what that will be like before gaining your qualification.

Gaining Your Diploma
A diploma cannot be awarded until you have successfully completed a work-based portfolio. The portfolio must comprise of a varied number of tasks that have been completed in a ‘real life’ environment.

In addition a number of these jobs or tasks must be directly observed by a qualified assessor. There is not a set number of on-site assessments that must take place. This is dependent upon the variety and number of tasks that may take place whilst under observation for individual assessment.

Once an assessor signs off the complete portfolio of evidence, including on-site observation the diploma can be awarded.

Awarding Bodies

A number of awarding bodies offer accreditation for both awards including City and Guilds as well as EAL Certification. There is no difference in the content of the award. Both are accredited certification bodies.

Further Details

www.qcda.gov.uk

www.cityandguilds.com

www.eal.org.uk/qcf