Plumbing and Domestic Heating Apprenticeship Standard Level 3

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.

Job roles include: Plumber, Domestic Heating Engineer Domestic Heating Installer, Plumbing and Domestic Heating Installer and Plumbing and Domestic Heating Engineer.

Please only apply for this Apprenticeship Course if you already have a suitable employer.

Do you enjoy practical work and want to develop a skill you can use in different ways?
Are you looking to start a career within the plumbing and heating industry or upskill for an existing role?

Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technicians plan, select, install, service, commission and maintain all aspects of plumbing and heating systems. As an Apprentice you will work towards becoming competent with the installation of plumbing and heating systems including: accurate measuring, marking, cutting, bending and jointing metallic and non-metallic pipework. You could be working on appliances and equipment including gas, oil and solid fuel boiler as well as pumps, heat emitter, bathroom furniture or controls as part of cold cater, hot water, and central heating or about ground drainage and rainwater systems. You will be part of an industry what is at the forefront of installing new and exciting environmental technologies like heat pumps, solar thermal systems, biomass boiler and water recycling systems. It is essential you develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours to work independently or as part of a team to correctly install to the latest industry standards.

In addition to the core skills and knowledge requirements of this standard you will be to choose a specialism from the following:
     • Option 1: Fossil Fuel – Natural Gas
     • Option 2: Fossil Fuel – Oil
     • Option 3: Fossil Fuel – Solid Fuel
     • Option 4: Environmental Technologies
We would advise you discuss this with your employer before the start of your Apprenticeship to ensure they can support you.

You can apply for an Apprenticeship if you are living in England, over 16 and not in full–time education. You must be in paid employment for the duration of your Apprenticeship course, you cannot be self–employed or a volunteer. Employers must pay you the minimum Apprenticeship wage or more, for a minimum of 30 hours a week.

Core knowledge and behaviour Requirements:

• Health and safety - understand health and safety legislation, codes of practice and safe working practices
• Core plumbing systems - understand selection, planning, installation, testing, commissioning and de-commissioning, service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and repair techniques on cold water, hot water, central heating, above ground drainage and rainwater systems
• Electrical components and control systems - understand installation and testing techniques for electrical components and control systems on plumbing and domestic heating systems
• Plumbing science and processes - understand scientific plumbing, domestic heating and mechanical principles
• Principles of environmental technology systems - understand the principles of domestic mechanical environmental technology systems
• Principles of fossil fuels - understand the principles of fuel combustion, ventilation and fluing arrangements within a domestic environment
• Customer service - understand the principles of high quality customer service and establishing the needs of others (colleagues, customers and other stakeholders). Respect the working environment including customer’s properties
• Communication - understand different communication methods, how to communicate in a clear, articulate and appropriate manner and how to adapt communication style to suit different situations

Skills: 

• Safe working - operate in a safe working manner by adhering to health and safety legislation, codes of practice and applying safe working practices
• Core plumbing system techniques - apply selection, planning, installation, testing, commissioning and de-commissioning, service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and repair techniques on cold water, hot water, central heating, above ground drainage and rainwater systems
• Electrical components and control systems techniques - apply installation and testing techniques for electrical components and control systems on plumbing and domestic heating systems
• Supervisory skills - take responsibility for own work and safety and welfare of others Oversee and organise the programme of work and work environment Carry out work and manage resources in an environmentally friendly manner

In addition to the core skills and knowledge requirements, Apprentices with support from their employer must choose to undertake one of the following specialisms:
     •  Option 1 (Fossil Fuel – Natural Gas)
     •  Option 2 (Fossil Fuel - Oil)
     •  Option 3 (Fossil Fuel – Solid Fuel)
     •  Option 4 (Environmental Technologies)

You will be expected to attend college 1 day a week as part of your 20% off–the–job training. Additional off–the–job training hours are expected to be completed within your workplace, however you may also be asked to complete tasks at home via Google Classroom and One–file.

Please note you may also be asked to complete Maths and English qualifications as part of your Apprenticeship programme.