Frequently Asked Questions - Plumbing Training |
.Q. I know nothing about plumbing or electrics and I have no qualifications. Will this stop me coming on the plumbing course?A. There are no formal educational requirements needed but it is important that you are dedicated to completing all aspects of the plumbing course including the home study. One of our Career Advisors will speak to you to make sure you fully understand what is required of you and he will make a judgment as to your suitability for the course. Q. Will I get plumbing industry recognised qualifications?A. Yes of course. Just look at the schedule of qualifications on our PPC2 plumbing course. Even if you are not in the plumbing industry you will certainly recognise that the qualification certification bodies are nationally respected. Q. Am I guaranteed a pass?A. You will be taking formal plumbing industry examinations and therefore any company that guarantees you a pass would be totally misleading you. If everyone were guaranteed a pass the qualifications would be meaningless. It is certain that the C&G as well as the other accreditation bodies would take action against any company offering a guarantee of this nature were it to come to their attention. What we do guarantee is that we will do everything we can to give you the best plumbing training to ensure your success and it is very unlikely that you will fail. It is in our interests as well as yours that you pass! Q. What happens if I should fail an exam?A. Don't worry, they are not that difficult because the way in which the home study part of your plumbing course is structured helps to ensure that before you attend each workshop session you have been well prepared by successfully completing your Stage Assessment papers. Furthermore, your in Centre tutors will only enter you for examinations if they think you will pass. You can have up to three attempts at each exam after which there will be minor resit fees for each additional attempt. However, it is unlikely that students will require more than two attempts to gain their qualification. Q. Can I get a Plumbing NVQ qualification?A. We have options for you to gain both your Plumbing NVQ level 2 and Plumbing NVQ Level 3. However, you must complete the PPC2 Plumbing course or PPC3 plumbing course before you can take either of these options or indeed any other plumbing NVQ option. You cannot gain an NVQ in any job simply by doing a training course. NVQ qualifications can only be undertaken whilst working in the job they relate to. Therefore to gain an NVQ in plumbing you must be actually working as a plumber. You can gain Plumbing NVQ qualifications either working employed or self-employed. In practice most plumbers tend to invest additional time and money in Gas Safe (formerly CORGI) registration rather than in Plumbing NVQ's because Gas Safe Registration opens up additional opportunities for work. We recommend that you work for at least a year as a plumber before you consider investing in Gas Safe registration. Q. Do I need to own or use a computer to complete any part of my plumbing training?A. No, market research has shown that an overwhelming majority prefer to use paper based books and manuals which they can take and study anywhere and make notes in margins etc. You do not need to use computers in any part of your plumbing home study programme although some useful reference material can be downloaded from our website and when in the Centre, some examinations are online. Students have the option to scan and e-mail Stage Assessment papers to their tutors for marking but most students simply put them in the post. Q. How long will it take me to complete the Plumbing for Professionals course?A. That largely depends upon you and how much time you are able to devote to your home study. Unless the tutors decide you need extra time, the fixed part of your course is 5 weeks and one day in Centre plus the time it will take you to complete approximately 320 hours of home study. Although you have up to two years to complete the course, it is quite usual for students who are in full time employment whilst at the same time doing the course, to complete it within eight months and half that time if for someone who is unemployed. We cannot however guarantee the time required for completion as many factors including your availability with respect to our schedules and your personal performance will affect your progress through the course. Q. When can I start working as a plumber?A. As soon as you have completed week four in Centre you can commence working as a plumber but you should not complete any notifiable electrical work until you have gained your Defined Scope Part P Domestic Installers certificate. If you intend to carry out electrical work whilst self-employed you must first register with one of the approved registration bodies. Q. What happens if I am unemployed?A. Wonderful! It just means that you can get finished more quickly. Q. Can I really become a qualified plumber without having to give up my job?A. Yes you can. Our PPC2 Professional Plumber Course is a mixture of approximately 320 hours of tutor supported distance learning (home study) in addition to time in Centre. It is the studying you do at home that reduces the need for almost all theory based plumbing training in Centre. The practical time in Centre is completed in 5 separate (Mon-Fri) weeks plus one day to minimise disruption to your life and your income. Most people tend to do their practical plumbing course work during annual leave entitlement and other arrangements. Q. What happens if I live too far from my Centre to drive home at night?A. If students live more than 20 miles from a Centre we strongly recommend that they stay locally because at the end of each day they will be both physically and mentally tired. Most students find that staying away from home is a beneficial experience; being isolated from normal day to day issues enables them to concentrate fully on what will become their new career. If you arrive at the Centre on Monday morning this will only involve four nights away from home for each week.
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