Printing (5400)

Last Updated: 21 May 2018
Focussing on the essential knowledge and skills needed to work in today's printing industry, including desk top publishing, machine printing and mechanised binding,  these qualifications will prepare the learner in order to gain employment or progress within the printing industry. 
Ideal for anyone starting out in a job in printing or for those with some experience of printing wishing to progress in their career, perhaps as a supervisor or team leader.
Available to deliver in the following:
  • England
  • Wales – please check QiW website for available funding
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

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

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

You can choose the qualification that demonstrates the specialist knowledge and skills you have developed, such as:

  • Health and safety
  • Making lithographic printing plates
  • Operating digital printing machines
  • Managing colour reproduction
  • Adhesive binding
  • Setting and running knife-trimming machinery.

You will learn on the job in the work environment.

Assessment will also take place in the workplace and will include a portfolio of evidence to meet the criteria of the qualification.

Which Level is right for me?

Level 2
You have one to two years' experience working in the print industry or are doing an apprenticeship. You want to increase your skills and take on more responsibility.

Level 3
You're an experienced specialist or supervisor in the print industry, or you're doing an advanced apprenticeship. You want to develop your practical skills further or perhaps take on a management role.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

These qualifications allow you to choose specialist pathways to help you to progress in a wide range of roles within the print industry, including:

  • Operators
  • Machinists
  • Team Leaders and Managers in Digital Pre-press
  • Machine Printing
  • Newspapers and Periodicals
  • Print Finishing
  • Mechanised Binding
  • Desktop Publishing
  • Carton Manufacture.
What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

To deliver these qualifications you will need qualified assessors - you can train internal members of staff or recruit specially.

You will also need suitable facilities to carry out the required training to enable learners to achieve industry standards.

Centres currently offering the City & Guilds Level 2 and 3 NVQ in Printing (5158) will gain automatic approval.

There are no eligibility requirements. To find all the resource requirements, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

Level 3

Level 3 is ideal if you're an experienced specialist or supervisor in the print industry, or you're doing an advanced apprenticeship. You want to develop your practical skills further or perhaps take on a management role.

There are nine qualifications available at this level. These comprise mandatory and optional units, including:

  • Contribute to improving the effectiveness of the print organisation
  • Plan work to meet production requirements
  • Promote and maintain health and safety in a print-related working environment
  • Understanding the print industry
  • Prepare inks and coatings for printing
  • Set and run in-line folding equipment
  • Manage adhesive binding machinery
  • Set and run multi-knife trimming machinery
  • Control the use of variable data with digital printing machines
  • Manage colour reproduction in digital pre-press.

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

These qualifications allow you to choose specialist pathways to help you to progress in a wide range of roles within the print industry, including:

  • Operators
  • Machinists
  • Team Leaders and Managers in Digital Pre-press
  • Machine Printing
  • Newspapers and Periodicals
  • Print Finishing
  • Mechanised Binding
  • Desktop Publishing
  • Carton Manufacture.
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Digital Pre-Press for Print - Digital Artwork (5400-30)
Last Registration Date: 31 May 2018

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Digital Pre-Press for Print - Digital Artwork

  • Accreditation No: 600/2128/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 37 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 151 - 195 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 370 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2022 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Digital Pre-Press for Print - Digital Printing (5400-31)
Last Registration Date: 31 May 2018

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Digital Pre-Press for Print - Digital Printing

  • Accreditation No: 600/2128/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 37 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 151 - 195 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 370 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2022 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Machine Printing - Sheet-Fed Lithography (5400-32)
Last Registration Date: 31 May 2018

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Machine Printing - Flexographic Printing

  • Accreditation No: 600/2130/5 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 37 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 160 - 187 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 370 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2022 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Machine Printing - Gravure Printing

  • Accreditation No: 600/2130/5 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 37 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 160 - 187 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 370 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2022 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Machine Printing - Over-Printing Machines

  • Accreditation No: 600/2130/5 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 37 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 160 - 187 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 370 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2022 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Machine Printing - Screen Printing

  • Accreditation No: 600/2130/5 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 37 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 160 - 187 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 370 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2022 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Machine Printing - Sheet-Fed Lithography

  • Accreditation No: 600/2130/5 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 37 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 160 - 187 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 370 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2022 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Machine Printing - Web Fed Lithography

  • Accreditation No: 600/2130/5 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 37 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 160 - 187 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 370 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2022 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 3 NVQ in Machine Printing - Wide Web Printing Machines (5400-33)
Last Registration Date: 31 May 2018

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Machine Printing - Wide Web Printing Machines

  • Accreditation No: 600/2130/5 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 37 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 160 - 187 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 370 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2022 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Print Finishing - General Print (5400-37)
Last Registration Date: 31 May 2018

Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Print Finishing - General Print

  • Accreditation No: 600/2129/9 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 31 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 122 - 150 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 310 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2022 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Print Finishing - Newspapers and Periodicals (5400-38)
Last Registration Date: 31 May 2018

Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Print Finishing - Newspapers and Periodicals

  • Accreditation No: 600/2129/9 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 31 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 122 - 150 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 310 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2022 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

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

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 walled-garden.com and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

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

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