Plumbing Courses & Exam Revision
Revision notes written by working plumbers for students on UK plumbing courses. They do not replace your college’s materials or the awarding body’s specification, which are what your exams are set from, but they explain the topics students most often find hard in the language we use on site.
How the levels fit together
Level 1 is an introduction: tools, safe working, basic pipework and how water gets around a house. Level 2 is the foundation of the trade: cold and hot water, sanitation, central heating and drainage, with real installation skills. Level 3 is where you design, commission and fault-find whole systems, and it is the level most employers expect for a fully qualified plumber. Courses are offered by City & Guilds, EAL and other awarding bodies, through colleges, private training centres and apprenticeships; the course codes change every few years, so always check the current specification with your college.
Exams and practical assessments
Most courses mix online multiple-choice tests, written exams, practical tasks in a workshop bay, and, on work-based routes, a portfolio of evidence from real jobs. The guides in this section focus on the knowledge tests. For the practical side, there is no substitute for hours on the tools.
Guides
Level 1 Plumbing: What You Learn and How to Pass
On a Level 1 plumbing course? The topics it covers, the tools you will use, the terms to learn first and how to get ready for Level 2 or an apprenticeship.
Level 2 Plumbing Revision: Topics Examiners Ask About
Revising for a Level 2 plumbing exam? Cold and hot water, backflow, sanitation, waste pipe sizes, heating and drainage explained, with memory aids.
Level 3 Plumbing Revision: Design, Unvented and Faults
Level 3 plumbing exam notes: unvented hot water safety, system design, heating controls, environmental technologies and a fault-finding method for site.
Plumbing Apprenticeship in London: How to Get One
How plumbing apprenticeships work in London, who they suit, what employers look for and how to stand out when you apply. Written by working London plumbers.
Questions people ask
Which plumbing qualification should I start with?
Most people with no experience start on a Level 1 or Level 2 college course, or go straight into a Level 2 or Level 3 apprenticeship if they can find an employer. Adults changing career often take a Level 2 course part time while working as a plumber's mate to build up site evidence.
Can I become a plumber with a short course?
A few weeks in a training centre teaches the basics, but it does not make you employable on its own. Employers look for a recognised Level 2 or Level 3 qualification and, just as much, for evidence that you have done the work on real jobs. Be wary of courses that promise full qualification in weeks.
Does Emergency Plumb take on trainees?
Have a look at our jobs page for what we are looking for at the moment, and send a note with your course and level.