Is there an age limit for training as a gas engineer?

While in an ideal world we would all know instantly what profession we wanted to enter when we left education the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. It can take many years for people to discover their dream job or realise how they can utilise their skills in the best way. Thankfully, as far as the gas industry is concerned, it’s never too late to come on-board.

Whether you’ve been made redundant from your current job and are looking for a new challenge or simply would like to switch careers, the gas industry is very flexible. There are no restrictions on age when it comes to formal training, as long as you’ve acquired the necessary skills and remain physically capable of doing the work then you’re suitable.

In fact, prior experience in one of the gas industry’s complimentary sectors such as plumbing, pipe fitting and refridgeration engineering can be of great benefit if you decide to re-train as a heating engineer and will actually shorten study time. It will also allow you to broaden your horizons in terms of the services you provide if you decide to become self-employed later down the line.

Here at Gas Training and Assessment , we split all our trainees into two categories. Our category two entrants are those who have previously worked as plumbers or pipe fitters and have pipework experience while category three entrants are those who are just starting out or switching careers from a completely different field of work. Category two students must obtain a minimum of three months on-site experience while category three students should complete at least six months. Both categories will be required to complete a day release theory course for 14 weeks.

All being well, a category two trainee gas engineer who is working alongside a qualified engineer can gain the full qualification within four or five months. This is highly attractive for mature students who want to re-train but need to earn a salary in a reasonable amount of time.

The hurdle for anyone wanting to become a gas engineer is obtaining suitable work experience in the first place and gaining a placement with a good firm to learn the practical skills needed. Aspiring gas engineers are advised to do their homework and ensure they introduce themselves to as many companies as possible to increase their chances of a placement or apprenticeship.

To find out further about our gas training courses here at Gas Training & Assessment then please call us on 01268 727797