Engineering qualifications

Engineering Qualifications

Engineering qualifications are a good way to acquire the vocational skills and knowledge required for careers in the engineering construction industry.

Engineering qualifications offer practical learning programmes in vocational subjects developed with employers to national industry standards. Importantly, they are nationally recognised and accredited. Candidates prove their competence by demonstrating the skills, knowledge and behaviours required for a particular role.

What are the benefits of an ECITB Vocational Qualification?

Engineering qualifications enable learners to acquire the specific vocational skills, knowledge and behaviours to perform a particular role as set out by the national occupational standards (NOS). By working with industry, ECITB engineering qualifications are valued by employers because they offer development opportunities to staff across a wide range of engineering construction roles. In addition, because VQs allow for a variety of assessment methods they offer candidates flexibility in how they achieve their qualification. ECITB VQ Approved Centres are quality assured in their delivery to ensure quality and standards are maintained.

What are National Occupational Standards?

National Occupational Standards (NOS) specify standards of performance that individuals are expected to achieve in their chosen occupational discipline, and include statements of skills, knowledge and behaviours required for a person to be able to undertake a job role effectively in that field of work. They are valuable tools as benchmarks for engineering qualifications because they are developed in conjunction with industry employers’ and other key stakeholders, and kept up to date and relevant.

What Vocational Qualifications does the ECITB offer?

The ECITB offers a wide range of engineering qualifications in Craft and Technical and Professional disciplines.

CRAFT AND TECHNICAL

Industry General

Plating

Pipefitting

Electrical

Welding

Erecting

Mechanical

Nuclear

Instrument & Controls

Non Destructive Testing

Diploma in Engineering Construction Non Destructive Testing at SCQF level 6

Rigging

PROFESSIONAL

Design and Draughting

Project Control

Level 3 Diploma in Project Controls Practice and Techniques (RQF)

How are ECITB Vocational Qualifications assessed?

Candidates must be registered on the qualification with an ECITB Approved Centre before undertaking any assessment. The types of assessment will vary depending on the qualification undertaken. Competence qualifications require a candidate to be observed by an Approved Centre Assessor. This is normally done in a candidate’s ‘live workplace’ environment but a number of qualifications also allow for this in an approved simulated environment.

ECITB online knowledge tests are mandated in a number of qualifications and consist of a combination of multiple choice and short written questions and answers. VQ Tests may consist of both timed assignments and/or practical tests delivered in an invigilated environment.

Technical discussions also take place between a candidate and an Assessor for competence qualifications. ECITB qualifications are designed to consider fair access to assessment and adhere to equal opportunities requirements as specified by the Equalities Act 2010. Please refer to our Procedures Manuals on Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations permitted.

Click here for the ECITB Assessment Strategy, which is relevant to all SCQF (Scotland) qualifications and all qualifications originally developed for the QCF (England and Wales) – denoted by (QCF) in the title.

For all subsequent qualifications developed for the RQF (England and Wales) the assessment strategy can be found within the qualification documentation available to Approved Centres.

Is training towards a qualification included?

Training is not necessarily included in a qualification because some candidates only require official validation of existing skills, knowledge and behaviours. Other candidates may require training at an ECITB Approved Centre before they are ready to undergo assessment for an ECITB qualification. This training is for either apprentices or new entrants to the industry and learners will be assessed for the qualification by an ECITB-approved assessor who has not been directly associated with their training. Knowledge qualifications, delivered as part of an approved or recognised training programme, may be marked by the assessor/tutor if the Awarding Organisation rules allow. Both are subject to internal quality assurance by a separate member of the Approved Centre and external quality assurance by the Awarding Organisation auditing function.

Depending on the qualification specification, training towards an ECITB qualification may be delivered outside of the Awarding Organisation network. However, only ECITB Approved Centres can deliver assessment for any ECITB qualification.

What are ECITB Regulated Qualifications?

Regulated qualifications – sometimes called accredited qualifications – are recognised, reviewed and monitored by regulatory bodies in order to ensure they meet specific criteria and quality standards.

The ECITB offers a number of regulated vocational competence and knowledge based qualifications across England, Scotland and Wales.

Who regulates qualifications in Great Britain?

Each nation has its own qualifications regulator and the ECITB is a recognised Awarding Organisation with all three regulatory bodies:
• England – The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual);
• Wales – Qualifications Wales;
• Scotland – SQA Accreditation

ECITB Approved Centres

Approved Centres are organisations approved by the ECITB to assess its engineering qualifications. The ECITB approves and quality assures all its Centres via external monitors to ensure they have qualified staff and sufficient resources to undertake effective assessment, and adhere to all ECITB and regulatory requirements.

How do I find an Approved Centre offering ECITB VQs near me?

For a full list of ECITB Approved Centres that deliver VQs use our find a provider tool.

How does my organisation apply to become an ECITB Approved Centre?

To be able to deliver our qualifications you will first need to register an Expression of Interest, submit a Finance and Legal questionnaire, and pass the necessary checks to ensure your organisation or partnership is suitable to be an ECITB Approved Centre.

If successful, you will be able to submit an ECITB Approved Centre Application Form. The ECITB will undertake a number of checks, which may include a visit to your premises. Finally, the Centre must successfully host an assessment team induction day before registering any candidates on ECITB qualifications.

For further information on how to apply to be an approved centre, please contact qualifications@ecitb.org.uk

How are ECITB Approved Centres Quality Assured?

The ECITB approves and quality assures all its Approved Centres via external monitoring to ensure they have qualified staff and sufficient resources to undertake effective assessment, and adhere to all ECITB and regulatory requirements.

Please click here to see ECITB Policies and Procedures.

What fees are involved?

The ECITB Awarding Organisation publishes its fees to its Approved Centres and all ECITB fees are charged directly to its Approved Centres.. An ECITB Approved Centre will incorporate these fees in any charges it makes to its customers, and the ECITB advises all customers to discuss these directly with the approved centre for services offered. Most Approved Centres will provide a bespoke quotation based on each candidate requirements and the type of assessments utilised, including any training provision required.

For a full list of fees please click here