L3 Diploma in Gas Utilisation and ACS Assessments Phase 1

The course will entail working with an array of domestic gas appliances, also covering Safety, Legislation and Standards , Products and Characteristics of Combustion Installation of Pipework and Fittings and much more, all in line with the recognised Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers(IGEM) Managed Learning Programme (MLP) as set out in IGE/IG1. 

The course will have three distinct phases, teaching, work placement and assessment. This is a comprehensive course that will equip you with the skills and knowledge to enable you to achieve your ACS and gain entry into the gas industry, an industry that is growing all the time and is also the grounding for a huge escalation in the renewable sector.

This is an ideal course for Service leavers seeking to learn a trade, and work in multiple locations across several appliances, with the opportunity to further develop into other areas of gas engineering. You must be able to work independently or as part of a small team, completing tasks to the highest quality within time constraints.

Although an engineering background is not required, attendees should have some technical skills and be willing to commence a new career as a Newly Qualified Gas Engineer, gaining experience in the role once qualified.
 
This is an intensive and challenging course. Attendees must be willing to complete work outside of normal training hours, as well as undertaking the Level 3 Diploma in Gas Utilisation, containing 26 short assignments, with further  controlled assessments taking place in Phase 2. LCL Awards have mapped the MLP across to the Diploma, reducing the required assignments from 43 to 26.

All attendees will be enrolled on a Managed Learning Programme and attendees should be prepared to complete a block period of 18 week work attachment. This will be unpaid unless you are post discharge and agree a separate arrangement with the Employer. 
 

Please ensure you read the full course content and course eligibility requirements below.
For those settling in Scotland,  the ACS training and qualifications are valid, however Gas Engineers are required to adhere to the Scottish Building Regulations when installing appliances. This is highlighted during Phase 1 of the course. 

• ACS CCN1 Core Domestic Gas Safety plus up to 3 appliances: CENWAT1 (Central Heating and water heating appliances), CKR1 (Cooking Appliances) and MET1 (Meters)
• LCL Awards Energy Efficiency for Domestic Heating
• LCL Awards Level 3 Award in Hot Water Systems and Safety (HWSS) 
• BPEC Water Regulations Certificate
• LCL Awards L3 Diploma in Gas Utilisation

This course requires no prior experience of Gas and is suitable for new entrants to the industry; however, the duration of work attachment will be 18 weeks full time 

All Service leavers planning to attend this course must have a minimum level 2 functional skills in numeracy and literacy, or equivalent. It is essential that our booking office or the staff at Chatham are made aware of any medical or learning difficulties which may affect your training, at the time of booking. For example, students with written evidence of dyslexia may require additional hours (or days) to complete Phase 2 assessments, and so this must be brought to our attention at the time of booking.

Course attendees will be required to complete the full 40 days of Phase 1 training  in order to gain the necessary safety and appliance training required for the workplace. It is a condition of the course that Phase 1 training is fully completed before attending a work attachment, and returning at a later date to complete course assessments.

It is expected that a full driving licence will be required to perform in the role of a Gas Engineer as work will be carried out at homes and businesses, with multiple visits in a day. This will also apply during work attachments.
Attendees should also be physically mobile and able to reach up and also work at low levels.

Attendees should expect that a CRB background check will be carried out for any work attachment or future employment as the role will require you to enter people's homes.

If you have any previous convictions which may affect a work attachment, please discuss this with your Career Consultant or our booking office.

Phase 1 Gas Training
Attendees will be enrolled on a Managed Learning Programme which will involve completion of some forms and an initial discussion with staff at Chatham to ensure you understand the work requirements and intense nature of this course. Any issues or special considerations/learning needs must be disclosed at this stage.


The course will initially consist of 8 weeks of theory and practical training at the training facility at RSME Chatham.

There will be a significant amount of pre course reading to undertake. This will cover topics such as basic plumbing, health and safety etc. Students will be tested on this pre course reading once the training commences at Chatham.

Phase 1 Content
Phase 1 covers the syllabus of the Level 3 Diploma in Gas Utilisation, and a full outline can be found here: https://lclawards.co.uk/qualifications/rqf/lcl-awards-level-3-diploma-in-gas-utilisation-core-skills-and-knowledge/ 

• Gas Pipework and fittings (identification and installation methods), Gas Safety legislation, Characteristics of combustion and natural gas, Positioning of emergency control valves and emergency procedures, BPEC Water Regulations.
• Standing and operating pressures, Gas rates, Tightness testing and purging, Checking/setting meter regulators, Ventilation requirements, practical plumbing skills.
• Flues, Carbon monoxide in dwellings and combustion performance of gas fired appliances, Gas safety devices and controls, practical plumbing skills.
• Unsafe situations/use of emergency notices and warning labels, re-establishing gas supplies and relighting appliances, appliances (central heating, boilers, cookers, fires, water heaters, meters), practical plumbing skills, practical appliances.

Work Attachment:
Following Phase 1 training the attendee must complete an 18 week work attachment with a domestic gas company, in order to compile the necessary Portfolio of Evidence required to gain the qualification. This portfolio must be submitted to the course trainers at Chatham in advance of attending Phase 2.
Staff at RSME Chatham will book attendees on the next Phase 2 after completion of their work attachment and Portfolio.

The placement should be organised by the course attendee, but CTP can assist where the individual has been unable to source a placement. CTP are working with Employers to post work attachment opportunities on our Rightjob website. Please log in to Rightjob in the first instance to search for Gas placement opportunities.

We have opportunities with companies such as Aaron Services and the SureServe Group, T Brown Group and Livewest among others. Please log into Rightjob to view current work attachment and permanent job roles advertised through CTP.

The Portfolio will require completion of a number of tasks as listed in the table below. These are a mix of installation and servicing and repair for cookers and boilers.  Tightness tests, removing and replacing meters, and completion of gas pipework will normally fall within the other cooker and boiler installation and servicing tasks.

MLP Portfolio Requirements from Oct 22

When considering your work attachment, you may wish to contact large national Employers, or alternatively smaller local domestic gas businesses who provide a range of services including boilers, heaters, meters etc. We also recommend contacting Housing Associations who may have placement opportunities. The Gas Safe register has a postcode search, enabling you to contact companies in your local area.

 

Phase 2 Gas Assessments
After the work placement, attendees will return to the training centre at Chatham for a further 2 weeks to complete the examination and assessment phase of training. This will include written testing as well as verbal and practical assessments. Dates for Phase 2 will be provided once you are in your work attachment phase. 

Successful candidates will receive a Gas Card which will detail qualifications obtained and the range of work you may undertake. This will be required by any future Employer. Details will also be uploaded to the National Gas Safe database.

Candidates can then apply to become ‘Gas Safe Registered’ on the national database, in order to become self-employed and carry out private gas installations or repairs. A fee is payable to become Gas Safe Registered (currently £354 +vat).

It is recommended that Service leavers seek employment with a gas safe registered company to gain further experience. Most Employers will add engineers to their company gas safe registration.

CTP have some links to local and national companies who are seeking qualified gas engineers.

Login to your CTP RightJob account to view work attachment and employment opportunities for Gas Engineers and please ensure you update your Rightjob profile once you have gained the qualifications.
There is also high demand for Gas trained engineers to become Smart Metering experts and also move into renewables with some additional on the job training.

Please view opportunities on Rightjob.

Successful candidates may wish to continue training into commercial or other related areas.