Plumbing and Heating Engineer (Level 3 Standard)

Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technicians plan, select, install, service, commission and maintain all aspects of plumbing and heating systems. Plumbing and domestic heating technicians can find themselves working inside or outside a property. Customer service skills and being tidy and respectful are important qualities as they can often find themselves working in customers' homes as well as on building sites.

As a competent Plumbing and Heating Technician, the installation of plumbing and heating systems includes accurate measuring, marking, cutting, bending and jointing metallic and non-metallic pipework. Appliances and equipment can include gas, oil and solid fuel boilers as well as pumps, heat emitters, bathroom furniture or controls as part of cold water, hot water, and central heating or above ground drainage and rainwater systems. Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technicians are at the forefront of installing new and exciting environmental technologies like heat pumps, solar thermal systems, biomass boilers and water recycling systems. It is important for a plumbing and heating technician to be able to work independently or as a team and use their knowledge and skills to ensure that both the system and appliances are appropriately selected and correctly installed, often without any supervision, and done so in a safe, efficient and economical manner to minimise waste.

Generic job titles recognised across the industry include:

• Plumber
• Domestic Heating Engineer
• Domestic Heating Installer
• Plumbing and Domestic Heating Installer
• Plumbing and Domestic Heating Engineer

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.

• Hands-on Training & College Learning: Apprentices work on-site in homes, businesses, and construction sites while attending college one day per week. They install and maintain water, heating, and drainage systems to gain hands-on experience with pipework, appliances, and energy-efficient technologies.

• Wide-Ranging Curriculum: The course covers hot and cold water systems, central heating, sanitation, rainwater systems, vented and unvented cylinders, and renewable technologies. Apprentices also learn about building regulations, health and safety, and customer service.

• Specialist Pathways: Learners may specialise in domestic plumbing, commercial heating, or renewable energy systems depending on interest and employer needs. Employers may support additional training in heat pumps, solar thermal, or underfloor heating depending on the type of work and sector focus.

• Career-Ready Qualification: Upon completion (typically 48 months), apprentices earn a Level 3 qualification and are ready for roles such as plumbing and heating engineer, installation technician, or maintenance operative, with progression into gas engineering, renewables, or supervisory roles.

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

This plumbing 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 4 years to complete, however, those who have already achieved the Level 2 Plumbing apprenticeship will have the duration reduced.

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