ECITB Project controls training and qualifications

Looking to develop in-house proficiency for effective estimation, planning, scheduling, cost control and project control?

The ECITB, in collaboration with UK companies, has developed a structured career progression framework, including training, upskilling, apprenticeships and professional recognition.

Ideal for enhancing your team’s competencies and fostering growth from entry-level to senior management, integrating this ECITB/industry-led framework, training, qualifications, and apprenticeship standards into your staff development will support you in nurturing talent and will provide a clear pathway for advancement.

Approved ECITB training providers like 20/20 Project Management, College of Contract Management, Go Forth, and Kingsfield Academy deliver ECITB courses.

Our website lists approved assessment centres for ECITB project controls qualifications (RQF), including support for Level 3 Project Controls Technician and Level 6 Project Controls Professional apprenticeship standards.

ECITB project control qualifications and courses

ECITB’s project control qualifications and courses are developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders and employers to provide a clear skills trajectory from technician roles to professional project controllers, estimators, planners, schedulers, or cost engineers.

Our offerings focus on developing technical expertise and also the broader context in which project controls professionals operate. This includes honing communication skills, fostering governance acumen, promoting continuous improvement, leveraging data analytics, and pro-actively contributing to carbon reduction and environmental sustainability.

Discover our ECITB project controls: training courses, ECITB qualifications and Government apprenticeship standards

Career progression, training, upskilling and professional recognition framework:

Project control career entry, training and professional recognition pathway
0-5 Years 5-10 Years 10 Years +
  • From trainee or graduate to:
  • project controller
  • estimator
  • planner/scheduler
  • cost engineer
  • Project control manager
  • Estimating lead
  • Planning or scheduling lead
  • Cost engineering lead
  • Head of project controls
  • Chartered

This is training that is appropriate for: trainees, graduates, project controllers, estimators, planners/schedulers and cost engineers. All training is available through ECITB approved training providers via virtual or face-to-face or blended delivery options.

There are several short courses, longer courses and qualifications and these are summarised in the tables below.

ECITB short courses*

ECITB Short course summary ECITB Short course summary
Image from leaflet about the Intro to PC course Introduction to project control (3 days)

Ideal for those looking for insight into the fundamentals of project control including estimating, planning, scheduling, cost engineering, risk, information management and communication.

 Image from leaflet about the estimating course Estimating methodology & practice (3 days)

Comprehensive training on estimating techniques, including theory and putting the methods into practice with practical exercises throughout.
Image from leaflet about the ECITB risk course Managing risk as part of a project (1 day)

An introduction to risk terminology, the risk management process, the practical implementation of a risk management plan, and the tools and techniques used in good practice risk management.

 Image from leaflet about the ECITB document managers course Project document managers (2 days)

The principles of project document management: ensuring transferability across a company and the supply chain; understanding requirements; setting up processes; and leading the document management function.

Longer ECITB courses and qualifications

Type of course Summary information
ECITB course (9 months) ECITB Certificate in Project Controls is a comprehensive programme covering all aspects of project controls, estimating, planning, scheduling, risk etc. Learners are taught through a blend of classroom workshops (online or face to face), assessments and simulated project work over a period of 9 months.
ECITB qualification ECITB Diploma in project control practice and techniques (RQF), level 3 (England), (equivalent to level 6 in Scotland, SCQF)
ECITB qualification ECITB Diploma in advanced project control practice and techniques with pathways in estimating, planning and scheduling, cost engineering and integrated project controls practice, level 6 (England) (equivalent to level 10 in Scotland SCQF).
Apprenticeship standard Project controls technician apprenticeship standard, level 3 (equivalent to level 6 in Scotland)
Apprenticeship standard Project controls professional apprenticeship standard, level 6 (equivalent to level 10 in Scotland) 

ECITB approved training provider short courses**

Several ECITB approved training providers have licences to develop bespoke training courses that meet industry-agreed training standards. There are ECITB training standards for a range of skills across the project control disciplines (click here for the list). These courses are approved by the ECITB as meeting the needs of engineering construction companies, courses available are (this is updated quarterly and is up to date February 2022).

From 20/20: Project planning and practice (3 days) : This course is designed to provide a broad level of knowledge, giving existing or aspiring planning and scheduling professionals all the information, they need to have confidence in approaching the requirements of their role.

From Kingsfield Academy:

Applied risk management (1 day): Applied Risk Management introduces the principles of risk management and the effective implementation of these in engineering and construction projects. This is not a course about another risk tool or piece of software, rather more an inquiry into the deployed efficacy of such items.

Competitive tendering (1 day): An ECITB approved course for engineering construction project professionals responsible for winning contracts through improved strategy and positioning activities, and increasing bid-winning opportunities through enhanced proposal management.

Contracts for engineers (1 day): A pragmatic view of pre and post contract essentials for engineers involved with engineering, procurement and construction projects of any size.

Once established in a role and playing a crucial part in ensuring the successful delivery of complex projects to time and on budget through estimating, defining and planning costs, schedules, resources and quality needed whilst taking technical, risk and commercial requirements into consideration and then monitoring the costs and progress throughout the delivery phase and making recommendations for improvements or recovery.  Then it is possible to build evidence of this work and the skills demonstrated – this is a good time to look to undertake the following qualifications:

Professional registration – an individual may wish to consider gaining professional recognitions through the ACostE and/or as an Engineering Technician.

Once skilled in project controls practice and techniques the next progression may be into management and there is training available in management practice and techniques. Those wishing to progress further in terms of being a specialist in estimating, planning/scheduling or cost engineering there may be Masters courses available.

There is also the option of becoming Chartered – a Chartered engineer (through ACostE) or, if you wish to move in to project management there are options for project management training and chartership.