In Summary
Construction plant fitters are generally employed in the construction industry. The vast ranges of equipment within the industry requires that the plant fitter will be multi-skilled in the maintenance and repair of mobile equipment such as diggers, cranes, bulldozers and dumper trucks, as well as equipment that usually stays in one place such as electrical generators, pumps, air compressors and even massive concrete mixing installations.
The ability to diagnose and rectify electrical faults in plant and to carry out welding and fitting repairs is also within the scope of the construction plant fitter. Because of the high cost of "machine time" the major part of the maintenance and repair work is carried out on site.
With this four-year apprenticeship, you will become a fully qualified construction plant fitter, with a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft – Construction Plant Fitting.
You may then choose to either work as a construction plant fitter in the construction and engineering industries.
Many apprentices use their apprenticeship qualification as a platform to launch careers such as engineers, managers, self-employed business owners, technical trainers, instructors, lecturers, teachers amongst others.
Access the SIMI Aprenticeship Kit here
Click on the photo above to view the Construction Plant Fitter brochure.
To view full details of this occupation, view information from our Careers database for the following occupation: Construction Plant Fitting
Entry Requirements
The minimum age at which the employment of an apprentice may commence is 16 years of age.
The minimum educational requirements are:
Grade D or "Achieved" in five subjects in the Department of Education & Skills Junior Certificate Examination or an approved equivalent,
or
The successful completion of an approved Pre-Apprenticeship course,
or
Three years’ work experience gained over sixteen years of age in a relevant designated industrial activity as SOLAS shall deem acceptable.
You must obtain a job as an apprentice in your chosen occupation. Your employer must be approved to train apprentices and must register you as an apprentice within 2 weeks of recruitment.
In this apprenticeship applicants are required to pass a colour vision test approved by SOLAS.
Note: These are the current approved minimum educational requirements for apprenticeship programmes, however, previous experience of the following subjects would be an advantage but not essential:
- Mathematics
- Technical Drawing/Graphics
- Metalwork
- Technology
- Physics
Training
Phase 1: With Employer
- Induction Training
- Introduction to Health & Safety
- Introduction to Tools & Equipment
- Introduction to Basic Skills
Phase 2: Delivered in Training Centre (20 weeks)
Course Content:
- Induction
- Engines
- Transmissions
- Plant Electrics
- Hydraulics
- Plant Vehicles
- Small Plant
- Related Theory
Phase 3: With Employer
- Work Based Training and Assessments
Phase 4: Delivered in Educational Colleges (10 weeks)
Course Content:
- Engines
- Transmissions
- Plant Electrics
- Hydraulics
- Plant Vehicles
- Small Plant
- Related Theory
Phase 5: With Employer
- Work Based Training and Assessments
Phase 6: Delivered in Educational Colleges (10 weeks)
Course Content:
- Engines
- Transmissions
- Plant Electrics
- Hydraulics
- Wheeled and Tracked Plant
- Related Theory
Phase 7: With Employer
- Work Based Training and Assessments
The overall duration of this apprenticeship is a minimum of 4 years provided all phases are successfully completed.
On successful completion of the programme the learner is awarded a Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft - Construction Plant Fitting
For more information contact your local Educatuin & Training Board:
- Donegal ETB
- City of Dublin ETB
- Cavan & Monaghan ETB
- Limerick & Clare ETB
- Kilkenny & Carlow ETB
- Dublin & Dun Laoghaire ETB
- Longford & Westmeath ETB
- Cork ETB
- Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim ETB
- Laois & Offaly ETB
- Kildare & Wicklow ETB
- Kerry ETB
- Galway & Roscommon ETB
- Waterford & Wexford ETB
- Tipperary ETB
- Louth & Meath ETB
Skills & Qualities
As a Construction Plant Fitter you will need to be physically active and to be able to work with your hands.
An awareness of health and safety and good housekeeping is essential as well as attention to detail.
The Construction Plant Fitter must have the ability to:
- Plan and organise
- Communicate effectively
- Solve problems
- Work independently and as part of a team
- Show a positive attitude
- Recognise the need for good customer relations
- Demonstrate good work practices including time keeping, tidiness, responsibility, quality awareness and safety awareness
Core Skills
Procedures for:
- Disassembling and assembling
- F-gas: Describe the overall aim of Regulation No. 842/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 of May 2006 in relation to the air conditioning systems of automotive vehicles (MACs).
- List the dangers to personal health and related safety regulations related to the refrigerant gas contained in mobile air conditioning (MAC) systems.
- Describe the location of possible leaks of refrigerant gas from an automotive air con unit.
- Fault finding and diagnosing
- Inspecting and repairing
- Servicing and maintaining
- Overhauling
- Computer operating
Specialist Skills
Repair and maintenance of:
- Tracked vehicles
- Small two-stroke engines
- Mobile hydraulic systems
- Single cylinder diesel engines
- Mobile air compressors
- Power-shift transmissions
- Torque-converters
- Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) systems.
Discuss and demonstrate best practice for handling of F-gases storage cylinders, the safe recovery and disposal of F-gas. Perform full servicing of an air conditioning system of an automotive vehicle to include: leak detection, recovery, vacuum and refill.
Common Skills
Servicing, repair and overhaul of:
- Electrical systems
- Brake systems
- Transmissions
- Suspension systems
- Diesel fuel systems
- Petrol fuel systems
- Steering
- Engines
- Safety procedures
Note: A person wishing to become an apprentice Construction Plant Fitter must pass a colour–vision test approved by SOLAS.
Personal Skills
- Communication
- Customer relations
- Adaptability
- Ability to work as a team member
- Ability to work independently
- Problem solving
- Planning and organisation
- Information gathering
- Report writing
- Interpretation and application of data
Work Activities
- Carrying out the routine service procedures as recommended by the manufacturers
- Diagnosing and resolving problems with the operation of the mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical systems of machines and equipment such as tracked excavators, forklifts, cranes etc.
- Carrying out all work in accordance with manufacturer’s recommended procedures.
- Learning and developing new craft-related skills, knowledge and competence.
- Working with and learning from experienced Craftspersons
- Comply with Health and Safety requirements
- Working with machines and mechanical equipment
- Accepting responsibility for the quality of own work
- Being physically active
- Using the special service tools, materials and equipment
- Reading and interpreting technical instructions and diagrams
- Diagnose and repair mechanical and electrical systems
- Dismantling, examining and re-assembling mechanical systems and components
- Testing electrical and electronic systems and components
- Record and communicate accurate work records or reports
- Taking responsibility for own learning, including the allocation of study time
- Being responsible for controlling or adjusting the operation of equipment
- Driving machines/vehicles
- Working evenings or weekends
- Passing all your phase exams (theory, practicals, skills demonstration)
- Earning as you learn
Career Progression
On successful completion of the apprenticeship programme, apprentices are qualified to work within the recognised trade or profession.
Opportunities arise from time-to-time for promotion to supervisor level. Many craftspersons use their apprenticeship qualification as a platform to launch careers such as engineers, managers, owners of businesses, teachers and instructors amongst others.
Where apprentices and crafts persons have the necessary ability, initiative and basic qualifications, opportunities are available for advancement. These include advanced technological and management courses which are available in institutes of technology, schools of management, professional institutes, etc.
Note: People in employment have a number of options for both Educational and Career Progression. It might also be possible to gain promotion within your existing company. By using your existing qualifications and your experience you might to able to secure an alternative position in a more senior role in another company.
It may also be possible to set up your own company based again on your existing qualifications and experience. Whatever route you decide to take remember education is a lifelong pursuit and you can always continue to up skill and/or retrain, whatever your age. Links to some educational and enterprise supports can be found below.
Career Progression Useful Links:
Educational Supports: On completion of an apprenticeship your educational progression options may be offered as full awards on the NFQ levels 7-10 National Framework.
You may also decide to embark on a partial award or to up skill in a particular area by undertaking a short specialised course. Depending on your skills, knowledge and experience some of the opportunities below might be appropriate to help develop your Career pathway.
- Springboard & conversion courses
- Skillnet Sector learning network courses
- Skills to advance Local ETB Board
- Further education training centres Fetchcourses
- Post graduate education Search Post Graduate options
Enterprise and Self-Employment Support:
On completion of an apprenticeship if you feel you have the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience you may decide to set up your own business. The links below might be useful to support you’re here
- Local Enterprise Offices, For profit Local enterprise support
- Local Area partnerships For profit enterprise support
- Social entrepreneurs: Not-for-profit enterprise support
- Franchising: Developing your business under an established franchise
Getting an Apprenticeship
To become an apprentice in Ireland you must be hired by an employer. Apprenticeship employers are formally approved by SOLAS in advance of employing apprentices. Apprentices get a formal contract of employment as part of their apprenticeship.
Opportunities for this Apprenticeship arise on an ongoing basis throughout the year. In order to secure an apprenticeship contract of employment, you should target companies you would like to do your apprenticeship with by applying directly to them.
Full eligibility criteria for this apprenticeship are available in the Construction Plant Fitter brochure.
To find an apprenticeship, you can search apprenticeship vacancies and a list of currently approved apprentice employers on the Apprenticeship Jobs & Employers Portal. You can search for vacancies by location, and employers in each apprenticeship.
Use this link to explore a list of Approved Employers by Region and by Apprenticeship type.
Colour vision requirements
Construction and Plant Fitter Apprenticeship applicants may be required to pass a colour vision test approved by SOLAS.
Finding an employer and securing your apprenticeship
Finding an employer or registering your interest with an official Coordinating Provider is one of the first things you need to do to start an apprenticeship.
Opportunities for this apprenticeship may be available from the following organisations:
Opportunities for this apprenticeship may be available from the following organisations:
Online Jobsites
Here are some direct links to employment websites that frequently list apprenticeship vacancies.
Note: These websites may include vacancies that are not QQI accredited Apprenticeships.
Below are the results for an Apprentice from indeed.ie.
Pay & Fees
As an apprentice, you earn while you learn.
Employment Salary (On-the-job)
The employer pays you a salary while you are being trained on-the-job. The rate of pay is agreed between you and your employer.
Training Allowance (Off-the-job)
A training allowance is paid by the local Education and Training Board (ETB) while you are attending the off-the-job training. In some cases, a contribution towards travel or accommodation costs may be paid.
The sector the apprentice's employer is engaged in will determine the allowance payable. These allowances are calculated on the gross wages paid by industry in each sector. The weekly gross wage norms for different industries are listed below.
Information on taxation of off-the-job payments can be found here.
FEES
Apprentices complete two of their three phases of off-the-job training in a higher education institution. A student contribution must be paid for this part of the training.
The amount of the student contribution is a proportion of the annual student contribution paid by students who are attending a full-time course in higher education. The student contribution is paid directly to the higher education institution.
The student contribution for this apprenticeship is €1,000 for Phase 4 and €1,000 for Phase 6
