How To Become A Gas Engineer (New Entrants)

Start a new career as a domestic gas engineer with this comprehensive training programme.

No previous plumbing or gas experience needed.

Train to the required standard for Gas Safe registration.

Qualification LCL Awards Managed Learning Programme and ACS
Location Dartford, Kent (Accommodation Available)
Entry Requirements None
Duration

Varies

Price
From £4,500.00
inc VAT
Easy payments
Flexible Training
Interest Free Payments
Accommodation Available

Duration & Cost

There are 3 options available:

Bronze New Entrant Gas Training Package

  • Gas Managed Learning Programme - 8 weeks
  • ACS -1 week

This package will suit you if you are able to source your own Gas Safe registered engineer for the portfolio aspect of this process.

£4,500.00 including vat

This course is available as either weekday or weekend training.

Book your course online, over the phone or at the centre by paying a £500 deposit and then pay:

Full time: £393.75 per week for 8 weeks. This will leave £850 for your ACS assessment and this can be paid when you are ready to book this.

Weekends (2 weekends on and 2 weekends off): 10 instalments of £315 over the 40 weeks of training. This will leave £850 for your ACS assessment and this can be paid when you are ready to book this.

Silver New Entrant Gas Training with Portfolio Placement

  • Gas Managed Learning Programme - 8 weeks
  • Portfolio placement with Able Skills Gas Engineer
  • ACS -1 week

This package will suit you if you are unable to source your own Gas Safe registered engineer and need Able Skills to arrange the placement for you.

£5,500.00 including vat

This course is available as either weekday or weekend training.

Book your course online, over the phone or at the centre by paying a £500 deposit and then pay

Full time: £393.75 per week for 8 weeks followed by £1000 for the gas portfolio placement (can be paid in 2 parts), leaving £850 for your ACS assessment and this can be paid when you are ready to book this.

Weekends (2 weekends on and 2 weekends off): 10 instalments of £315 over the 40 weeks of training. £1000 for the gas portfolio placement (can be paid in 2 parts). This will leave £850 for your ACS assessment and this can be paid when you are ready to book this.

Gold New Entrant Gas Training with Portfolio Placement

  • Gas Managed Learning Programme - 8 weeks
  • Portfolio placement with Able Skills Gas Engineer
  • Boiler Fault-Finding
  • ACS -1 week

This package will suit you if you are unable to source your own Gas Safe registered engineer and need Able Skills to arrange the placement for you and you would also like to include our boiler fault finding course.

£5,945.00 including vat

This course is available as either weekday or weekend training.

Book your course online, over the phone or at the centre by paying a £500 deposit and then pay

Full time: £393.75 per week for 8 weeks followed by £1000 for the gas portfolio placement (can be paid in 2 parts), leaving £850 for your ACS assessment and £495 for the Fault-Finding course - these can be paid when you are ready to book them in.

Weekends (2 weekends on and 2 weekends off): 10 instalments of £315 over the 40 weeks of training. £1000 for the gas portfolio placement (can be paid in 2 parts). This will leave £850 for your ACS assessment and £495 for the Fault-Finding course - these can be paid when you are ready to book them in.

 

Course details

Becoming a Gas Safe registered Engineer will require:

  • Training - Undertake comprehensive training, by way of an accredited Managed Learning Programme (MLP)
  • Portfolio - Prove competence in real working environments by completing a portfolio of related gas works, under supervision of a Gas Safe registered Engineer
  • ACS Exams - Undertaking ACS gas assessments

Able Skills offers 3 different packages of learning:

Gold Package – This includes the Gas Managed Learning Programme, Work Placement (Portfolio Completion) with an Able Skills gas engineer, ACS Exams and our 5 day boiler fault finding course.

Silver Package – This includes the Gas Managed Learning Programme, Work Placement (Portfolio Completion) with an Able Skills gas engineer and ACS Exams

Bronze Package – This includes the Gas Managed Learning Programme, and ACS Exams


Stage 1: Gas Managed Learning Programme (MLP)

This comprehensive 8 weeks of training provided by Able Skills will teach you a wide range of skills and knowledge which you will need in order to become a safe, competent, and successful heating engineer.

If you are a qualified or time served Plumber or have comprehensive experience working in the gas industry, the time on this training can be reduced. Please see Gas Engineer training for plumbers

This package of learning has been designed to cover all the theory and practical knowledge that you will need to move you through the process of becoming Gas Safe registered such as:

  • Safety, legislation and standards
  • Gas emergency actions and procedures
  • Products and characteristics of combustion
  • Ventilation for domestic gas burning appliances
  • Installation of pipework and fittings (including copper/low carbon steel bending and jointing)
  • Tightness testing and purging
  • Checking and setting appliance burner pressures and gas rates
  • Checking and/or setting meter regulators
  • Re-establish existing gas supply and re-light appliances
  • Operation and positioning of emergency isolation controls and valves
  • Operation and checking of appliance gas safety devices and controls
  • Chimney standards, installation, inspection and testing
  • Unsafe situations, emergency notices and warning labels
  • Cutting and measuring copper tube accurately
  • Pipe-work preparation and Soldering techniques
  • X and Z dimension calculations
  • How to assemble compression fittings / compression fitting assessments
  • Cutting and treading low carbon steel pipe
  • Jointing steel pipe
  • Heating Controls – theory
  • Different types of heating systems, controls and their functions
  • Gas rates / Heat inputs
  • Gas safety controls
  • Combustion Performance Analysis
  • Flueing
  • Appliance installation and servicing

There will be written exams and practical assessments throughout the training period. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be provided with a LCL Awards Candidate Workbook (Portfolio) and guidance for completion.


Stage 2: Work Placement (Portfolio Completion) - Work based Competence and Gas Portfolios

Included with Gold & Silver packages

Following completion of this domestic gas programme, you will be deemed competent to undertake supervised gas work and so the next step towards Gas Safe registration will be to demonstrate your competence in the workplace and you do this by working alongside a Gas Safe Registered Engineer who acts as your on-site recorder/verifier, helping you to build a portfolio of evidence and prove your competence and safety working with Gas.

You can complete your portfolio working alongside any Gas Safe Registered Engineer, if you opt for either our Gold or Silver package you will be placed you with an Engineer from WrightWay Gas Services who work exclusively with Able Skills, and with their assistance, you will undertake a variety of gas work on a variety of appliances to meet the requirements of the portfolio to move you on to your formal gas assessments (ACS). You will receive guidance throughout on how the portfolio evidence should be recorded.

You are allocated a 2-year window to complete your portfolio although many of you will achieve this in a much quicker time. Please be advised that from the point of completing your training, you will not be permitted to assess for ACS until a minimum of 6 months has passed.


Stage 3: Boiler Fault Finding / Wiring and Controls Course (1 week)

Included with Gold package

Having provided portfolio placements for quite some time now, it has become very apparent that despite comprehensive training and a work placement, candidates knowledge of boiler service, repair and maintenance is quite minimal. To combat this, we are introducing this additional week of training to cover:

Boiler Fault Finding:

  • Safe and correct use of a multimeter
  • Safe electrical testing
  • Identifying boiler components and their function including:
    • Pumps
    • Switches
    • Fans
    • Gas valves
    • Temperature sensors and stats
  • How to test these components
  • Outline common faults and remedial steps on:
    • Diverter valves
    • Expansion vessels
    • Domestic heat exchangers

Wiring & Heating Controls:

  • Introduction to different heating system controls, their function and how they work
  • How to wire up a range of heating systems
  • How to test correctly and identify faults
  • Learn about Smart controls

This course can be completed at any time during or after the portfolio placement.


Stage 4: ACS (Approved Certification Scheme) - Core Domestic Gas Safety including CENWAT (Boilers/Water Heaters)

Following successful completion of the portfolio, you will return to able Skills for ACS assessment covering:

  • Core Domestic Gas Safety (CCN1) and
  • Central Heating Boilers / Water Heaters (CENWAT)

ACS will need to be completed before you are eligible for Gas Safe registration, and this is a requirement for all operatives involved in the installation, maintenance and servicing of domestic gas appliances and pipe-work installations.

The purpose of this Training/Assessment is to provide operatives with the knowledge and skills relating to safety regulations, procedures, and British Standards, which must be applied when working on Gas Installations.

Initial assessment for CCN1/CENWAT will require 5 days and will cover:

  • Gas Safety Regulations, British Standards and Manufacturers' Instructions
  • Emergency Procedures, Labels and Warning Notices
  • Unsafe Situations, and Related Documentation
  • Combustion, Gas Rates, Burner/Installation Pressures
  • Testing for Tightness, Purging and Relighting Appliances
  • Pipework and Fittings
  • Operation of Appliance Gas Safety Devices and Controls
  • Ventilation
  • Flueing Standards, Installation and Testing.

*If candidates fail to achieve the required level of competency in either the practical or theory assessment, it may be necessary for them to re-sit the sections which they have failed. If this situation arises an additional cost will be incurred.

Training

The training aspect of this package will be taught using both workshop and classroom delivery.

Classroom sessions are delivered in conjunction with a comprehensive colour training manual, supported by power point presentation, visual aids and training rigs.

Practical sessions are undertaken in any one of our 3 comprehensively equipped workshops. All of our training bays contain a range of different gas appliances ensuring that you have the opportunity to work on boilers, cookers, heaters, water heaters and gas meters. We have a range of new and older appliances to reflect reality to ensure that all candidates gain an appreciation of as many gas appliances as possible.

All gas instructors employed by Able Skills are industry served Gas Engineers – they have a combined wealth of industry knowledge as well as years of experience teaching gas and related subjects.

Progress is monitored with regular practical and written assessments and all evidence is recorded and retained for any Governing body to view at any time; these strict control methods safeguard all candidates and assessors and ensure that accurate, quality Gas training is delivered.

Work Placement (Portfolio Completion)

Part of the process to becoming Gas Safe registered is to prove competence working on various aspects of gas. This will need to be undertaken under the supervision of a Gas Safe registered Engineer whereby a portfolio is completed detailing the gas work that has been done, supported by photographic evidence and signed by your Gas Safe registered Engineer. Able Skills can arrange this placement for you with a Gas Safe Registered Engineer from WrightWay Gas Services, taking the hassle out of you searching for a suitable Gas Safe Engineer.

Boiler Fault Finding and Controls Wiring Course

This course is full of practical activities and will provide you with access to a range of boilers, old and new; in an attempt to provide you with as much knowledge as possible. This course will give you a great insight into the workings of different boilers so that you are able to confidently repair and service boilers once you are working as a Gas Engineer. This will also benefit you whilst you are working on your portfolio with Boiler Medic as they attend boiler breakdowns on a daily basis.

ACS (Approved Certification Scheme)

During this final hurdle, you will undertake assessment to achieve:

  • Core Domestic Gas Safety (CCN1) and
  • Central Heating Boilers / Water Heaters (CENWAT)

CKR & HTR1 are not included in this package.  You will have to wait 12 months from completing your ACS aspect (and be Gas Safe registered) before being able to add appliances such as

  • CKR1 (cookers)
  • HTR1 (Fires)
  • MET1 (Meters)
  • DAH1 (Warm Air Units)

Able Skills is very proud of the training we provide for potential gas course candidates, and we are very conscious that getting it wrong can be fatal. This particular programme of learning has been devised to ensure that from the start, individuals are given the opportunity to work towards becoming competent and safe Gas Engineers; all of the Gas training we provide is arranged to identify an individual's suitability for the Gas industry and to assist them in achieving the required standards to work within the Gas industry.

Our qualified team of Gas Trainers and Assessors will provide guidance, support and assistance in a realistic environment to build confidence and competence so that you are ready to undertake your work placement.

The portfolio placement we are offering will meet the portfolio requirements set by LCL Awards, to ensure that you are industry ready, competent, and confident.

Training to achieve this Domestic Gas Safety Training – LCL Awards Managed Learning Programme is a requirement to ensure knowledge of changes to legislation, British Standards, and industry best practice. If you come under the category of New Entrant, this is the correct and recognised route to take to get you started.

If you remain unsure of your suitability for the Gas industry or you would like to speak to someone on a more personal level, please feel free to get in touch for some expert advice or if you would like to view the facilities at Able Skills, please feel free to visit us at any time.

Gas Engineer Courses at Able Skills

Courses open to you after

Able Skills is accredited  for Commercial Gas so later on, you may wish to undertake our 3 week Changeover programme giving you access to other areas of gas work. Alternatively, you may frequently find yourself in a position where customers require plumbing work to be done so you could consider achieving a level 2 Plumbing qualification.

location

Location

All of our courses take place at our dedicated training centre in Dartford, Kent. The centre is easily accessible by road, being just 10 minutes from junction 1a on the M25. We are only a short walk from Dartford train station which is served by frequent trains taking 35 minutes from central London. For anyone travelling from further away, we have our own accommodation available at only £25 per night.

We are open Mon - Fri and 2 weekends per month for training and visitors so if you would like to find out more about this course or about Able Skills, please feel free to pop in, no appointment necessary.

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