Yes. This is a competence-based NVQ assessed through workplace evidence.

Do I need to be employed?

You need a suitable workplace role (employed or otherwise) where you can generate the required evidence.

Construction Trades and Building Envelope

Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Wall and Floor Tiling (Construction)

A work-based qualification confirming competence in preparing backgrounds and fixing wall and floor tiles safely to specification.

Overview

The Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Wall and Floor Tiling (Construction) recognises occupational competence in preparing surfaces and installing wall and floor tiles in real construction workplaces. It is intended for tilers working on new-build, refurbishment, maintenance and repair projects.

The qualification confirms that a learner can interpret job information, organise materials, prepare new or existing backgrounds, set out tiled areas, cut and fix tiles, form details around openings and drainage points, finish joints and protect completed work. It also covers construction health and safety, productive working practices and the movement, handling and storage of occupational resources.

Assessment is based on normal workplace performance rather than attendance on a classroom course. Learners must produce evidence that their work meets specifications, manufacturers’ instructions, applicable safety controls and the quality requirements expected of a competent wall and floor tiler.

For employers, the qualification provides structured evidence that an operative can complete tiling work safely, productively and to an acceptable occupational standard. For workers, it provides formal recognition of skills developed through employment, self-employment, an apprenticeship or other genuine workplace experience.

Current structures share a stable occupational core consisting of five mandatory competence areas and a choice between specialist screeding or under-tile heating work. Some approved specifications use amended unit wording or activity endorsements, while older predecessor versions have been replaced, withdrawn or closed to new registrations.

Who It’s For

This qualification is primarily intended for people already carrying out wall and floor tiling in the construction industry. It suits operatives who work to drawings, specifications or job instructions and who are responsible for the quality and safety of their own tiling activities, although they may still receive direction from a supervisor, site manager or contractor.

Suitable learners may work as:

Wall and floor tilers
Tiling operatives
Self-employed tilers or subcontractors
Maintenance operatives whose principal assessed activity is wall and floor tiling
Apprentices or developing tradespeople with access to suitable workplace tasks

Evidence may be generated on domestic, commercial or public-sector projects, including bathrooms, kitchens, communal areas, wet areas and other locations requiring tiled finishes. Projects may involve new backgrounds, existing surfaces, refurbishment or repair work.

Learners need regular access to genuine tiling activities. They must be able to prepare suitable backgrounds, calculate and organise resources, set out tiled areas, cut and fix tiles, grout and finish completed surfaces. They must also have access to the specialist activity selected from the optional unit group.

Employment, self-employment or another properly supervised workplace arrangement is normally necessary. A learner without access to sufficient live tiling work will not be able to produce the required occupational evidence.

Workplace Requirements

The qualification requires access to real work where tiling forms part of a commercial construction, refurbishment, maintenance or repair activity. The available jobs must provide enough scope for the learner to demonstrate the relevant skills safely and to the required standard.

Workplace access should include:

Wall and floor surfaces suitable for preparation and tiling
New or existing backgrounds appropriate to the learner’s assessed scope
Drawings, specifications, schedules, risk assessments and method statements
Tiles, adhesives, grouts, trims, movement-joint components and associated fixings
Background materials such as boards, renders, screeds, primers and membranes where required
Measuring, setting-out, cutting, mixing, fixing and finishing tools
Suitable portable power tools, associated dust controls and access equipment
Safe storage, handling and waste-disposal arrangements
Opportunities to inspect, protect and hand over completed tiled work
Screeding or under-tile heating work corresponding to the selected optional unit

The learner must follow the workplace’s arrangements for health and safety, hazardous substances, silica and other dusts, manual handling, electrical equipment, access, welfare, security and environmental protection.

Work should provide naturally occurring evidence of competence. Training bays and practice exercises can support skill development, but they do not replace workplace performance where the unit requires evidence from real work.

Learning Outcomes

Successful learners can:

Interpret drawings, specifications, schedules, manufacturers’ information, risk assessments and method statements for tiling work.
Plan the sequence of background preparation, setting out, fixing, grouting and finishing activities.
Calculate quantities, areas and reasonable allowances for cutting and wastage.
Select tiles, adhesives, grouts, trims, membranes, movement-joint components, tools and equipment that comply with the job specification.
Move, handle and store tiles, bagged materials, boards, tools and associated equipment without avoidable injury, contamination or damage.
Assess and prepare new or existing wall and floor backgrounds to receive tiled finishes.
Set out tiled areas to achieve an appropriate layout, alignment, joint arrangement and finished appearance.
Measure, cut, position, fix and finish tiles on the surfaces and details required by the job.
Form tiled details around openings, angles, outlets, drainage points, treads and risers where these occur within the assessed work.
Locate and accommodate movement joints and use specified trims, accessories and membranes.
Apply suitable health, safety, dust, manual-handling and environmental controls.
Maintain tools, protect adjacent surfaces and keep the work area orderly.
Check completed work against the specification and report unsuitable surfaces, materials, information or conditions.
Communicate with supervisors, customers and other trades while maintaining job records and productive working relationships.
Complete either sand and cement screeding or under-tile heating installation and associated tiling, according to the selected optional unit.

Units

The commonly approved structure requires all five mandatory units and one optional unit. The optional choice must reflect the learner’s real job activities and the evidence available in the workplace. Unit wording and any recorded activity endorsements can differ slightly between approved versions.

Follow site inductions, briefings, risk controls, safety notices and authorised working procedures.
Use collective protection, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection and local exhaust ventilation correctly.
Recognise hazards involving dust, hazardous substances, asbestos, services, equipment, access, storage and changing site conditions.
Report uncontrolled hazards, incidents, defective controls and unsafe circumstances through workplace procedures.
Respond appropriately to emergencies, spillages, injuries, fire risks and evacuation instructions.
Maintain welfare facilities and contribute to safe, tidy working conditions.
Stop work when there is serious or imminent danger or when the task exceeds personal competence or authority.
Dispose of waste and consumable materials in accordance with workplace and environmental requirements.
Follow site security arrangements for tools, materials, work areas and unauthorised persons.

Communicate appropriately with supervisors, colleagues, customers and other trades.
Interpret organisational information when planning the sequence of work.
Coordinate background preparation, drying or curing requirements, setting out, fixing and finishing activities.
Organise materials, tools and equipment so that work can proceed productively.
Identify circumstances that could disrupt the programme and report them promptly.
Complete relevant job cards, worksheets, resource lists and time records.
Use resources responsibly and contribute to reduced waste and lower-carbon working practices.
Maintain constructive working relationships and respect equality, diversity and individual needs.
Complete work to the agreed specification and within allocated timescales.

Interpret instructions relating to handling, lifting, positioning and storage.
Assess the characteristics, condition, weight and handling risks of the resources.
Select and use suitable lifting aids, containers and securing systems.
Apply safe manual-handling and mechanical-lifting procedures within personal authority.
Move, position and store resources without avoidable injury, breakage, contamination or deterioration.
Protect materials from moisture, impact, adverse conditions and interference by other activities.
Segregate defective or unsuitable resources and report problems.
Keep access routes and storage areas clear and secure.
Dispose of packaging and waste in accordance with site and environmental procedures.
Complete handling and storage activities within the planned work period.

Interpret drawings, specifications, schedules, job details, manufacturers’ instructions and safety information.
Examine backgrounds and identify contamination, damage, movement, unevenness or other conditions that could affect the tiled finish.
Confirm whether the proposed materials and preparation method are suitable for the background and service conditions.
Measure and calculate material quantities, areas and wastage.
Select appropriate renders, screeds, boards, primers, bonding agents, membranes, trims, accessories, tools and equipment.
Strip, cut out or remove unsuitable material and make good defective areas within the learner’s occupational authority.
Prepare manufactured boards, gypsum-based surfaces, rendered surfaces, screeds and other specified backgrounds.
Mix and apply proprietary or cement-based preparation materials where required.
Position and secure boards, accessories and specified background components.
Install waterproofing, uncoupling, decoupling or acoustic membranes where required by the job.
Locate and install movement joints in accordance with the design and manufacturers’ instructions.
Check the prepared background for suitability before tiling begins.
Protect prepared surfaces, maintain a tidy work area and dispose of waste correctly.

Interpret the required layout, finish, materials, tolerances and work sequence from the available job information.
Check that backgrounds, tiles, adhesives, grouts, trims and accessories are suitable and conform to the specification.
Calculate quantities, lengths, areas and allowances for cuts and wastage.
Set out the work to control alignment, joint positions, cuts, features and the overall appearance.
Measure and cut tiles safely using appropriate hand tools and portable equipment.
Mix and apply specified fixing and finishing materials in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions.
Fix tiles to the vertical, horizontal or inclined surfaces required by the job.
Form tiled finishes around reveals, cills, soffits, internal and external angles, fixtures and other details.
Tile floors incorporating drainage points, outlets, treads, risers or landings where they form part of the assessed work.
Fit trims, accessories and movement-joint components at the specified locations.
Grout, clean and finish tiled surfaces without damaging tiles, joints or adjacent work.
Identify defects, unsuitable conditions or work requiring specialist expertise and report them through the correct procedure.
Check the completed installation against the specification and relevant quality requirements.
Protect finished tiling from traffic, contamination, impact and interference by following trades.

Interpret drawings, levels, falls, specifications, schedules and manufacturers’ information.
Select sand, cement, ready-mixed screed, damp-proof membranes, reinforcement, movement-joint materials, tools and equipment.
Prepare floor surfaces and establish the required level or fall.
Calculate and organise the necessary screed materials.
Mix, place, compact and finish sand and cement screeds to the required standard.
Produce screeds to level or to falls, including falls towards drainage outlets where required.
Form specified details such as skirtings and accommodate movement.
Lay bonded or floating screeds according to the construction and specification.
Accommodate insulation and underfloor-heating components without damaging or displacing them.
Install specified reinforcement using fibres or mesh.
Remove and repair defective screed within the learner’s work authority.
Protect the completed screed and coordinate curing or access restrictions with other trades.

Interpret layouts, specifications, risk assessments, method statements and manufacturers’ installation instructions.
Select compatible heating components, tiles, adhesives, grouts, screeds, levelling compounds, trims, movement joints and fixing materials.
Calculate quantities, dimensions and wastage for the heating and tiling work.
Check that the background and proposed system are suitable before installation.
Measure, set out, position and secure electrical under-tile heating components to horizontal surfaces as instructed.
Maintain required spacing, clearances, movement provision and protection around the heating components.
Confirm and coordinate the required commissioning procedures with the appropriately authorised person.
Lay the specified tiled finish over under-tile or underfloor-heating systems without damaging the installation.
Use compatible adhesives, grouts and intermediate layers in accordance with the system instructions.
Protect the completed work and provide relevant information for subsequent testing, commissioning or handover.
Recognise electrical or system defects outside the tiler’s competence and report them without attempting unauthorised work.

Assessment

Assessment confirms competence against occupational standards through evidence produced during genuine wall and floor tiling work. The qualification is normally graded as pass or fail, and every learning outcome and assessment criterion within the required units must be achieved.

Workplace Observation

Direct observation is a primary source of evidence. An occupationally competent assessor observes the learner completing activities such as preparing backgrounds, setting out, cutting and fixing tiles, forming details, grouting, finishing and protecting completed work.

Observation should show that the learner can work safely, select appropriate resources, follow the specification and achieve an acceptable finish under normal workplace conditions.

Portfolio and Work Products

The learner compiles a portfolio connecting workplace evidence to the required competence areas. Relevant evidence may include:

Assessor observation records
Authenticated photographs of backgrounds, setting out and completed tiled surfaces
Drawings, specifications and relevant extracts from job instructions
Risk assessments and method statements used for the assessed work
Material calculations, cutting plans or resource lists
Job sheets, site records and progress documentation
Records of background checks and reported defects
Evidence of installed membranes, movement joints, trims or drainage details
Screed or under-tile heating installation records for the selected optional unit
Quality checks, snagging records and completion or handover information
Witness testimony from competent supervisors or other appropriate workplace personnel

Evidence must be authentic, current, sufficient and attributable to the learner. Photographs and witness statements support assessment but do not automatically replace direct observation.

Knowledge Assessment

Underpinning knowledge may be confirmed through oral or written questioning, professional discussion, recorded explanations or recognised assessments mapped to the occupational requirements.

Questions may examine:

Background suitability and preparation methods
Tile, adhesive and grout compatibility
Setting-out principles and material calculations
Movement provision, waterproofing and drainage details
Safe cutting, mixing, dust control and manual handling
Manufacturers’ instructions and reporting procedures
Causes of tiling defects and appropriate corrective action
Work sequencing, protection, curing and coordination with other trades

Simulation Restrictions

Workplace evidence of practical skills cannot be simulated for the units in the commonly approved structure. The learner must demonstrate occupational performance through normal work in a real construction environment.

A training centre may be used for instruction, practice or preparation, but exercises completed there cannot be treated as equivalent to the required workplace competence evidence.

Consistency and Completion

Competence must be demonstrated across evidence sufficient to cover the unit requirements and any applicable activity endorsements. Assessors consider whether performance is consistent, whether the learner can respond to different workplace conditions and whether the finished work complies with the specification.

Completion requires achievement of every mandatory unit and one permitted optional unit. Recognition of Prior Learning may be considered where existing evidence is authentic, current and fully satisfies the assessment requirements.

Career Progression

The qualification supports progression within wall and floor tiling by formally recognising competence at skilled operative level. Career development still depends on practical experience, the complexity of work undertaken and any additional qualifications or responsibilities required by an employer or project.

Wall and Floor Tiling Roles

A successful learner may continue developing in roles such as:

Wall and floor tiler
Tiling operative
Self-employed tiler
Tiling subcontractor
Refurbishment or maintenance tiler

With further experience, a tiler may undertake more complex layouts, larger-format installations, specialist background systems, wet-area work or responsibility for coordinating small tiling packages. Additional manufacturer training or technical competence may be required for particular systems.

Advanced Craft and Specialist Development

Relevant progression can include a Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Wall and Floor Tiling or related advanced occupational development. Depending on the learner’s work, further training may focus on:

Advanced wall and floor tiling
Heritage wall and floor tiling
Complex screeding and background systems
Waterproofing and wet-area systems
Underfloor or under-tile heating coordination
Specialist tile materials and installation systems

Electrical testing, connection or commissioning work requires separate competence and authorisation where applicable.

Supervision and Management

Experienced tilers who begin coordinating people, resources and work activities may progress towards qualifications in occupational work supervision or construction site supervision. Progression should reflect the learner’s actual responsibilities; completing this Level 2 qualification alone does not demonstrate supervisory or management competence.

CSCS Card

The qualification can support an application for the Blue Skilled Worker CSCS card under the Wall and Floor Tiler occupation. The qualification does not issue a card automatically and does not guarantee that an application will be accepted.

Applicants must make a separate card application and meet the current scheme requirements. This normally includes passing the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Operatives test within the required validity period and providing acceptable evidence of the qualification.

The occupation recorded on the application must correspond with the qualification and the work undertaken. Applicants should use the official Card Finder before applying to confirm the current occupation mapping, test requirement, evidence requirements and application process.

FAQs

These questions address practical issues that commonly arise when considering this work-based tiling qualification.

It is a Level 2 NVQ Certificate. The Level 3 wall and floor tiling qualification is normally designated as a Diploma, but that does not change the title of this Level 2 qualification.

No universal prior qualification is required across all approved versions, but learners need sufficient workplace skills and access to appropriate work. Someone with little practical experience may require training and supervised development before enough competent performance can be assessed.

A genuine workplace arrangement is necessary. This may be employment, self-employment, subcontracting or another properly supervised arrangement that provides authentic commercial tiling work. Practice tasks alone are not sufficient.

The mandatory trade content includes preparing backgrounds and tiling wall and floor surfaces. The exact range of evidence and any recorded wall, floor, new-surface or existing-surface endorsements should be agreed with the assessment centre at the start.

The usual choice is between laying sand and cement screeds and laying under-tile heating systems with the associated tiled finish. The selected unit should match work the learner genuinely performs and can demonstrate in the workplace.

Training-centre activities can be used for teaching and practice, but workplace evidence of the assessed practical skills cannot be simulated. Competence must be demonstrated through real work.

No. It assesses the tiler’s work in positioning and protecting specified under-tile heating components and installing the tiled finish. Electrical connections, testing and commissioning must be completed or authorised by an appropriately competent person where required.

It can support an application for the Blue Skilled Worker card under the Wall and Floor Tiler occupation. A separate application, the appropriate current health, safety and environment test and satisfactory qualification evidence are still required. Applicants should confirm the latest position through the official Card Finder.

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