Experienced worker route

The Experienced Worker SKILLcard

The blue experienced worker SKILLcard is provided for experienced workers who have missed the chance to obtain a SKILLcard by Industry Accreditation (sometimes referred to as 'grandfather rights') and who have no formal industry qualifications but work in a skilled capacity, allowing them to gain access to construction sites while achieving their NVQ or SVQ.

This card is valid for three years (reduced to one year for non N/SVQ/Standard qualifications) and is non renewable.

Criteria

To be eligible to apply for an experienced worker SKILLcard you must

1. have at least five years’ experience in one of the following qualifications:

• Building Services Engineering Service & Maintenance Technician/Engineer

• H&V Fitter/Welder/Installer/Pipefitter

• Plumber Domestic or Industrial & Commercial

• Refrigeration/Air conditioning Technician/Engineer

2. have completed an approved Health and Safety test within the last two years

3. be in a role equivalent to operating at level 2 or 3

4. be enrolled/registered with an assessment centre. Contact BESA Academy to be signposted to the relevant training organisation

The five year eligibility rule is to make a clear distinction between experienced workers who are already competent and require formal recognition of their competence and others who are still working towards being competent and need to complete the full NVQ/SVQ.

Experienced workers who wish to access the Level 3 portfolio route, must have already achieved the relevant specified Level 2 unit.

Get your Experienced Worker SKILLcard with BESA Academy

BESA Academy facilitates approved training and certification throughout the building services industry from apprenticeships and short courses to experienced worker programmes.

Experienced Worker Programmes are available from BESA Academy in the following units:

• Unit 230 of Level 2 NVQ Diploma Heating and Ventilating Industrial & Commercial Installation

• Unit 308 (plus an elective unit) of Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heating and Ventilating Industrial & Commercial Installation

• Unit 222 of Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Heating & Ventilating Planned & Reactive Maintenance

• Unit 326 of Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heating & Ventilating Planned & Reactive Maintenance

An Experienced Worker SKILLcard will be included for all eligible candidates who undertake their Experienced Worker Programme with BESA Academy.

Contact BESA Academy to be signposted to the relevant training organisation. 

Available routes

Experienced Worker Performance Units from City and Guild 6188 Diplomas in Heating and Ventilating

6188 Level 2 Performance Units:

The assessment centre will undertake an initial review of the worker’s skills, knowledge and experience to establish if the candidate has a reasonable expectation of achieving the relevant unit/s. An assessment profile and action plan will be produced, setting out what evidence needs to be produced, how it should be presented and authenticated, and how it will be assessed.

You can apply for a Experienced Worker SKILLcard online, find out more about how to apply online.

Once the specified unit/s have been achieved and the certificate/s received, Experienced Workers can apply to have their Experienced Workers card upgraded to the relevant Skilled Worker card. Upgrade to our Skilled Worker card online.