Find a Plumbing Training Course at The Plumbing Academy. The Academy is the country's first private training provider to be approved to offer City & Guilds Plumbing qualifications.

It is recommended that tradespersons entering the workplace have the following minimum 2 qualifications.

1) City and Guilds Basic Certificate in Plumbing Studies Level 2 (6129),

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Training

The Plumbing Academy only offers nationally recognised Plumbing Courses accredited by City & Guilds and BPEC (British Plumbing Employers Confederation).

For people wishing to start out on a plumbing career, it is recommended that they start with 2 courses - the Certificate in Basic Plumbing Studies followed by the NVQ Level 2.

For trades people aspiring to further their plumbing qualifications The Academy offers a combined package of Certificate of Plumbing Studies Level 3 together with the NVQ Level 3.  The NVQ Level 3 is the qualification required to apply for CORGI registration.

For trades people wishing to broaden their plumbing qualifications The Academy also offers short courses in "Solar Hot Water and Power", "Energy Efficiency" "Unvented Domestic Hot Water Supply Systems", "Water Regulations", "Legionella", and Wiring Regulations courses.

City & Guilds Certificate in Basic Plumbing Studies (6129)
This is also known as Technical Certificate Level 2.  This is the first course appropriate for those with little or no previous experience.
The course duration is 20 weeks attending Monday - Thursday.  (Other attendance patterns are available.)  Time is divided between the workshop and the classroom.

There is a maximum of 15 students in each class with one dedicated qualified, very experienced tutor together with additional support lecturers and technicians.

This course syllabus is written by City and Guilds and consists of 11 theory units, each concluding in an exam and one on-line assessment:

This is what your Plumbing Training will cover

Practical units have to be completed within a set time and to the standards laid down by City & Guilds in the following topic areas:

City & Guilds NVQ Level 2 Plumbing (6089)
This course is for those who have achieved the Technical Certificate Level 2 and are  working in the Plumbing trade.

This course is an essential requirement for starting Level 3.

This qualification is assessed by our City & Guilds qualified on-site assessor, who will visit your workplace and inspect the plumbing work that you are doing and ask questions about the work you have done.  At the induction, you will receive a portfolio called a Candidate Workplace Evidence Record and guidance on the jobs and standards required by City & Guilds.

City & Guilds Certificate in Plumbing Studies Level 3 combined with NVQ Plumbing Level 3
Also known as Technical Certificate Level 3 and NVQ Level 3

This course is for those who have achieved the Technical Certificate Level 2  and have achieved or are working towards NVQ Level 2.

The Technical Certificate Level 3 part of the course takes 17 weeks and attendance is required for 2 days per weekly Mon & Tues or Thurs & Fri.

Like NVQ Level 2 the NVQ is assessed in your workplace by our City & Guilds qualified on-site assessor.

This course concentrates on the design and commissioning of plumbing and gas systems rather than the installation.  It includes 4 short courses: BPEC Unvented Domestic Hot Water Supply Systems the BPEC Water Regulations, energy efficiency and ACS.

There are 10 theory exams including an on-line assessment.  The practical includes working on 4 different gas appliances - installing, commissioning, fault finding and decommissioning; 3 related non-gas commissioning exercises and fitting an unvented cylinder

This course is the prerequisite for plumbers, who would like to go on to be CORGI registered.

Summary of plumbing career progression: