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VRQ offers route to skills passport for welders

An EAL product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 29, 2004

EAL has added a Level 1 Certificate in arc welding to its range of qualifications.

EAL has added a Level 1 Certificate in arc welding to its range of qualifications.

This vocationally related qualification (VRQ) has been developed in partnership with The Welding Institute (TWI) and was launched to members of the Association for Welding and Fabrication Training and Education (AWFTE) at its annual conference on 16th October.

The certificate is designed to provide a measure of underpinning knowledge within welder approval testing.

Health and safety features strongly in the VRQ which comprises five mandatory assessment routes plus one optional route chosen from MMA, MIG/MAG or TIG.

Notionally 90 guided learning hours are assigned to this post-16 qualification, making it suitable for delivery at evening classes or as a block.

It is open both to those in employment and those seeking to enter the trade.

Employees may take a practical test related to their actual work and candidates not in relevant employment take a set practical test in the training provider's workshop.

Successful VRQ candidates may then apply to TWI for a licence to practice which acts as a "skills passport".

Tim Jessop, Director of Professional Services at TWI, said: "TWI welcomes this important VRQ".

"It deals with basic arc welding knowledge and skills which, until now, have largely been ignored".

"It also complies with the new National Welder Training Standard, Code of Practice 1 developed by the Association for Welding and Fabrication Training and Education (AWFTE)".

EAL's Level 1 Certificate has the full support of the CITB Construction-Skills which recognises the qualification as proof of practical skill and knowledge to the industry standard at this level.

Colin Bray, Senior Instructor in Plant Maintenance Training at the CITB Construction-Skills National Construction College, commented: "This qualification has been needed for a long time and we're very positive about it".

"The National Construction College is looking forward to becoming an EAL approved assessment centre and plans to start delivering the Level 1 Certificate in arc welding from January next year".

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