Course Genie

Level 3 Diploma in Fabricating Steel Structures in Construction

Accredited by ProQual

The Level 3 Diploma in Fabricating Steel Structures in Construction is the advanced qualification for experienced steel fabricators, and it is the route to the CSCS Gold Advanced Craft card. It is competence-based: you prove you can already work at an advanced level, assessed against national standards from your own workplace, with no exams. The whole qualification is completed remotely.

It is aimed at fabricators producing structural steelwork: reading fabrication drawings, marking out, cutting, drilling, assembling and welding structural sections and plate, and checking finished fabrications against specification. At Level 3 the focus is on complex fabrications, tight tolerances and taking responsibility for quality.

This qualification is awarded by ProQual and regulated by Ofqual (qualification number 603/3163/X). It is made up of core units covering health and safety, efficient working and resource handling, plus fabrication units matched to the structural steelwork you produce.

Completing the qualification, together with a pass in the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test at the level for your occupation, lets you apply for the CSCS Gold Advanced Craft card. The CSCS Cards guide explains how the card, the qualification and the test fit together.

If you erect steelwork on site rather than fabricate it, look at the ECITB Level 2 Erecting Steelwork Components and ECITB Level 3 Steel Erecting NVQs, or Architectural Metalwork for installation work. You can also browse the full range of construction NVQs.

Who it's for

  • Experienced steel fabricators producing structural steelwork
  • Fabricators working from drawings to tight tolerances
  • Workshop fabricator welders assembling structural sections and plate
  • Fabricators responsible for checking work against specification
  • Experienced workers with no formal qualification for what they do
  • Self-employed fabricators wanting nationally recognised proof of competence
  • Fabricators who need the Gold Advanced Craft card

Entry requirements

  • You must be working in steel fabrication at an advanced level with enough work to evidence your competence
  • Relevant hands-on trade experience is expected
  • 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 the CSCS card, you also pass the CITB HS&E test at the level for your occupation

What you'll achieve

  • The Level 3 Diploma in Fabricating Steel Structures in Construction, regulated by Ofqual (number 603/3163/X)
  • Nationally recognised proof that you are an advanced steel fabricator
  • Eligibility for the CSCS Gold Advanced Craft card, taken with the CITB HS&E test
  • A card recognised on nearly every UK construction site
  • Recognition by steelwork contractors and main contractors
  • A qualification that matches the advanced experience you already have
  • Completed entirely remotely, with no exams and no time away from work
  • A portfolio of evidence demonstrating advanced competence against national standards
  • A stronger position for structural and precision fabrication work
  • A foundation for progression to supervisory qualifications

What's covered

1
Health, safety and welfare
Working safely in fabrication workshops and on site.
2
Working efficiently and productively
Planning fabrication work and meeting programme and tolerance.
3
Moving, handling and storing resources
Handling sections, plate and consumables safely.
4
Interpreting fabrication drawings
Reading and working from fabrication drawings and specifications.
5
Marking out and cutting structural steel
Marking out, cutting and drilling sections and plate.
6
Assembling and welding steel structures
Assembling and welding fabrications to specification.
7
Checking and finishing fabrications
Inspecting finished work against drawing and specification.

How to enrol

  1. 1 Enquire using the button above and we'll get you enrolled. 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.

Level 3 Diploma in Fabricating Steel Structures in Construction FAQs

It is a competence-based qualification that proves you are an advanced steel fabricator. You demonstrate marking out, cutting, assembly and welding of structural steelwork using evidence from your own work, with no exams. The ProQual qualification number is 603/3163/X.
It is the route to the CSCS Gold Advanced Craft card. To get the card you complete the qualification and pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test at the level for your occupation. CSCS cards are valid for five years.
Fabricators. It covers producing structural steelwork in the workshop or on site. If you erect steelwork, the ECITB steel erecting NVQs listed on this page are the right route instead.
Yes. Welding carried out as part of fabricating structural steelwork counts, along with marking out, cutting, drilling and assembly. Welder approval tests are separate and are not required for the NVQ itself.
It is assessed remotely against national standards. You build an online portfolio of evidence from your day-to-day work, including photographs and videos of your work, and you have professional discussions with your assessor by video call. There are no written exams and no site visits.
Yes. The whole qualification is completed remotely. You build your portfolio online and your assessor supports you by video call and email, so there are no site visits and no time away from work. You can complete it from anywhere in the UK.
Most delegates complete it in around eight to twelve weeks. The pace depends on you: the sooner you can document your evidence with your assessor, the sooner you finish. There are no fixed start dates.
No. The NVQ is assessed remotely from your own workplace, so there are no classes to attend and no time away from the job.
Yes. Self-employed tradespeople are well suited to the NVQ, because you evidence your competence from your own jobs. You just need enough relevant work to cover the qualification standards.
Yes. The NVQ is designed for experienced workers who can already do the job but have never been formally qualified. It recognises the skills you have built up through real work.
There are no formal entry qualifications. You do need to be working in steel fabrication with enough hands-on work to evidence your competence.
It is awarded by ProQual and regulated by Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. The qualification number is 603/3163/X.
Price is on request for this qualification. Use the enquiry button on this page and we will come back to you within one working day with a quote. The quote includes everything: registration, assessor support, the portfolio system and certification.
You build an online portfolio from your real work: photographs and videos of your work, records of professional discussions held by video call, and witness statements from colleagues or supervisors.
You enrol online, complete a short skill scan form so we can confirm this is the right qualification for you, get registered with ProQual, and your assessor gets in touch to start building your portfolio. Enrolment is immediate, with no fixed start dates.
Yes. CSCS cards are valid for five years and are then renewed. The NVQ qualification itself does not expire.

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