WaterSafe Experienced Plumbers' course
WaterSafe has joined forces with a certification body to launch a new course for seasoned plumbers hoping to join the WaterSafe Installers' Scheme.
The new qualification will combine practical plumbing assessments with a water regulations test aimed at determining on-the-job competency.
BPEC and WaterSafe scheme organisers have been working together to devise the assessment which will give experienced plumbers an alternative route to Approved Contractor status on one of the seven Approved Contractors' Schemes in the UK - the first step to becoming WaterSafe Approved.
Mally Butters, of BPEC, said: "We have now finished the development of the course, PowerPoints, assessment material and the final sign off is now with the BPEC Awarding Organisation."
Training centres around the UK have expressed an interest in running the course and the number offering the qualification is expected to rise after the official consumer launch of WaterSafe on October 8.
"When we launched the course we had around nine centres showing some interest and asking for more details which we provided, this has led to at least one centre completing the approval paperwork for the course," continued Mr Butters.
"We are hoping these are the first of many and that one or two north of the boarder will take this up."
Three training centres have so far been given the green light to run the course - Steve Willis Training Ltd. in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, Prospects College in Basildon, Essex and East Riding Training Solutions in Hull, East Yorkshire.
The qualification will be equivalent to the NVQ Level 2 or City & Guilds Craft Certificate which, with a Water Regulations Certificate, is the normal entry level into an Approved Contractors' Scheme which a company must join before they are offered free WaterSafe accreditation.
Course dates and costs have yet to be confirmed but installers interested in signing up can join a mailing list for updates. Alternatively, please contact WaterSafe on 0333 207 9030.