Our Guarantee
In all our courses, our pass rates are over 95% - first time! So you can be very confident you’ll achieve. But in the unlikely event you do fail a course, as long as you have completed the theory and practical training parts to your tutor's satisfaction, you can retake the course free of charge. Click here to see our pass rates for 2007/8.
Help with paying
We offer easy payment terms on all our courses and assessments and we can help you find competitive loans too. Some training also qualifies for government funded grants and subsidies. Read more »
Domestic heating and ventilation apprenticeship
In just 2 years you will be equipped and prepared for a career as a Domestic Heating & Ventilation engineer, able to earn over £25,000 a year and have a trade for life!
Course structure
| Course length | 2 years |
| College time | 1 week in every 4, Mon – Fri 8:45am to 4:30pm |
| College venues | Southampton |
| Intakes start | September, January and April |
| Outcomes | C&G 6128 Technical Certificate level 2 C&G 6088 NVQ level 2 in Heating and Ventilating BPEC certificated Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 Certificate in First Aid CSCS Site Safety card |
Fees
None (as long as you are between 16 and 18 years old and qualify within 3 years). If you are over 18 your employer may need to make some contribution towards your training. Please contact the college for more information. If your employer doesn’t provide them, you will need to buy yourself classroom study tools, suitable work-wear, tools to use on-site and codes of practice.
Entry requirements
- Three GCSEs at grade C or better in three subjects, including Maths and English.
- Must have a heating and ventilation contractor or company willing to employ you.
- Pass a selection test and interview.
Course overview
The Heating and Ventilating Domestic Installation NVQ is designed and developed by close cooperation between the industry, City and Guilds, Summit Skills and the Health and Safety Executive. These groups get together and agree what new entrants need to learn and to what standard. What you will study and the standard you have to reach has been prescribed by these groups. The Heating and Ventilating Domestic Installation NVQ is divided into ‘units’ of competence, which cover all aspects of work required by a Heating and Ventilation engineer.
To achieve your NVQ you will follow a prescribed course of study and assessments, which consists of classroom-based activities (theory sessions plus written tests and assessments), workshop activities (practical exercises and assessments) and on-the-job training and assessment. At the outset of the course you will be provided with a scheme of work which gives you a complete breakdown of what you will study in each lesson for the whole of your course. It covers the following broad areas:
- Safe procedures and working practices
- Working at heights
- Lifting and handling
- Maintaining effective working relationships
- Improvement of business products and services
- Installing heating and venting systems and components
- Pre-commission and de-commission heating
- Heating and ventilating servicing
- Fault finding and rectification
During year 1 and 2 you will complete the City and Guilds NVQ 6088 and 6128 Technical Certificate in Heating and Ventilating. In each of these two years you will attend the college for 24 one-week blocks of 34 hours a week and the rest of the time you will work with your employer on site. While at college you will cover a range of practical and theory sessions according to the course syllabus. While at work you will receive on-the-job training, gaining valuable experience which will help you build a portfolio of your work and attain your NVQ.
During years 1 and 2 you may also study key skills which include communication skills, application of number and ICT. These are assessed through a portfolio of your work, which is assessed internally by the college and by an external test, which is marked by an awarding body. In addition to this you will achieve your CSCS safety card and your BPEC certificated Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.
Progression
Upon completion of the second year you can opt to learn about energy efficiency, unvented domestic hot water systems and study for your ACS Gas Safety certificates. You may also choose to apply for an additional third year, which encompasses the NVQ level 3 with more complex units such as:
- Planning heating and ventilating activities
- Installing complex heating
- Commissioning and de-commissioning systems
- Applying domestic system design principles
