Gas service technician
Gas installation engineer, gas maintenance engineer
Gas service technicians install, service and repair gas appliances and heating systems.
Salary Range: £12,000 to £38,000
How to become a gas service technician
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- assessment of experience by a professional body
College
You could start with a college course like Level 2 Diploma in Plumbing and Heating. This would teach you some of the skills needed for the job and could help when you apply for a trainee position with a company.
To fully qualify as a gas service technician, you’ll need a recognised gas industry qualification like:
- Level 3 Domestic Natural Gas Installation
- Level 3 Diploma in Gas Utilisation Installation and Maintenance
You would usually need to be working to complete the level 3 qualification.
You should choose a course that includes work placements, or try to find a job with a gas servicing firm soon after starting your course.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
More information
Apprenticeship
You can train as a gas service technician by doing an advanced apprenticeship in gas engineering.
This will usually take 18 months to complete. You’ll do on-the-job training and spend time at a college or training provider.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More information
Other routes
You may be able to have your experience and skills assessed through the Accredited Certification Scheme to get a recognised competency certificate.
This assessment is aimed at experienced engineers who work in related industries, like plumbing or heating and ventilation.
More information
Further information
You can get more advice about careers in the gas industry from Talent Source Network.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- customer service skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- knowledge of building and construction
- analytical thinking skills
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- persistence and determination
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and requirements
You’ll need to:
- be on the Gas Safe Register to work with domestic gas heating systems
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties might include:
- installing appliances and systems
- carrying out planned maintenance checks on systems and equipment
- testing controls and safety devices to make sure they’re working properly
- finding and repairing gas leaks using computerised fault-finding equipment
- replacing or repairing faulty or old parts
- ordering new parts
- keeping records of work you’ve carried out
- giving customers advice about gas safety and energy efficiency
Working environment
You could work at a client’s business or at a client’s home.
Your working environment may be physically demanding, at height and cramped.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could move into gas engineering, or supervisory and management roles.
You could also set up your own gas fitting business, but you’d need considerable experience to do this.