Bricklaying Qualification Routes from Able Skills

1 - Bricklaying Qualification Route

If you do not have any underpinning bricklaying qualifications, we recommend the following:-

C&G 6217 - 07 and NVQ training (8 weeks)

At Able Skills we are able to provide you with NVQ training but at the same time incorporate a City & Guilds 6217-07 Bricklaying qualification.

This City & Guilds qualification will act as your underpinning knowledge and will incorporate many of the areas which make up NVQ units so you will be learning all of the time.

This particular award is incredibly hands on and will provide you with plenty of Bricklaying knowledge and confidence and will go a huge way to preparing you for the industry.

We will also ensure you have a full understanding of portfolio building and evidence gathering.

The C&G qualification alone is not enough basis for the NVQ process which is why we provide an additional 2 weeks Bricklaying training, should this be your choice.

As well as an abundance of practical training, we will provide you with a learner pack for study at your own leisure.

This learning pack will cover every area required to complete the Bricklaying NVQ units and will be something that you can retain for years to come.

This is the award which we will be providing training in and then encouraging you to achieve once you are working within the Bricklaying industry.

The Full Route to achieve a Bricklaying NVQ is made up of the following:

Mandatory Units:

1. VR01 Conform to General Workplace Safety
2. VR02 Conform to Efficient Work Practices
3. VR03 Move and Handle Resources
4. VR40 Erect Masonry Structures
5. VR41 Set Out Masonry Structures

 CAA Bricklaying Diploma

This course is suitable for people who are not at this moment working in the bricklaying industry and who would like to obtain a qualification to work towards becoming a professional Bricklayer.

The Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying is designed to develop your skills and knowledge, enabling you to work in the Bricklaying industry. The Diploma has been specifically developed for delivery in a training environment using simulated conditions, and the assessment is based on you showing what you can do as an individual through the completion of all the requirements of the qualification.

The Units you must complete to achieve this Bricklaying award are:

1. Know how to carry out safe working practices
2. Carry out safe working practices
3. Knowledge of information, quantities and communicating with others 2
4. Information, quantities and communicating with others 2
5. Knowledge of building methods and construction technology 2
6. Building methods and construction technology 2
7. Know how to interpret working drawings to set out masonry structures
8. Interpret working drawings to set out masonry structures
9. Knowledge of thin joint masonry and masonry cladding
10. Thin joint masonry and masonry cladding
11. Know how to build solid walling, isolated and attached piers
12. Build solid walling, isolated and attached piers
13. Know how to build cavity walling forming masonry structures
14. Build cavity walling forming masonry structures

Further information can be obtained by visiting our Bricklaying Diploma page

2 - NVQ's

These qualifications (NVQs) focus on practical skills and knowledge. Developed and approved by people who work in the industry, they are a great way to get into construction or to boost your career by developing new skills and knowledge through the assessment of work based competence.

Able Skills can offer NVQ on site assessment to those of you who have underpinning qualifications. We have our own Assessors and Internal Verifiers, all of whom are City & Guilds and CAA approved. As long as you are working within the Bricklaying Industry, we can come and assess you on site.

NVQ Assessment process

To obtain a full NVQ it is a requirement that you are currently undertaking Bricklaying duties.

The process will start with an interview between you and an Able Skills Bricklaying assessor whereby an action plan and timetable will be drawn up.

You will require a work based recorder (Supervisor or foreman) and you will be required to gather and record evidence as indicated on your assessment plan.

Visits will be at your work place whereby we will assess you on site, observing you at work Bricklaying, we will examine and discuss the evidence you have provided. An assessor will sign off completed units, where sufficient quality and quantity has been provided, any shortfalls of evidence will be discussed and any training requirements identified. In between visits, you will continue to generate further evidence.

3 - The Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA)

This is a fast route open through the CAA-ConstructionSkills / City & Guilds awarding body. It is available for workers with a minimum of five years experience and who don’t need any further training.

It involves spending a day having your skills and knowledge assessed at Able Skills Construction Training Centre. This can sometimes be done at weekends.

All the skills needed to pass the NVQ are included in one task, which is observed by our approved Bricklaying assessor.

The 4 Steps of EWPA

Step 1: Upon contacting Able Skills, we will arrange a profiling appointment for you and make recommendations of the kind of information and evidence you may wish to bring along to support your application as an experienced bricklayer.

Step 2: At your profiling appointment our bricklaying assessor will introduce you to the process and make an initial assessment to ensure you are suitable to qualify through this method. They will look over any items of ‘evidence’ you may have with you, evidence you provide can be in a written form, such as witness statements from customers or supervisors worked with in the past, or it can take the form of photographs of your work, site plans, qualifications or proof of employment. If there is insufficient evidence but it is clear that you are a competent bricklayer, you will be advised of what additional evidence is required. You will also be required to sit a health & safety test for your CSCS card if you haven’t done so already.

Step 3: Once all of the required portfolio evidence is complete, you will undertake a practical assessment of your skills which will be observed by our Bricklaying assessor. This will be followed by a recorded professional discussion to assess your knowledge of Bricklaying; we will aim to complete this process over a period of 2 days which can be weekends.

Step 4: If you are successful, you will receive your full, Experienced Worker CSCS card and your NVQ certificate. If you do not pass the assessment all is not lost: the work you have done can still count towards your qualification through OSAT.