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  7. Level 2 apprenticeship frameworks
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Engineering - 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 engineering. 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 engineering industry.

Successful completion of the framework will lead to the award of a level 2 qualification showing recognition as a qualified person within the industry.

Mandatory outcomes

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

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

Mandatory essential skills

The following essential skills must 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

You must complete both a competency-based and a knowledge-based qualification in your chosen pathway, from the lists below.

If you are enrolling on a Level 3 framework with Level 2 en route (also referred to as Level 2/3) you must follow ‘Pathway 8 - Performing Engineering Operations’ at Level 2.  Sectoral advice is that this pathway provides the most suitable preparation for all pathways of the Level 3 Engineering ApprenticeshipsNI framework.

Pathway 8 is also strongly recommended if you are undertaking a standalone Level 2 apprenticeship with the intention of progressing to Level 3.

Pathway one – aeronautical engineering

Competence-based qualification:

  • EAL Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering 600/1028/9

Knowledge-based qualification:

  • ETCAL Level 2 Extended Certificate in Engineering Principles 601/8073/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Technology 500/7595/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology 501/0979/0
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Engineering 600/0881/7
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance 600/1928/1

Pathway two – business improvement techniques

Competence-based qualification:

  • ETCAL Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Business Improvement Techniques 600/2259/0
  • EAL Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Business Improvement Techniques 500/6590/7
  • City & Guilds Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Business Improvement Techniques 500/7473/8
  • BIIAB Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Business Improvement Techniques 601/6634/4

Knowledge-based qualification:

  • EAL Level 2 Certificate in Business Improvement Techniques 501/1495/5
  • ETCAL Level 2 Certificate In Business Improvement Techniques 601/5526/7

Pathway three – engineering maintenance and installation

Competence-based qualification:

  • City & Guilds Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Engineering Maintenance and installation 501/0377/5
  • EAL Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Engineering Maintenance and Installation 501/0147/X

Knowledge-based qualification:

  • ETCAL Level 2 Extended Certificate in Engineering Principles 601/8073/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Technology 500/7595/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Maintenance Engineering Technology 501/1059/7
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology 501/0979/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Pipework Systems Mechanical Engineering Technology 501/1057/3
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation 600/6724/X
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Engineering 600/0881/7
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Aircraft Maintenance 600/1969/4
  • City and Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installations 600/5498/0
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance  600/1928/1

Pathway four – engineering technical support

Competence-based qualification:

  • EAL Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Engineering Technical Support 501/0372/6
  • ETCAL Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Engineering Technical Support 601/5709/4

Knowledge-based qualification:

  • ETCAL Level 2 Extended Certificate in Engineering Principles 601/8073/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Technology - 500/7595/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Maintenance Engineering Technology 501/1059/7
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology 501/0979/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation 600/6724/X
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Engineering 600/0881/7

Pathway five – fabrication and welding engineering

Competence-based qualification:

  • ETCAL Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering 601/1820/9
  • EAL Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering 600/9174/5
  • City & Guilds Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering 601/0077/1

Knowledge-based qualification:

  • ETCAL Level 2 Extended Certificate in Engineering Principles 601/8073/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Technology - 500/7595/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering Technology 501/1058/5
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Pipework Systems Mechanical Engineering Technology 501/1057/3
  • EAL Level 2 Certificate in Positional Welding 501/1807/9
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Engineering 600/0881/7

Pathway six – materials processing and finishing

Competence-based qualification:

  • EAL Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Materials Processing and Finishing 600/9591/X

Knowledge-based qualification:

  • ETCAL Level 2 Extended Certificate in Engineering Principles 601/8073/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Technology 500/7595/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering Technology 501/1058/5
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology 501/0979/0
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Engineering 600/0881/7

Pathway seven – mechanical manufacturing engineering

Competence-based qualification:

  • EAL Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering 500/9851/2
  • ETCAL Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering 600/2653/4

Knowledge-based qualification:

  • ETCAL Level 2 Extended Certificate in Engineering Principles 601/8073/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Technology 500/7595/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering Technology 501/1058/5
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology 501/0979/0
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Engineering 600/0881/7

Pathway eight – performing engineering operations

Competence-based qualification:

  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Performing Engineering Operations (Northern Ireland) 603/4864/1
  • City & Guilds Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Performing Engineering Operations 600/9471/0 (6 units to be Achieved)
  • ETCAL Level 2 Diploma in Performing Engineering Operations (Northern Ireland) – 603/5276/0

Knowledge-based qualification:

  • ETCAL Level 2 Extended Certificate in Engineering Principles 601/8073/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Engineering and Technology 500/7595/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering Technology 501/1058/5
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Maintenance Engineering Technology 501/1059/7
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology 501/0979/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Pipework Systems Mechanical Engineering Technology 501/1057/3
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation 600/6724/X
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Engineering 600/0881/7
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance 600/1928/1

Pathway nine – performing manufacturing operations

Competence-based qualification:

  • ETCAL Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Performing Manufacturing Operations 600/2923/7
  • City & Guilds Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Performing Manufacturing Operations 501/1313/6
  • EAL Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Performing Manufacturing Operations 501/0928/5

Knowledge-based qualification:

  • ETCAL Level 2 Extended Certificate in Engineering Principles 601/8073/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Technology 500/7595/0
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering Technology 501/1058/5
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Pipework Systems Mechanical Engineering Technology 501/1057/3
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Engineering 600/6724/X
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Engineering 600/0881/7

Pathway 10 – automated entrance systems

Competence-based qualification:

  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Performing Engineering Operations (Northern Ireland) 603/4864/1

Knowledge-based qualification:

  • EAL Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Technologies 601/5669/7

Eligibility and entry to the programme

You must be employed to do this apprenticeship.

There are no formal entry requirements for learners, although employers may apply their own criteria at recruitment.

Employers and contractors must make sure that learners have the potential and opportunity to gain the apprenticeship successfully.

See also the DfE operational requirements for eligibility information.

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 contractors 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 12 Issue 13: 02/22) has been agreed by the Department for the Economy. For further information, contact:

  • Department for the Economy - Apprenticeships Delivery and Performance Branch
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Level 2 apprenticeship frameworks

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  • Barbering - level 2 apprenticeship framework
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  • Bookkeeping - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Bus and coach engineering and maintenance - level 2 apprenticeship framework
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  • Catering and professional chefs - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Children’s care, learning and development - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Cleaning support services - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Community arts - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Construction - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Contact centre operations - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Costume and wardrobe - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Cultural heritage - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Cultural venue operations - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Customer service - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Design - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Driving goods vehicles - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Electrical power engineering - level 2 apprenticeship framework
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  • Environmental Conservation - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Equine industry - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Facilities services - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Fashion and textiles - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Floristry - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Food and drink - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Furniture production - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Game and wildlife management - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Glass industry - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Hairdressing - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Health and social care - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Horticulture - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Hospitality - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • IT and telecoms professional - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • IT user - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Land-based engineering - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Live events and promotion - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Marketing - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Music business - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Nail services - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Passenger carrying vehicle driving – bus and coach - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Pharmacy services - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Plumbing - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Printing industry - Level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Providing financial services - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Rail industry - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Rail services - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Retail - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Sales and telesales - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Supply chain management - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Sustainable resource management - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Team leading - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Technical theatre, lighting, sound and stage - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Travel services - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Trees and timber - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Vehicle body and paint - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Vehicle fitting - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Vehicle maintenance and repair - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Vehicle parts - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Vehicle sales - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Veterinary nursing assistant - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Warehousing and storage - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Water utility operations - level 2 apprenticeship framework
  • Youth work - level 2 apprenticeship framework

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