Heritage Specialist Training and Qualifications
Working with older and historic buildings requires a specific set of skills and expertise, so it is important contractors and craftspeople have training and qualifications to prove their competence. This section provides information on current training, qualifications and other skills development opportunities for early career and existing professionals in heritage construction skills.
Training and Qualifications
These heritage specialist qualifications and standards are designed by industry. These include qualifications aimed at addressing current issues affecting the heritage sector, such as training on energy efficiency measures. Please note that Historic England are not directly involved with the delivery of these qualifications.
The main heritage specialist qualification is currently the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction). This qualification has a number of pathways which cover many different construction trades, and content which focuses on heritage specific skills and training.
General / Cross-Occupational
- Level 3 Award in Understanding Repair and Maintenance of Traditional pre-1919 Buildings
- Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings
- Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Supervision (Construction) Traditional and Heritage Building
- Level 5 Apprenticeship Heritage Construction Specialist
- Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Supervision (Construction) Traditional and Heritage Building
Woodworking
- Level 2 NVQ Diploma Wood Occupations (Construction) – Heritage Architectural Joinery
- Level 2 NVQ Diploma Wood Occupations (Construction) - Heritage Site Carpentry
- Level 2 NVQ Diploma Wood Occupations (Construction) - Heritage Structural Post And Beam Carpentry
- SAP Heritage Wood Occupations
- Level 3 Diploma Underpinning Knowledge for Heritage Skills (Construction): Traditional Wood Occupations
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Wood Occupations
- Level 3 Apprenticeship Craft Carpentry and Joinery
Masonry
- Apprenticeship Stonemason Level 2
- SAP Heritage Mason
- Level 3 Diploma Underpinning Knowledge for Heritage Skills (Construction): Traditional Craft Masonry
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Brick Worker
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Dry Stone
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Earth Builder
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Mason
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Finisher
- Level 3 City & Guilds Assured Stonemasonry Heritage
- Level 3 Apprenticeship Craft Bricklayer
Roofing
- Level 2 Apprenticeship Thatcher
- SAP Heritage Metal Roofing Specialist
- SAP Heritage Hard and Soft Metals Roofing Operative
- SAP Heritage Lead Roofing Specialist
- SAP Heritage Roof Slating and Tiling
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Roof Slating and Tiling
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Lead and Hard Metal Roofing and Cladding
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Thatching
Plastering
- Level 2 Apprenticeship Plasterer
- SAP Heritage Solid Plastering
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Fiborous Plastering
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Solid Plastering
Painting and Decorating
- Level 2 NVQ Diploma Decorative Finishing and Industrial Painting Occupations (Construction) Heritage Painter
- Level 2 Apprenticeship Wall and Floor Tiling
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Facade Preservation
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Decorative Occupations
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma Heritage Skills (Construction) Wall and Floor Tiling
- Level 4 Apprenticeship Stained Glass Craftsperson
Metalwork
- Level 2 BTEC in Blacksmithing
- Level 3 BTEC in Blacksmithing and Metalwork
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction) Heritage Metalwork
- Level 3 Apprenticeship Blacksmith
Work-Based Training
Further opportunities to undertake work-based training in heritage skills can be found on our Traditional Skills Training Programmes page.
Promoting a Skilled and Qualified Workforce
Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards can demonstrate that the holder has the right skills to work on historic and traditional (pre-1919) buildings. Gold Skilled Worker cards are available for a range of traditional building skills occupations. A CSCS card may be required to work on certain heritage projects.
Completion of the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction) qualifies you to apply for the Gold Skilled Worker CSCS card.
You can find out more information about the card, qualification and training requirements, and other information on applying on the CSCS website.
