Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician Apprentice

Key activities are: the design, installation, routine maintenance, reactive service, commissioning and de-commissioning of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump systems. Technicians require a thorough competency in their understanding of the engineering principles of thermodynamics and the vapour compression cycle in order to perform operations.

During on-programme training apprentices must achieve the mandatory qualifications “Level 2 Certificate in F Gas and ODS Regulations Category 1, a Level 2 NVQ Diploma in either Refrigeration or Air Conditioning and a level 3 Diploma in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning” as defined in the apprenticeship standard. The F Gas Certificate, Level 2 and Level 3 certificates must be submitted as part of the Gateway.

What attendance is required?

A 36 month apprenticeship programme delivered on a day-release basis (one day per week) at City of Portsmouth College's North Harbour Campus in North Harbour, Portsmouth.
Following successful completion of the course and End Point Assessment you will achieve the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician apprenticeship standard which includes a Level 2 NVQ Diploma in either Refrigeration or Air Conditioning, a level 3 Diploma in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning and an F-Gas Handling Fluorinated Gases and Ozone-Depleting Substances Category 1 certificate.

Learning and assessment

The Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician is a specialist occupation involved in planning, preparing and safely carrying out work activities in process, product and space cooling. Knowledge must be transferrable between any of the core activities of refrigeration, air conditioning or heat pumps.

Apprentices will spend typically 36 months on-programme working towards the apprenticeship standard, with a minimum of six hours a week off-the-job training. Off the job can consist (but is not an exhaustive list) of college attendance, homework/coursework, project related work, employer training, mentoring, and coaching.

First 24 months will be spent learning the basics of being a Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician. By the end of the first 24 months the apprentice will have achieved the Level 2 NVQ that incorporates the F Gas and ODS Regulations Category 1, they must pass this to then progress onto the final 12 months which solidifies the Level 3 learning and ensures they can progress after the apprenticeship to a Supervisory role. They will cover heat load calculations, air conditioning systems etc. This ensures the apprentices finishes the education completely and so gains more employability prospects.

End-point Assessment (final 3-6 months) - apprenticeship results and grading is generated on aggregate of three assessment methods

• Knowledge and skills test - an online multiple-choice exam assessing across the knowledge requirements of the Standard.
• Practical test - takes between 14-18 hours to complete and can be carried out over a maximum of three days. It is anticipated that a minimum of 14 hours should be allowed in order to carry out all of the test tasks specified adequately. Practical tests must be written by the EPAO in line with the specification in this End-point Assessment Plan.
• Professional interview - a focused interview with an Independent Assessor appointed by the EPAO enabling the apprentice to give evidence verbally of how they have applied the required knowledge, skills and behaviours through their work experience, drawing on examples from their Apprentice Development Journal synopsis. The synopsis itself will not be assessed as part of the Interview and will not contribute to the grading of the apprenticeship.

Performance in the EPA will determine the apprenticeship grade of Distinction, Merit, Pass or Fail.

We are not just interested in training you; we want to see you thrive. As you gain skills and confidence, we’ll support your growth within the company, and it is hoped after the apprenticeship you decide to stay with us as a full-time employee. Additional technical training can be provided, including manufacturers courses and professional development.