Do You Have to Be a Plumber to Train as a Gas Engineer?

Plumbing and gas engineering are two very attractive career paths. Both trades come with relatively lucrative salaries and good workplace flexibility.

If you're interested in becoming a gas engineer, you might have found your way to this blog post by researching about what kind of qualifications you need to get started. So, exactly what qualifications do you need to be a gas engineer?

What qualifications do you need to be a gas engineer?

To become a qualified gas engineer, you will first need to obtain a recognised industry qualification (for example an NVQ or diploma). There are many gas courses available at a range of different levels - some courses are simply designed to teach you the basic principles of gas work, while other more in-depth courses will teach you more complex stuff and equip you with a broader array of skills.

Working as a gas engineer is a big responsibility; gas is a potentially hazardous material to work with, so it's important for all gas engineers to be registered with Gas Safe. The Gas Safe Register is the official gas registration body for all businesses and engineers in the UK. It is illegal to practice any kind of gas work without holding proof of registration (and a valid qualification, of course).

Do you need to be a plumber to train as a gas engineer? Can I train as both?

The short answer is no, you don't need to have any experience as a plumber to train as a gas engineer. You can become a gas engineer with an entry-level qualification that covers the basic key principles and theories of gas work, with no plumbing knowledge required.

To become a practising gas engineer, it's not a prerequisite to have any knowledge of plumbing; however, there are many tradespeople who have more than one area of expertise. This is reflected in the range of courses we offer here at Access Training - if you want to pursue a career as both a plumber and a gas engineer, there are a number of courses available that allow you to learn both trades. Read on to find out more.

How can I become a qualified gas engineer?

As discussed above, its more than possible to become a qualified gas engineer with no experience at all. If you're interested in becoming a gas engineer but don't have any previous experience or qualifications, our Essential Gas Course will be perfect for you. In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of gas engineering; this course is designed to help beginners build up confidence in the basic skills required to become a practising gas engineer.

Essential Gas Engineer Course

If you want to become both a qualified plumber and a qualified gas engineer, Access Training offers a course that's perfect for you: our Premier Gas Course. This course will give you a firm understanding of gas work and the theory behind it, as well as teaching you how to manage a range of basic plumbing tasks.

If you're hoping to become a tradesperson who offers a wide range of services, or if you just want to have as much knowledge under your belt as possible, click the link below to find out more about how this course can help you progress your career.

Premier Gas and Plumbing Course

Alternatively, if you're looking to pursue a career as a plumber but are also hoping to gain a basic understanding of the necessities of gas work, we've got another course that's ideal for you. Our Premier Plumbing & Heating Engineer Course covers everything you'll need to become a proficient plumber, as well as a gas fitter!

Premier Plumbing & Heating Course

We hope this blog has given you all the necessary resources to successfully answer the question of how to become a gas engineer! If you have any questions about any of our gas engineer courses or want help deciding which course would be best for you, contact us today and our team will help you out.

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READ MORE: Am I Too Old to Learn a Trade?