Construction - level 2 apprenticeship framework

This framework sets out the standards and criteria you must meet to complete the apprenticeship programme and receive your apprenticeship certificate for level two construction. This is the only level 2 training in this skill acceptable for apprenticeshipsni funding.

About this framework

This framework specifies the standards and the criteria for the delivery of a level 2 apprenticeship framework to achieve qualified status within the construction industry.

In some construction occupations to be recognised as fully qualified it is necessary to complete an apprenticeship at Level 3. These occupations are:

Paint and Decorating
Bricklaying
Carpentry and Joinery
Plant Maintenance
Wall and Floor Tiling
Plastering
Roofing

Mandatory outcomes

Achievement of a level 2 apprenticeship in construction will be assessed by verification through the appropriate awarding body.

You must complete a combination of both a competence-based and a knowledge-based qualification or a combined competence-based and knowledge-based qualification from one of the pathways, along with the essential skills below.

Mandatory essential skills

The following essential skills are mandatory and are to be completed as part of the apprenticeship:

application of number – level 1
communication – level 1
information and communication technology (ICT) – level 1

However, any qualifications you already have are assessed against the framework requirements and may result in an exemption from the above.

Competency and knowledge qualifications – pathway options

Apprentices need to complete both a competency-based and a knowledge-based qualification or a combined competence-based and knowledge-based qualification in their chosen pathway, from the lists below.

Route one: construction building sector

Pathway one: decorative finishing and industrial painting

Competence-based qualification:

City & Guilds Level 2 NVQ in Decorative Finishing and Industrial Painting Occupations (Construction) 603/7633/8

Knowledge-based qualification:

Pathway two: maintenance operations

Competence-based qualification:

Knowledge-based qualification:

Pathway three: trowel occupations

Competence-based qualification:

Combined competence-based and knowledge-based qualification:

OCN NI Level 2 Diploma in Wet Trades 610/2945/2

Knowledge-based qualification:

Pathway four– wood occupations

Competence-based qualification:

Knowledge-based qualification:

Combined competence-based and knowledge-based qualification:

OCN NI Level 2 Diploma in Woodworking Skills 603/7904/2

Pathway five: woodmachining

Competence-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 NVQ Diploma in Wood Machining (Construction/Sawmilling Extrusion) 600/3665/5

Knowledge-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 Diploma in Woodmachining (Construction) 600/8629/4

Route two: construction civil engineering sectors

Pathway one: construction operations

Competence-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Construction and Civil Engineering Operations 610/1669/X

Knowledge-based qualification:

Pathway two: formwork occupations

Competence-based qualification:

Knowledge-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 diploma in formworking 600/6309/9

Pathway three: plant maintenance

Competence-based qualification:

Knowledge-based qualification:

Combined competence-based and knowledge-based qualification

OCN NI Level 2 Diploma in Motor Vehicle Skills 610/2946/4

Pathway four: plant operations

Competence-based qualification:

Knowledge-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 certificate in plant operations (groundworks) 500/6364/9

Pathway five: roadbuilding and maintenance

Competence-based qualification:

Knowledge-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 diploma in highways maintenance – excavation operations (construction) 600/8628/2

Route three: construction specialist sector

Pathway one: accessing and rigging

Competence-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 NVQ diploma in accessing operations and rigging (construction) 600/8244/6

Knowledge-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 diploma in scaffolding 601/3726/5

Pathway two: waterproof membrane

Competence-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 NVQ diploma in waterproof membrane roofing systems (construction) 601/5006/3

Knowledge-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 diploma in built-up felt roofing 500/4259/2

Pathway three: cladding occupations

Competence-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 NVQ diploma in cladding occupations (construction) 603/2355/3

Knowledge-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 diploma in roof sheeting and cladding 500/4239/7

Pathway four: wall and floor tiling

Competence-based qualification:

Knowledge-based qualification:

Combined competence-based and knowledge-based qualification:

OCN NI Level 2 Diploma in Wet Trades 610/2945/2

Pathway five: fitted interiors

Competence-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 NVQ certificate in fitted interiors (construction) 600/3683/7

Knowledge-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 diploma in fitted interiors (construction) 600/8779/1

Pathway six: floorcovering

Competence-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 NVQ diploma in floorcovering occupations (construction) 601/4992/9

Knowledge-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 diploma in floorcovering – textile and impervious (construction) 600/8627/0

Pathway seven: interior systems

Competence-based qualification:

Knowledge-based qualifications:

Pathway 8: plastering

Competence-based qualification:

Knowledge-based qualification:

Combined competence-based and knowledge-based qualification:

OCN NI Level 2 Diploma in Wet Trades 610/2945/2

Pathway 9: roofing occupations

Competence-based qualification:

NOCN_CSkills Awards level 2 NVQ diploma in roofing occupations (construction) 603/2376/0

Knowledge-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 diploma in roof slating and tiling (construction) 600/8623/3

Pathway 10: stonemasonry

Competence-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 NVQ diploma in stonemasonry (construction) 603/3628/6

Knowledge-based qualification:

NOCN_Cskills Awards level 2 diploma in stonemasonry - banker (construction) 600/8625/7

Eligibility and entry to the programme

There are no formal eligibility requirements for learners undertaking this apprenticeship. However, employers and training contractors must make sure that learners have the potential and opportunity to gain the apprenticeship successfully.

See also the DfE apprenticeship guidelines and operational requirements

Duration

Apprenticeship duration can vary and will be agreed between the apprentice, training contractor and employer.

Related Knowledge

For this framework, you must complete a suitable employee rights and responsibilities (ERR) workbook. Framework certification is issued on confirmation from training contractor that the ERR has been completed.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the training contractor/college to make sure that all components of this framework are delivered in accordance with apprenticeshipsni operational requirements.

The apprentice must be employed from day one.

Further Information

The content of this framework (Framework Number 08 Issue 29: 09/23) has been agreed by the Department for the Economy and the Construction Industry Training Board Northern Ireland.

For further information, contact:

How to translate this page

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?

report a problem

leave feedback

ask a question

Report a problem

Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

A link, button or video is not working

There is a spelling mistake

Information is missing, outdated or wrong

I can't find what I'm looking for

Another issue

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

Tell us more about the problem you're having with the nidirect website.

Enter your feedback

What is your question about?

Choose a topic for your question:

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit. Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750
Email customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme, email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

Extra comments (optional)