Gas Engineering Operative (Level 3 Standard)

Gas engineering involves the safe installation, commission, decommission and the ongoing service and repair of gas appliances in either a domestic or non-domestic setting. Appliances can include, but are not limited to, a range of work categories such as central heating boilers, unvented hot water storage, ducted air heaters, cookers, space heaters, meters, alternative fuel, boosters, testing and purging for industrial pipework.  Roles in gas engineering will include explaining how installations and appliances work, providing energy efficiency advice and ensuring customer service excellence at all times. Gas engineering operates strictly within the requirements of health and safety legislation.

Roles in gas engineering are physical in nature, and may involve lifting and moving of equipment, working at heights and working in confined spaces. All gas engineers must be registered on the Gas Safe® Register for each appliance in which they are competent to undertake work on.

Those who work within Gas engineering must have the core requirements below and demonstrate the technical requirements in one setting - domestic or non-domestic. They must be registered on the Gas Safe® Register for four appliances.

For Level 3 apprenticeships, learners are generally required to have GCSE Maths and English at grade 4 (C) or above prior to enrolment. However, for applicants aged 19 or older, this requirement may be waived at the discretion of the employer and training provider, depending on the role and individual circumstances. It would also be preferable for applicants to have prior knowledge of basic plumbing.

• Hands-on Training & College Learning: Apprentices work on-site with boilers, cookers, meters, and heating systems while attending college one day per week. They gain practical experience in installation, commissioning, servicing, and decommissioning gas appliances; learning to work safely and efficiently in real-world environments.

• Wide-Ranging Curriculum: The course covers gas safety legislation, combustion and flue systems, pipework installation, electrical components, energy efficiency, and customer communication. Apprentices also learn to diagnose faults, carry out repairs, and ensure compliance with industry standards including Gas Safe regulations.

• Specialist Pathways: Learners may specialise in domestic heating, commercial catering, alternative fuel systems, or smart energy technologies. Employers may support additional training in renewables, booster systems, or unvented hot water storage depending on the work environment.

• Career-Ready Qualification: Upon completion (typically 18 months), apprentices earn a Level 3 qualification and are ready for roles like gas engineer, heating installer, or service technician, with progression into ACS certification, Gas Safe registration, or higher-level engineering roles.

For a comprehensive understanding of this gas programme and what it entails, please click here.

This plumbing (gas route) Apprenticeship is taught at our London Road campus on a day release basis once a week. In addition, you will be visited at your workplace regularly by your assessor, to assess your practical skills and knowledge as well as review your progress with your employer.  You will be required to sit an End Point Assessment, towards the final stages of your programme, to ensure you have obtained the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to do your job effectively.

Typically, this Apprenticeship will take 2 years to complete and includes Gas Safe™.

To be an apprentice, you will need an employer who can offer you a specific role relevant to this apprenticeship and release you for your training. Once you have an employer in place, you can apply online. If after reading this fact sheet, you are still undecided about the course most suitable for you, please drop into one of our advice events, ring the Apprenticeship Team on 01743 653444 or email apprenticeships@shrewsbury.ac.uk