Q. I know nothing about plumbing or electrics and I have no qualifications. Will this stop me coming on the course?
A. There are no formal educational requirements needed but it is important that you are dedicated to completing all aspects of the 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.
Q. Will I get industry recognised qualifications?
A. Yes of course. Just look at the schedule of qualifications. Even if you are not in the industry you will probably recognise that the qualifications are nationally respected.
Q. Am I guaranteed a pass?
A. You will be taking formal industry examinations and therefore any company that guarantees you a pass would be totally misleading you. If everyone were guaranteed a pass then all 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. We do guarantee that we will do everything we can to give you the best training to ensure your success. That is in our interests as well as yours!
Q. What happens if I should fail an exam?
A. Don’t worry, the way in which the home study part of your programme is structured helps to ensure that before you attend each workshop session you have been well prepared by successfully completing your Tutor Marked Assignments (TMA’s). Furthermore, your 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 re-sit fees for each additional attempt. However, most studentsrequire only one attempt to gain each of their qualifications.
Q. How can I complete my NVQ diploma qualification?
A. It’s easy, you just need to be working as a plumber and then an NVQ assessor will visit you at your workplace at a date and time you agree with him. At your workplace the assessor will ask you questions and examine the work you have completed to ensure that it is up to the required professional standard. Typically you will need 5 or 6 assessment visits. Every person in every industry who goes through the process of gaining an NVQ is subject to the same general process – there are no exceptions!
The important thing to understand is that you will need to be working as either an employed or self-employed plumber to be assessed and get your NVQ Level 2.
Q. How long will it take me to complete the 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 Stage One plus Stage Two of the PPC4 course is 7 weeks in Centre. You then need to add the time it will take you to complete the home study and Tutor Marked Assessments (TMA) that will prepare you for each week in Centre. You have up to two years from enrolment to complete Stage One of the PPC4 course. If you wish to progress to either Stage Two or Stage Three you can do so any time after completion of Stage One but to benefit from our special student discounts you must enrol within two years of your Stage One enrolment date. Several factors including your own personal performance will determine the speed of your progress through the course.
This makes it impossible to guarantee the overall time you may take to complete.
Q. When can I start working as a plumber?
A. You can commence working as a plumber as soon as you have developed enough self-confidence but initially you will need to be selective about what work you undertake if you have not already covered it on your PPC4 course. You should certainly 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; this will be fully explained to you on your course.
Q. What happens if I am unemployed?
A. Wonderful! It just means that you can get finished more quickly.
Q. Can I really become qualified without having to give up my job?
A. Yes you can. Stage One of the PPC4 Course is a mixture of tutor supported distance learning (home study) complemented by time in Centre. It has been designed specifically to allow students to maintain their full or part time occupation whilst gaining their qualifications. Studying at home reduces to a bare minimum the need for theory based training in Centre. The fact that you can choose the scheduled weeks (Mon-Fri) in Centre that suit you enables you to minimise disruption to your life and income. Most people tend to do their practical during annual leave entitlement and other arrangements. There is no doubt however that you will progress much more rapidly if you are able to commence working as a plumber as soon as you have completed Stage One.
Q. What happens if I live too far from my Centre to go home at night?
A. With your booking confirmation we provide details of suitable local accommodation at varying prices. Most students find that staying away from home is a beneficial experience. If you live more than 20 miles from a Centre we recommend that you stay locally because at the end of each day you will be both physically and mentally tired. Being away from normal day to day issues will help you to concentrate fully on what will become your new career. Our Centres are close to mainline rail stations so non-drivers have easy rail access.
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