Course Genie

NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Construction Contracting Operations

Accredited by ProQual

The NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Construction Contracting Operations is the qualification that proves you are competent in a construction contracting or commercial role, such as estimating, buying, planning or surveying. It is awarded by ProQual and regulated by Ofqual (qualification number 603/0357/8). It sits at Level 3 on the regulated qualifications framework, and it is completed remotely.

It is aimed at the office and site-technical side of construction rather than a trade on the tools, for people such as estimators, buyers, planners, quantity surveyors, design co-ordinators and site technical support staff. An NVQ is competence-based, so instead of written exams you prove you can already do the role, assessed from your own work.

The qualification is built around seven pathways, and you take the one that matches your job: Estimating, Buying, Planning, Surveying, Design co-ordinating, Site technical support, or General. You complete the mandatory units plus the units for your pathway, so the qualification reflects the contracting work you actually do. The total qualification time is around 900 to 940 hours depending on the pathway.

It is a recognised Level 3 qualification for construction contracting and commercial roles and can support a CSCS card for your occupation. The CSCS Cards guide explains which card matches your role and how the qualification and the CITB HS&E test fit together.

Experienced staff can progress to the Level 6 Construction Contracting Operations Management NVQ, the route to the CSCS Black Manager card, or move towards site supervision with the Level 3 Occupational Work Supervision NVQ. You can also browse the full range of construction NVQs.

Who it's for

  • Estimators, buyers, planners and quantity surveyors in construction
  • Design co-ordinators and site technical support staff
  • Construction office and commercial staff who need a recognised Level 3 qualification
  • People in a contracting role who have the skills but not the formal qualification
  • Staff working towards a CSCS card for a technical or commercial construction role
  • Self-employed contracting professionals wanting nationally recognised proof of competence
  • Staff planning to progress into construction contracting management

Entry requirements

  • You must be working in a construction contracting or commercial role
  • Enough relevant work to evidence your competence on your chosen pathway
  • Access to live work throughout to gather evidence
  • There are no formal entry qualifications and no written exams
  • You work with a qualified assessor who supports you remotely
  • A commitment to build an online portfolio of evidence from your work
  • For a CSCS card you also pass the CITB HS&E test at the level for your role

What you'll achieve

  • The NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Construction Contracting Operations, regulated by Ofqual (number 603/0357/8)
  • Nationally recognised proof that you are competent in your contracting role
  • The pathway that matches your job, from estimating and buying to planning and surveying
  • Support for a CSCS card appropriate to your construction role
  • A qualification that matches the contracting work you already do
  • Completed entirely remotely, with no exams and no time away from work
  • A portfolio of evidence demonstrating competence against national standards
  • A foundation for progression to construction contracting management at Level 6

What's covered

1
Health, safety and welfare
Maintaining health, safety and welfare in the contracting work you carry out.
2
Working relationships
Developing and maintaining productive working relationships with the project team.
3
Estimating
Preparing and submitting estimates and pricing, on the Estimating pathway.
4
Buying and procurement
Sourcing, buying and controlling materials and supplies, on the Buying pathway.
5
Planning and programming
Planning and programming the works, on the Planning pathway.
6
Surveying and measurement
Measuring, valuing and surveying the works, on the Surveying pathway.
7
Design co-ordination
Co-ordinating design information, on the Design co-ordinating pathway.
8
Site technical support
Providing technical support to the site, on the Site technical support pathway.

How to enrol

  1. 1 Book and pay securely online using the button above. Enrolment is immediate, with no fixed start dates.
  2. 2 We send you a short skill scan form to confirm your experience and that this is the right qualification for you.
  3. 3 We register you with ProQual.
  4. 4 Your assessor gets in touch to get you started and guide you through building your portfolio remotely.

NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Construction Contracting Operations FAQs

It is a competence-based qualification that proves you are skilled in a construction contracting or commercial role such as estimating, buying, planning or surveying. You evidence your competence from your own work, with no exams. The ProQual qualification number is 603/0357/8.
You take the pathway that matches your job: Estimating, Buying, Planning, Surveying, Design co-ordinating, Site technical support or General. Your assessor confirms the right pathway from the work you do.
No. It is for the contracting and commercial side of construction, the office and site-technical roles, rather than a trade on the tools. There are separate trade NVQs for bricklaying, carpentry and so on.
It is a recognised Level 3 qualification that can support a CSCS card for your occupation. The exact card depends on your role, so check the CSCS Cards guide and the card scheme rules for your job.
It is assessed remotely against national standards. You build an online portfolio of evidence from your work and have professional discussions with your assessor by video call. There are no written exams.
It depends on your role and evidence. The qualification carries a total qualification time of around 900 to 940 hours depending on the pathway, a notional measure of all the learning it represents rather than time off the job.
Yes. The whole qualification is completed remotely. You build your portfolio online and your assessor supports you by video call and email.
There are no formal entry qualifications. You do need to be working in a construction contracting or commercial role with enough work to evidence your competence.
This NVQ is awarded by ProQual and regulated by Ofqual. The qualification number is 603/0357/8.
The cost varies by provider, and CITB-registered employers may be able to claim grant funding. Compare live prices at the top of this page.
Experienced staff can progress to the Level 6 Construction Contracting Operations Management NVQ, the route to the CSCS Black Manager card.
You enrol and pay online, complete a short skills scan form, get registered with ProQual, and your assessor gets in touch to start building your portfolio.

Other ProQual NVQs

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