Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician - Advanced Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship Summary
For employers and aspiring professionals alike, offering or undertaking an Advanced Apprenticeship as a Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician presents a unique opportunity to develop vital skills in a sector that forms the backbone of the construction industry. Found within the building services segment, this occupation plays a critical role in the installation, maintenance and commissioning of essential systems in homes and commercial premises.
For employers, investing in apprenticeships ensures access to a skilled, motivated workforce trained to meet the demands of modern plumbing and domestic heating needs. Apprentices bring fresh energy, adaptability and up-to-date knowledge to your business—whether it’s for domestic gas-fired heating, renewable technologies like air source heat pumps and solar thermal systems, or complex non-domestic installations in hospitals, schools, and commercial premises. With growing demand for both traditional and sustainable heating solutions, the apprenticeship pathway builds a talent pipeline ready for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
For would-be apprentices, this programme offers far more than hands-on training. It provides a structured route to becoming a fully qualified professional, with opportunities to specialise in areas aligned to future market demand. Apprentices learn to work independently and as part of a team, gaining not only technical know-how but also vital customer service and problem-solving skills.
In short, the Advanced Apprenticeship in Plumbing and Domestic Heating is a gateway to a stable, rewarding, and future-proof career - while offering employers a practical and cost-effective way to build capability and resilience in their workforce.
Apprenticeship standard dates
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Anytime
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Bispham Campus
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Anytime
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Bispham Campus
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Next steps
As an Employer
If you would like to offer this as an apprenticeship vacancy within your organisation, enrol one of your existing employees on this apprenticeship or simply find out more about supporting an apprenticeship within your organisation, please complete the Enquire Now form above and a member of our Business Development Team will be in touch within 2 working days to advise you on next steps.
As an Apprentice
If you are interested in securing an apprenticeship as a Plumber or Domestic Heating Technician, please visit our Vacancies page to check for any suitable roles.
If there are currently no roles available, please submit an enquiry form using the Enquire Now button above to register your interest. We will use this information to let you know when a suitable vacancy becomes available and also to advise you of any courses we offer that might advance your career goals in the meantime.
Key information
Entry Requirements
Typically, apprentices will have English and Mathematics at level 2 on entry, and all will have achieved that level prior to taking their end-point assessment. It will be a requirement that the newly developed Level 3 Plumbing and Domestic Heating Qualification is achieved prior to taking the end-point Assessment.
How will the Apprenticeship be funded?
As the employer
How your apprenticeship is funded will depend on whether or not you pay the Apprenticeship Levy. If you do pay the Levy, your apprenticeship will be funded out of this, provided you have sufficient monies available. If you do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy, 95% of the apprenticeship will be funded by the Government, with the remaining 5% being funded by you. There may also be some further incentives offered by the Government which we will be able to advise you of when setting up your apprenticeship. Either way, B&FC's Business Development Team will be on hand to help you navigate the funding arrangements and support you through this process.
As the apprentice
One of the benefits of an apprenticeship is that, as the apprentice, you are not required to fund your training. You will also receive a wage for the work that you do with minimum hourly rates set by the Government. Your employer can choose to pay you more than the minimum wage, but they cannot pay you less. For details of current minimum wage rates for apprentices, please visit the Government website.
What will my Apprentice learn?
Knowledge
Your apprentice will develop a sound understanding of:
- Health and safety legislation, approved codes of practice, guidance, and safe working practices relevant to plumbing and domestic heating systems.
- Common processes, techniques, installation and testing requirements for cold/hot water, central heating, sanitary and rainwater systems.
- Principles of system layout, commissioning, decommissioning, fault diagnosis, maintenance, and repair across a variety of plumbing and heating systems.
- Scientific, mechanical, and electrical principles that apply to domestic heating and plumbing work, including electrical controls and system sizing.
- Legal and industry requirements for working with gas, air source heat pumps, and solar thermal systems, including system design and approved practices.
- Roles and responsibilities within the building services and wider construction industry, and how to communicate effectively with stakeholders.
- Key factors influencing system selection for domestic and non-domestic applications, including pipework above 28mm.
Skills
Your apprentice will learn how to:
- Apply safe working practices and identify hazards, control measures, and relevant health and safety regulations.
- Plan, install, test, commission, and maintain plumbing and domestic heating systems including cold/hot water, central heating, sanitary, and rainwater systems.
- Install and service natural gas, air source heat pump, and solar thermal systems, including fault finding and rectification.
- Carry out electrical installation, testing, commissioning, and decommissioning relevant to plumbing and heating systems.
- Accurately size and select systems and components based on customer needs, industry standards, and manufacturer guidance.
- Perform service, maintenance, diagnostics, and decommissioning of non-domestic systems, including large bore plumbing.
Behaviours
Your apprentice should be able to:
- Act professionally and ethically while collaborating with colleagues, customers, and other trades.
- Take responsibility for personal work, recognising limitations and seeking guidance when needed.
- Commit to continuous learning and staying updated with evolving industry standards and best practices.
Expert Tutors
All tutors involved in the delivery of courses and apprenticeships within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.
Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. This is especially important for apprenticeships where off-the-job training needs to align with apprentices' on-the-job experience.
How will the Apprenticeship be delivered?
The apprenticeship will typically be delivered over a 48-month period with additional time required to prepare for the End Point Assessment. Apprentices' time will typically be split 80:20 throughout the apprenticeship programme with four days a week spent at the employer premises learning on the job and one day a week spent off-site, undertaking classroom-based and workshop-based training at B&FC.
What support will I get from B&FC?
As the employer
Each employer is supported by an experienced member of our Business Development Team to set up their apprenticeship. For those employers who are completely new to the apprenticeship process, the Team will support them with all the necessary paperwork and administration to get their apprenticeship programme up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible. For existing employers, their dedicated Client Services Manager will be an ongoing point of contact for all their apprenticeship queries, however big or small.
We can also help employers who are looking to recruit new apprentices by advertising their vacancy, finding suitable applicants and supporting them with the interview and selection process. Once an apprentice is onboard, our Curriculum Tutors and Apprenticeship Trainers and Skills Coaches also step in to support the employer-apprentice relationship and ensure the apprentice is on track to succeed.
As the apprentice
In the first instance, we aim to give potential apprentices all the support they need to find a suitable apprenticeship. That can mean working with them prior to an application to improve their CV, hone their interview skills and advise them of any additional training that may help them secure an apprenticeship vacancy.
Once they start their apprenticeship, we continue to support them with their off-site training and with regular meetings with our Apprenticeship Trainers and Skills Coaches to ensure they are progressing and acquiring all the knowledge, skills and behaviours that will ensure they complete their apprenticeship successfully.
How will the Apprenticeship be assessed?
What is an end-point assessment and why it happens
An EPA is an assessment at the end of the apprenticeship. The EPA is the apprentice's opportunity to show an independent assessor how well they can carry out the occupation they have been trained for. Apprentices need to compile a portfolio of evidence which showcases all the work they have carried out during their apprenticeship.
Prior to the EPA all apprentices must have successfully completed a Level 3 Diploma in plumbing and domestic heating. Additionally, they will have the option to acquire the following industry-recognised qualifications:
- Nationally Accredited Certification Scheme for Gas Fitting Operatives (ACS) (which will entitled them to become Gas Safe registered).
- Assessments CCN1 and CENWAT or equivalent
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
- fail
- pass
- distinction
When the apprentice passes the EPA, they will be awarded their apprenticeship certificate.
Assessment methods
The EPA comprises four distinct components, the content of which will vary depending on which option the apprentice has chosen to concentrate on, either:
- Option 1: domestic gas fired hot water heating appliances technician
- Option 2: domestic air source heat pump and solar thermal systems technician
- Option 3: non-domestic plumbing technician
The EPA consists of:
A multiple-choice knowledge test
A practical planning test
A practical competence test
An interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
These are designed to provide the external assessor with a comprehensive picture of the apprentice's knowledge and skills set to determine whether they are competent to carry out the duties for which they have been trained in a safe and efficient manner.