Who is this course suitable for?
This course is suitable for anyone who:
About the NVQ Diploma in Plumbing & Heating
Please note: This course is available subject to numbers.
The NVQ Diploma in Plumbing & Heating provides learners with everything they need to confidently install, maintain and troubleshoot a wide range of heating and plumbing systems.
Accredited by the LCL Awards, this comprehensive course is designed to give you a thorough grounding in and experience of the systems, tasks, and challenges you may encounter as a professional plumber or heating engineer.
During the 42-week course, you’ll learn about a wide variety of water systems, from cold and hot water systems, to sanitation, to managing drainage and rainwater systems.
Alongside gaining hands-on experience at our training centre (and during your own workplace experience), you’ll develop a keen theoretical knowledge of the profession in accordance with legislation, regulations and industry standards.
For the NVQ Diploma, you will need to have access to a workplace where you can gain real, on-site experience under the supervision of a trade professional. Alongside your classroom learning, you will build up a portfolio of your work to submit as evidence of your proficiency.
The course is taught on a weekly day release basis at our Stafford training centre, and classes are led by our own qualified engineers who are also highly experienced teachers. We welcome candidates of all levels of experience and from all walks of life.
Once you earn your NVQ Diploma in Plumbing & Heating, you will be eligible to:
How is the NVQ Diploma course delivered?
Working alongside ongoing training
For the NVQ Diploma, you will need to have access to plumbing work that you can safely carry out in a professional setting. Ideally, this work will be supervised by a plumbing or heating engineer, or someone with professional plumbing experience.
You will be asked to log and evidence your work on-site, demonstrating how you are applying your newly gained skills in a professional setting. To pass your exams, you will undertake an observed assessment in the workplace.
Don’t have access to a workplace? You can gain similar relevant skills with the Diploma in Plumbing & Heating, taught exclusively at our training centre.
How is the NVQ Diploma in Plumbing & Heating assessed?
During the examination phase of the course, you will be assessed based on your theoretical knowledge and practical skills. You will be examined via:
There are no credits or honours for this course. You will either pass and gain your qualification, or you will be referred and have the opportunity to retake the exam at a later date.
Frequently asked questions
Staffordshire Training Centre is one of approximately 160 approved centres delivering training and carrying out assessments under the LCL Awards.
The LCL Awards is one of the Building Services Engineering (BSE) sectors foremost awarding organisation and certification bodies. They’re a well-trusted and recognised organisation; read more about the LCL Awards here.
If you were unable to successfully pass the assessment phase of the course, you would be referred and together, we’d work out what approach is best for you.
If a candidate wants to retake their exams, we provide you with the opportunity to re-sit any module exam for free. We’d also work with them to ensure they can further develop their skills and practical experience, giving them the confidence and knowledge to hopefully pass their exams this time round.
If we or the candidate feels they need more significant support or that the course isn’t suitable for them, we would work with the candidate to work out the best outcome for all.
To join this course, you will need to be over 18 years of age and no longer in full-time formal education.
We’re lucky enough to have a great mix of people join us in our classrooms, and we often welcome learners who are over 50.
If you were to secure your NVQ Diploma in Plumbing & Heating (Level 2), you’d be eligible to join any of the following Approved Plumber Schemes:
- The JIB-PMES CSCS Registration Scheme
- Water Industry Approved Plumber Scheme
- Anglian Water APLUS approved plumber scheme
- Severn Trent Water Mark approved plumber scheme
- Thames Water Approved Contractor Scheme (TAPS)
If you’re unsure of which scheme might work best for you or what action to take once you earn your qualification, you can always chat to us before you book your place and we can help you work out which approach is best for you.
Yes, you will need to have access to a workplace where you can carry out work relevant to the course curriculum.
Ideally, your on-site work experience will be supervised by a plumber, heating engineer, or someone with relevant professional experience and/or qualifications.
You do not need to have any specific experience in plumbing, heating, or any other trade. In fact, you can be a complete novice!
To get the full benefit of the NVQ Diploma in Plumbing & Heating, you will need to have:
key skills (reading, writing and maths) equivalent to a Level 2 or above
a level of physical dexterity allowing you to meet the demands of the course.
If you’re unsure whether this course is right for you or not, you can talk to our team of teachers and engineers. We’ll be happy to offer you all the advice and guidance you may need.
