Water, gas, oil, etc.

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• assessment of experience by a professional body

College

You could start with a college course, for example:

• Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Heating
• T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction

These would teach you some of the skills you'll need to apply for a trainee position with a company.

To fully qualify as a gas service technician, you'll need a recognised gas industry qualification, for example a Level 3 Diploma in Gas Utilisation Installation and Maintenance.

You will usually need to be working to complete the level 3 qualification.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
• guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
• search for courses|/find-a-course

Apprenticeship

You can train to become a service technician by doing a gas engineering operative advanced apprenticeship.

This will usually take 18 months to complete. You'll do on-the-job training and spend time at a college or training provider.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Other routes

You may be able to have your experience and skills assessed through the Accredited Certification Scheme to get a recognised competency certificate.

This assessment is aimed at experienced engineers who work in related industries, like plumbing or heating and ventilation.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

• be on the Gas Safe Register to work with domestic gas heating systems

More information

Further information

You can get more advice about careers in the gas industry from Energy & Utilities Jobs.

View all vacancies in this region

With experience, you could:move into supervisory and management roles, with responsibility for a team of engineers; set up your own gas fitting business; do further training to become a heat pump engineer, working on alternative energy heating systems