Plumbing and Domestic Heating qualifications and training courses

Last Updated: 26 Nov 2025

Product code 9289

To gain an overview of the EPA our Technical Advisor Simon Quince hosted a webinar in September 2025 to outline the content and the support available to you. A copy of the FAQs can be found here and catch up with the webinar recording here.

This apprenticeship is designed by key employers in the Plumbing and Domestic Heating industry and is one of the 'trailblazer apprenticeships'. It provides the knowledge and skills and core behaviours on all aspects of plumbing and heating systems and includes an end-test at the end of the apprenticeship which includes both a multi choice test, design project, practical installation test (Underpinning skills assessment) and practical application test (Applied skills assessment).

This qualification is aimed at new technicians entering the Plumbing and Domestic Heating industry who wish to be trained in the skills and knowledge associated with plumbing and heating systems. This includes accurate measuring, marking, cutting, bending and jointing metallic and non-metallic pipework. Appliances and equipment can include gas, oil and solid fuel boilers as well as pumps, heat emitters, bathroom furniture or controls as part of a cold water, hot water, and central heating or above ground drainage and rainwater systems. Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technicians are at the forefront of installing new and exciting environmental technologies like heat pumps, solar thermal systems, biomass boilers and water recycling systems.

Our resources for our Plumbing Apprenticeship will give you the guidance you need to support apprentices through their on-programme learning, build their confidence and competence to ensure a quality learning experience in preparation for End Point Assessment (EPA).

Our high-quality, rigorous EPA can be delivered at a convenient time for your apprentice. As part of our EPA service we provide a suite of guidance documents and preparation tools to get your apprentices ready for EPA.

We have On Programme and EPA Routes. Please see On Programme and EPA sections for more information.

On Programme Routes

9289-01 Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating (Gas)

9289-02 Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating (Environmental Technologies)

9289-03 Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating (Non Domestic)

Available to deliver in the following:

England

Apprenticeship available in England only, qualification can be taken as standalone qualification.

Want to deliver this qualification?

To find out more on getting set up to deliver this qualification please contact our team on customersupport@cityandguilds.com

On-programme

On completion of the Level 3 Plumbing and Domestic Heating diploma.

You will learn on the job in the work environment, or in the classroom with realistic situations and appliances.

You will be assessed in a number of ways – including knowledge questions, RWE practical, a portfolio of evidence and observation.

In addition to the core skills and knowledge requirements. Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technicians must choose to undertake one of the following specialisms:

9289-01 Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating (Gas)
9289-02 Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating (Environmental Technologies)
9289-03 Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating (Non Domestic)

End-point assessment

City & Guilds Matters of Gas Safety – Integrated EPA Component (9289-15)

This product is an essential part of the Plumbing & Domestic Heating Apprenticeship (Gas Pathway) and is only available to apprentices registered on 9289-15. It enables learners to complete the mandatory gas safety assessments required for Gas Safe registration as part of their End-Point Assessment (EPA).

The integrated component covers two key areas:

Core Domestic Gas Safety (CCN1)
Domestic Gas Central Heating Boilers and Water Heaters (CENWAT)

Assessments are delivered using industry-recognised Blue Flame practical and knowledge tests (ISAs and QPs), ensuring compliance with Gas Safe Register competency requirements. Successful completion provides a City & Guilds certificate, recognised by EU Skills, valid for five years.

This product is not a standalone qualification; it is an assessment-only offer designed to integrate seamlessly with the EPA. Centres benefit from a streamlined process, keeping all assessments in-house and avoiding the need to use external providers. Certificates are issued digitally within 48 hours, allowing quick evidence upload to EPA Pro for final EPA sign-off.

By choosing City & Guilds for the full EPA package, centres maintain continuity, simplify administration, and support apprentices to achieve the certification required to work safely and legally as gas engineers.

For further guidance, please refer to our end-point assessment pack. This provides more detail behind the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the standard and the range of content within the standard. The EPA pack includes detailed guidance on grading criteria and suggestions for evidence the apprentice will need to produce for knowledge, skills and behaviours. You’ll find this under the ‘documents’ tab in the ‘End-point assessment EPA’ section.

EPA Pro: A market leading EPA booking system to successfully manage your apprentices’ full journey with end-point assessment. Find out more here.

EPA Support: EPA exemplar materials: available for tutors, providing real assessment examples for each assessment type, such as transcripts and model answers. This will help you to prepare apprentices and ensure they feel ready for assessment.

Recording forms: supporting you to complete key stages of EPA readiness, we have prepared forms to give you peace of mind and confidence that everything is covered. These packs include a gateway declaration form that is needed during the booking process and assessment forms, if required, that apprentices might need during assessment.

LIEPA reports: Our lead independent end assessors (LIEPAs) produce an annual report with insight into the EPA results and findings across all centres. These reports can help you refine your apprenticeship delivery to improve success rates.

Apprenticeship certification

As well as receiving their Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) apprenticeship certificate, the apprentice will receive a City & Guilds statement of achievement for end-point assessment.

We are issuing digital credentials to learners who have completed this qualification. Please add your learners’ email address during registration. A digital credential cannot be issued without the learner’s email address.

How to register

If you’re an existing City & Guilds centre or interested in becoming a centre, make sure you’ve read our EPA manual and guidance. This will explain the process and all our terms and conditions. Our short ‘how-to’ guides and videos are a great start to help you get to grips with what to expect and how to stay on track when booking EPA and preparing apprentices for assessment. You’ll find these resources in our EPA document library.

To use our quality-assured on-programme materials or end-point assessment service there are three ways to either find out more or to order what you need:

If you’re an existing City & Guilds customer, go to Walled Garden and select the materials you need or register your apprentice for end-point assessment. (You may need to submit a request to deliver if you don’t yet have approval for that standard.)
Get in touch with epapartnership@cityandguilds.com. Our team can explain our different products and services and start getting you set up as a customer or give existing customers support on the new apprenticeship arrangements.
Speak to your City & Guilds Business Manager about how to access our products or how to register your apprentices with us.

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of apprenticeship.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to WalledGarden.com and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this apprenticeship?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form.

Additional documents

Plumbing Domestic Heating Technician EPA 9289 Lauch EPA Webinar FAQs pdf 159 KB 18 Nov 2025

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