Hands on – plumbing

To plumb or not to plumb – what qualifications do you need – that is the question?

With apologies to Shakespeare, in this edition of Hands On, Chris Green from Trade Skills Training Limited clarifies the qualifications and career pathway for Service leavers who plan to become qualified plumbers.

Plumbing lead bodies are the Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering (IPHE) and SummitSkills, the sector skills council for the building services industry. What everybody agrees is that in order to be recognised as a fully qualified plumber you need to have achieved the right NVQ at Level 3. This is a practical qualification that encompasses the wide range of tasks that modern plumbers have to deal with in terms of domestic and commercial hot and cold water systems, as well as the links to central heating and gas.

The thing about NVQs is that there are no short cuts. To achieve the qualification, which must be assessed on competence in the workplace, you must demonstrate the underpinning knowledge (theory) and the practical ability to complete the tasks to a consistently high standard. Hence, the employer plays a key role in releasing students to their local college to gain vital theoretical knowledge. The employer also needs to ensure that their work on a daily basis provides the practical experience needed on a wide variety of jobs to gain the NVQ, as quickly as possible.

You should allow up to one year to achieve each level of an NVQ; with the college route to gain a Certificate in Basic Plumbing Skills (City & Guilds 6129 Level 2, which is only part of the NVQ Level 2) usually taking two academic years on a day-release basis. You will also need to be employed or colleges will not even let you enrol on a course; and some have long waiting lists.

The full Plumbing NVQ Level 3 consists of two elements – City & Guilds 6129 Certificate in Plumbing Studies and City & Guilds 6089 Level 3. The latter is the work based practical and can only be achieved by working in the trade for a plumbing company that deals with all aspects of plumbing work. The company must also cover gas installation to gain the NVQ. Applicants for NVQ Level 3 must have already gained a full NVQ Level 2 in Plumbing.

To achieve the full NVQ Level 2 in Plumbing you must have gained the City & Guilds 6129 Certificate in Basic Plumbing Skills (sometimes called the Technical Certificate) and the City & Guilds 6089 at Level 2. For City & Guilds 6089 Level 2 you must be working in the trade for a plumbing company that deals with all aspects of plumbing work – sanitation, hot and cold water installation, and central heating.

Perhaps the most important question is how to get started and, if necessary, get that all-important job to embark on the NVQ trail. A stand-alone qualification such as City & Guilds 6032 (Sanitary Accommodation, Installation, Maintenance and Design) will provide many skills while you work towards the NVQ. It couples basic plumbing skills with a qualification which will help to find a job.

Despite a general shortage of good plumbers you should check the situation in your own region because there is no set pattern and things can vary. Currently, you do not have to be qualified to be a self-employed plumber. However, the problem of cowboys in the trade makes it likely that registration and licensing may be imposed soon, so people with qualifications will have more assured prospects.