Get Registered as a Gas Engineer

To get on the Gas Safe Register you need to have certificates of competence in each area of gas work you intend to operate. To get these certificates of competence, you must be able to demonstrate gas safety competence by successfully completing nationally agreed assessments, carried out at an Approved Assessment Centre.

However, it’s not as simple as just booking a training course and then sitting an assessment. To begin with, before being able to take an assessment, you must be able to prove gas industry experience and qualifications held.

You will most probably be classed as either a category three or a category two entrant. Category one entrants are very experienced and seeking to renew expired certificates, extend their range of work, or in the case of foreign nationals, obtain certificates that allow them to meet UK gas work requirements.

New to Gas - Category 3:

You must seek training and experience that will result in the attainment of an NVQ in Gas Services, Installation and Maintenance at Level 2 or 3, plus the related on the job gas training and experience so you can apply as a category two entrant. Or…

Obtain employment with a Gas Safe registered business/installer that is willing to provide an auditable extended period of “in house” gas training. You must check with the Gas Safe Register but usually you can apply after 140 days of relevant gas experience (proved with a portfolio of your work).

70 days experience or more - Category 2:

You must provide written evidence that you’ve had more than 70 days ‘on the job’ gas installation and/or maintenance training, attained under direct supervision of a Gas Safe registered company. Such written evidence will need to be provided from the employer and detail precisely the areas of gas work undertaken.

What can gas installers earn?

The average gas installer employed by a mainly domestic company will earn in the region of £25,000 - £30,000 after just a couple of years experience.

A self-employed gas installer can earn a lot more. The amount you earn also depends on what area you’re working in. A commercial or industrial gas engineer will earn a lot more than a domestic.

Also how much effort you put in. If you are working 12 hour shifts six or seven days a week of course you will earn a lot more and £70,000 is very achievable.

Becoming Qualified

The industry recognised entry-level qualification is an NVQ level 2 in Gas Services, Installation and Maintenance.

Most young people entering the industry follow an apprenticeship route; leading to an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) Unfortunately, NVQs and apprenticeships are only available to those in employment or working on-site.

If you are an adult career changer, whilst it is possible to start from scratch and train to become a Gas Installer/Engineer, because of the restrictions imposed by regulation you will need to be employed by a Gas Safe registered contracting firm while you train.

Because the entry criteria is strict and requires relevant gas experience, many people enter the industry after gaining experience, and perhaps qualifications, in a related area such as plumbing, heating and ventilation fitting, or welding.

You can then either gain employment with, or work alongside a Gas Safe registered contractor while you gain an NVQ Level 2 and 70 days site-based experience of gas work (to qualify as a category two entrant), or not bother with the NVQ and obtain 140 days relevant site-based gas related experience which will allow you to qualify as a category three entrant.