Help Please!!!!

[PlumbersMate]

Hi, i am just finishing up my NVQ Level 2 and 6129 and i am hoping to move on to eventually become GasSafe. I live in Hertfordshire and am just researching the best way to go about it. Can I do a Gas Course (theory side) and then once ive passed said exams then do a practical portfolio or do they have to go hand in hand
ie have to work with a GasSafe whilst taking the Gas Course? Hope this makes sense. Any information or help is greatly appreciated. Thank you

[Blake]

you need to decide what college you want to go to and then arrange to see them. They will then issue you with there requirements for your portfolio. 'x' amount of boiler jobs, cooker and fire job etc.

This took me a year working alongside a gas engineer for free. Once you have all your evidence you can then apply to do the practical course. If you pass you will get your ccn1 plus whatever appliances you choose to do.

Then you can apply to gas safe and they will arrange to visit you and decide if you can go on the register or not.

Allow a couple of grand for all your exams and fees and also loss of income for working for free alongside an engineer.

[villa_tom]

I think your portfolio has to be complete and be signed off before you can take any exams now. I'm not 100% on that but i'm pretty sure.

[Blake]

When he applies to the college to do the practical they will decide if the portfolio is adequate or not. If not they will tell you how many more jobs you need to do before they will let you on

[PlumbersMate]

thanks lads. im currently doing my level 2 at oaklands college, st albans. but my current tutor is very unclear in describing what i need to do?! Basically i have no practical experience in Gas whatsoever, but does that mean i cant enrol onto the course, or can i enrol and then as you say tick off each job they want me to do as and when i can? (obviously supervised) can i do the course without working directly for a GSR Plumber as long as I can get my various jobs completed and ticked off? Thanks again

[PlumbersMate]

ps i think im getting it (sort of) from what u say bronzino. so go see the gas people at my college, say i wanna enrol onto the acs/gas course. then they will give me a portfolio to complete supervised, then once complete i can take the gas exam/course?

[Blake]

that's right mate. you need to find a gas engineer that is willing to let you follow him/her around and is happy to take extra time on jobs to let you gain experience.

[PlumbersMate]

That is clearly the sticking point, because as far as ive searched so far, they are non-existant! lol Oh well, Keep Calm And Carry On i suppose. Thanks very much for your help on this, thanks for clearing it up

[Reg Man]

NVQ level 3 will take you through.

[PlumbersMate]

Could u please elaborate further with that please RegMan? Are you saying if i sit my level 3 nvq i will be GasSafe at the end of it? Again sticking point is i belive my tutor said to do your level 3 you have to be working in Plumbing or with a GasSafe,cant remember now tbh.

[TC.]

you need to be in employemnt to do an nvq - the nvq L3 run by most oclleges allows you to choose from one of the following specialties: Gas, oil, lpg. ACS certificate by choosing one of these modules within your L3 cert and NVQ

[Reg Man]

NVQ is about training, qualification and experience. Same as all NVQ's. Oaklands should be able to offer your training. Work placement doing gas work should build your porfolio, for experience. ACS in gas should be built in to this, to enable you to be eligable for competance requirements to be Gas Safe Registered installer.