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 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction)—Roof Slating and Tiling

A work-based NVQ Diploma for heritage roof slaters and tilers conserving, re-laying, replacing and repairing traditional roof coverings.

Overview

The Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction) – Roof Slating and Tiling Occupations is a competence-based qualification for people carrying out specialist roofing work on traditional, historic and architecturally significant buildings.

It confirms the ability to work as a competent heritage roof slater and tiler, combining established roofing skills with conservation principles. The qualification focuses on retaining significant historic fabric wherever practicable, salvaging reusable roof coverings, matching replacement materials appropriately and carrying out work in a way that respects the character and construction of the existing roof.

Mandatory competence includes conservation and restoration practice, re-laying heritage roof coverings, replacing roof coverings and carrying out heritage roof repairs and maintenance. Learners must also demonstrate the ability to plan their work, establish suitable methods, manage resources, work safely and maintain effective occupational relationships.

Practical work can involve natural and stone slates, clay tiles, peg tiles, flashings, fittings and associated roof components. Depending on the optional units selected, competence may also include plain tiling, regular or random natural slating, curved and swept details, mitred details, vertical slating or weathering leadwork.

The qualification is work-based. Competence is established through evidence produced while carrying out genuine occupational activities rather than through simulated roofing exercises. This makes it particularly relevant to experienced roofers who are already working on traditional or heritage buildings and need formal recognition of their specialist competence.

Current approved versions use closely aligned occupational structures. The verified structures comprise eight mandatory units together with two selected optional technical units. Minor differences in administrative wording or unit presentation can occur between approved versions, but the core occupational purpose and heritage roofing competence remain consistent.

For employers, the qualification provides evidence that a worker has demonstrated specialist heritage roofing competence against nationally recognised occupational requirements, including safe working at height, protection of historic fabric, appropriate material use and the completion of conservation-sensitive roof work.

Who It’s For

This qualification is primarily intended for roof slaters and tilers who already carry out, or have sufficient access to, heritage roofing work and are able to demonstrate their competence on genuine construction and conservation projects.

Suitable learners are normally working with traditional roof coverings and have responsibility for completing work to specifications while making appropriate decisions about existing materials, roof details, conservation requirements and safe methods of work.

Typical occupational settings include historic and traditional buildings, listed buildings, conservation areas, places of worship, public buildings, stately homes, vernacular buildings and other structures where existing roof fabric or traditional roofing techniques need to be preserved.

Learners need realistic opportunities to:

inspect and work with existing heritage roof coverings
remove coverings without unnecessarily damaging reusable materials
identify, clean, sort, stack and store salvageable slates, tiles and associated components
re-lay traditional roof coverings
replace deteriorated or inappropriate roof coverings
repair and maintain existing heritage roofs
work to eaves, verges, ridges, hips, valleys, abutments and roof openings where required
work safely at height using appropriate access and working platforms
interpret drawings, specifications, work instructions and conservation requirements
use traditional and modern hand tools, power tools and ancillary roofing equipment
work with relevant new or reclaimed materials according to the assessed units
communicate with clients, supervisors, conservation professionals and other trades where these form part of the project.

Because workplace skills evidence cannot be simulated for the occupational units, a learner normally needs employment, self-employment or another genuine workplace arrangement that provides sustained access to appropriate heritage roofing projects.

Occupational Endorsements and Optional Specialisms

The qualification is already occupationally specialised towards heritage roof slating and tiling, but individual units contain further endorsements that define the materials, building contexts or technical roofing activities against which competence has been demonstrated.

These endorsements matter because the qualification does not assume that every heritage roofer works on every possible covering, roof detail or type of historic building.

Heritage Roof-Covering Endorsements

The mandatory re-laying unit requires evidence across a specified selection of heritage roof-covering materials or components. The available areas include:

single-lap clay tiles
clay plain tiles
peg tiles
stone slates
regular-sized natural slates
random-length and random-width natural slates
flashings
associated fittings and components.

Competence must be demonstrated against three of the specified areas rather than every category.

The mandatory replacing and repairing or maintaining units use a different form of endorsement. Evidence is required from two recognised heritage building or location contexts, which can include:

vernacular buildings and roofing styles associated with particular geographical areas
places of religious worship
stately homes
public buildings
historic buildings
castles or fortified buildings
conservation areas
listed buildings.

This allows the assessment to reflect the heritage environments in which the learner genuinely works.

New and Reclaimed Materials

Several optional roof slating and tiling units are endorsed according to whether competence is demonstrated using new materials or reclaimed materials.

Reclaimed materials require particular consideration because existing or imperial dimensions, variable slate or tile sizes, previous fixing holes, weathering and material condition can affect setting out, gauge, lap and fixing methods.

The endorsement recorded depends on the evidence actually generated. It should not be assumed that achievement with one material category automatically proves competence with the other.

Optional Technical Specialisms

Two optional units are selected in addition to the mandatory heritage roofing units. Current structures provide choices covering:

plain tile roof coverings
regular-sized natural slate to standard roof details
natural slate to mitred and vertical details
random natural slate with diminishing margins
single-lap roof tiles fixed to a set gauge
double-lap tiles on curved and swept roof details
weathering leadwork to roofs
natural slate on curved and swept roof details.

The learner therefore develops a qualification profile that reflects the type of roofing work genuinely carried out in their occupation. Not every optional specialism has to be completed.

Workplace Requirements

The qualification requires substantial access to genuine heritage roofing work. Evidence must demonstrate competence under normal occupational conditions, including the physical, technical and conservation constraints encountered on real roofs.

Suitable projects must provide access to the materials, details, tools and work situations needed for the mandatory units and the learner's selected optional units. A portfolio based only on classroom exercises or purpose-built training rigs cannot replace the required workplace skills evidence.

The workplace must provide realistic opportunities to use and manage resources such as:

traditional roof slates, stone slates and tiles appropriate to the work
reclaimed coverings where relevant to the learner's endorsement
battens, boards or sarking and associated fixings
underlays and roofing components where required
ridge, hip, valley, verge and abutment components
mortar and associated materials where specified by the work
flashings and weathering materials
sheet lead and leadworking equipment when the leadwork option is selected
hand tools, power tools and ancillary roofing equipment
safe access equipment and working platforms
suitable collective and personal protective measures.

Learners must also be able to access relevant occupational information. This can include drawings, specifications, method statements, risk assessments, schedules, work instructions, manufacturers' information and conservation requirements.

Heritage projects may expose conditions that are not fully visible before coverings are removed. Learners need opportunities to demonstrate that they can recognise changes, defective substrates, unexpected historic fabric or other findings, report matters outside their authority and avoid making unsupported assumptions about how significant historic work should proceed.

Where salvaged materials are involved, workplace evidence should show appropriate identification, handling, protection and storage so that reusable historic components are not lost through poor site practice.

Learning Outcomes

Successful learners demonstrate the ability to:

interpret drawings, specifications, schedules, risk assessments, method statements and other information relevant to heritage roof work
confirm the scope, sequence, resources and occupational method required for roofing activities
identify missing or conflicting information and obtain clarification before proceeding
assess materials and roof components for suitability, condition and intended use
work safely at height and apply appropriate health, safety and welfare controls
protect existing buildings, historic fabric, completed work and surrounding areas from avoidable damage
recognise the significance of traditional construction and work in accordance with conservation and restoration principles
apply minimum-intervention and reversible-alteration principles where required by the heritage work
remove existing roof coverings while salvaging suitable reusable materials
clean, sort, stack, store and protect retained slates, tiles and associated components
re-lay heritage roof coverings while maintaining the character and technical performance of the existing roof
replace deteriorated or inappropriate roof coverings using suitable materials and traditional details
repair and maintain existing slate and tiled heritage roofs
determine appropriate lap, gauge, setting-out and fixing requirements for the materials and details being installed
integrate retained and replacement materials without unnecessarily disturbing significant existing fabric
use hand tools, power tools and specialist roofing equipment correctly
complete selected specialist roof slating, tiling or leadwork activities according to the optional units achieved
identify defects, unexpected conditions and work requiring additional specialist knowledge
stop and report where work reaches a point at which proceeding would depend on conjecture
recognise and report protected or endangered flora and fauna encountered during heritage work
record conservation and restoration work using appropriate written, photographic or digital information
communicate effectively with supervisors, clients, other trades and relevant project personnel
complete work to the required specification and programme while reporting circumstances that affect progress.

Units

Current approved versions use a structure of eight mandatory units and eight available optional units. All eight mandatory units must be achieved, together with two units selected from the optional group.

The mandatory group combines general occupational competence with specialist heritage roofing skills. The optional group allows the qualification to reflect the learner's actual slating, tiling or roof leadwork responsibilities. Optional availability and administrative wording should always be confirmed against the approved version being undertaken.

Interpret relevant drawings, specifications, schedules, manufacturers' information, risk assessments, programmes and work instructions.
Establish quantities, technical requirements, timescales and the scope of the roofing work.
Determine suitable work sequences, techniques, resource arrangements and working conditions.
Obtain additional information from appropriate sources when the information supplied is incomplete.
Consider health, safety, access, fire prevention, environmental protection, waste and site conditions when establishing the method.
Identify methods that satisfy technical, statutory and contractual requirements.
Communicate the selected method to relevant people.
Recognise when changing circumstances require the method to be reviewed.

Identify the work activities and requirements relevant to the heritage roofing task.
Assess the resources required for the planned sequence of work.
Confirm the suitability and availability of materials, tools, equipment and labour.
Seek clarification or report where required resources are unavailable or unsuitable.
Monitor progress against the planned work.
Consider weather, site conditions, other occupations and health and safety factors that can affect roofing operations.
Identify interdependent activities and coordinate work accordingly.
Adjust plans appropriately when circumstances change and communicate significant changes to the relevant decision-makers.
Consider efficient resource use, waste reduction and environmental effects when organising work.

Follow site inductions, briefings, risk controls and authorised working procedures.
Use collective protection, personal protective equipment, respiratory protective equipment and other controls where required.
Follow notices, warning signs and instructions intended to prevent injury or ill health.
Recognise hazards arising from work activities, materials, equipment, access, storage, substances and changing site conditions.
Report hazards and defective controls through the correct organisational procedures.
Follow procedures for accidents, emergencies, evacuation, fire and situations presenting serious or imminent danger.
Handle and dispose of waste in accordance with workplace and legal requirements.
Maintain responsible behaviour and support site security arrangements.
Work within personal competence and authority, particularly where conditions change.

Establish and maintain goodwill and trust with relevant people.
Provide clear and appropriate information about work activities and coordination requirements.
Take account of equality, diversity and individual needs when communicating.
Offer relevant advice and encourage clarification where information is uncertain.
Discuss alternative proposals professionally when work requirements change.
Resolve differences in a way that minimises conflict while protecting the required work outcome.
Coordinate roofing activities with other occupations whose work interfaces with the roof.
Communicate matters affecting programme, quality, safety or heritage fabric to the appropriate person.

Interpret conservation information and identify requirements affecting the existing building fabric.
Sample, select, prepare, match, maintain, repair or replace roofing materials as appropriate to the project.
Recognise sensitive areas and maintain heritage and archaeological integrity.
Apply principles of minimum intervention and reversible alteration where appropriate.
Remove, restore, repair or replace materials without unnecessary loss of significant original fabric.
Maintain the existing structure and integrate new components sensitively with retained construction.
Identify, salvage, protect and store reusable materials and structural components.
Stop work and report findings when proceeding would require conjecture.
Record work undertaken using suitable written, photographic or digital methods.
Recognise and report protected or endangered flora and fauna.
Use tools, equipment, access arrangements and working-at-height controls safely.
Protect completed work and surrounding historic fabric throughout the operation.

Strip existing coverings carefully and identify material suitable for reuse.
Clean, sort, stack, store and protect salvageable roof coverings.
Prepare the roof and establish suitable setting-out requirements before re-laying.
Determine gauge and install battens and underlays where required.
Fix coverings directly to boarded or sarking surfaces where this forms part of the roof construction.
Re-lay full or partial roof areas using the endorsed traditional materials or components.
Form appropriate details at eaves, verges, ridges, hips, valleys, openings and abutments.
Match the existing roof covering or an appropriate earlier style where required by the project.
Mix and apply suitable mortar where the roof detail requires it.
Retain heritage integrity and avoid unnecessary intervention.
Integrate existing and replacement components appropriately.
Stop and report unexpected findings or situations requiring specialist direction.
Record completed conservation work and relevant findings.

Remove existing coverings while salvaging materials suitable for reuse.
Identify deteriorated or inappropriate materials that require replacement.
Assess the existing roof construction and preserve significant fabric wherever practicable.
Establish gauge and install battens, underlays or boarded fixing arrangements as required.
Replace full or partial areas of natural slate, stone slate or tiled roofing to the specified traditional form.
Work to existing roof patterns or an earlier appropriate style where required by the conservation specification.
Complete eaves, verges, ridges, hips, valleys, roof openings and abutments as appropriate to the project.
Integrate retained and replacement constructional components.
Mix and use mortar where required by traditional details.
Apply minimum-intervention and reversibility principles.
Recognise sensitive heritage areas and protect archaeological integrity.
Record work and report circumstances where proceeding would depend on conjecture.
Store salvageable materials appropriately for reuse.

Investigate defects and establish the extent of repair or maintenance required.
Replace defective natural slates, stone slates or tiles where appropriate.
Replace defective battens where accessible within the repair.
Repair or reinstate ridge and hip coverings.
Repair relevant flashings and associated weathering details.
Clear and treat blockages affecting gutters, outlets or drainage areas where included in the work.
Re-bed and point roofing components where appropriate.
Carry out traditional torching or back-pointing where specified.
Identify and address leaks and other localised roof defects.
Repair suitable sarking stone or slate construction.
Carry out preventative and remedial maintenance while retaining serviceable historic material.
Distinguish appropriate like-for-like repair from interventions that should remain identifiable in accordance with project requirements.
Protect retained fabric and report deterioration outside the learner's authority.
Maintain written, photographic or digital records where required by the heritage project.

Interpret roofing information and assess the suitability of the supporting structure.
Identify and report faults at the substructure or interfaces before covering them.
Determine appropriate lap and gauge and set out the roof accordingly.
Measure, mark, cut, fit, position and secure plain tiles and associated components.
Complete general roof areas, eaves, top courses and abutments.
Form details around roof lights, windows and other openings.
Complete dry or wet verges, ridges, hips and valleys as required.
Install ventilation components where included in the specification.
Mix and use roofing mortar where wet-fix details are required.
Account for variations associated with reclaimed or traditionally sized tiles.
Recognise when traditional or historically significant construction requires specialist treatment.
Protect work, manage waste and work safely from appropriate access arrangements.

Measure, set out, mark, grade, hole, cut, fit and secure natural slates.
Assess the suitability of the substructure and report faults before covering them.
Determine lap and gauge appropriate to the slate, roof pitch and specification.
Fix slate to battens or directly to suitable boarded areas.
Complete general areas, eaves and top courses.
Form details at abutments and roof openings.
Complete dry or wet verges, ridges, hips and valleys.
Install appropriate roof and high-level ventilation where specified.
Cut and fit slates and related roofing components accurately.
Account for dimensional differences when reclaimed imperial-sized slate is used.
Mix and apply roofing mortar where required.
Recognise where the significance of a traditional or pre-modern building requires specialist knowledge or modified working methods.

Measure, set out, mark, grade, hole, cut, fit, position and secure natural slate.
Install slate to battens or boarded surfaces.
Complete general roof areas, eaves and top courses.
Form accurate mitred hips and mitred valleys.
Measure, cut and install soakers associated with mitred details.
Install slate to vertical surfaces such as gable ends.
Work around openings, penetrations and internal or external corners in vertical slating.
Complete abutments, verges, ridges and roof openings.
Determine appropriate lap and gauge dimensions.
Assess and report substructure or interface defects.
Incorporate ventilation components where specified.
Adapt setting-out where reclaimed or traditional slate dimensions affect lap and gauge.
Maintain safe access and working-at-height arrangements while completing advanced details.

Measure, grade, size, hole, set out, cut, fit and secure random natural slate.
Install random-length and random-width slate to battens or boarded surfaces.
Use centre-nailed or head-nailed fixing arrangements where required.
Establish diminishing courses while maintaining appropriate head laps.
Maintain suitable side laps for varying slate widths.
Understand the relationship between head lap, side lap, roof pitch and geographical exposure.
Complete eaves, top courses, abutments and openings.
Form suitable verge, ridge, hip and valley details.
Integrate vents and other high-level ventilation components where specified.
Assess the substructure and report defects or unsuitable interfaces.
Incorporate reclaimed materials without compromising technical performance or heritage appearance.
Use mortar and wet-fix details where required by the roof design.
Complete the work safely while protecting retained historic material.

Confirm roof dimensions, specification and supporting structure before installation.
Determine the required lap and fixed gauge.
Set out battens and tile courses accurately.
Measure, cut, fit, position and secure single-lap tiles and associated fittings.
Complete general areas, eaves and top courses.
Form abutments and work around roof lights, windows and other openings.
Complete dry or wet verge, ridge, hip and valley details as required.
Install ventilation components where specified.
Recognise defects in the supporting structure or roof interfaces and report them before covering.
Allow for dimensional characteristics of reclaimed or traditionally manufactured materials.
Use mortar appropriately where the specified finishing detail requires it.
Maintain safe working-at-height practices and protect completed work.

Set out and install double-lap tiles to the specified curved or swept construction.
Work with plain tiles or peg tiles as required by the project.
Demonstrate competence on the required selection of complex details, which can include eyebrow dormers, swept valleys, laced valleys, curved vertical work and curved roof pitches such as cones or apse ends.
Install boards, wedges, fillets or split battens where needed to form the required curvature.
Establish and maintain suitable lap and gauge as the roof geometry changes.
Cut and fit tiles and associated components to maintain the intended line and weathering.
Form appropriate soakers and weathering at complex junctions.
Integrate new or reclaimed material according to the assessed endorsement.
Recognise how traditionally manufactured or reclaimed materials affect setting out and fixing.
Identify roof details requiring additional specialist knowledge and report accordingly.
Protect the building fabric and work safely from appropriate access equipment.

Measure, mark, cut, fit, position, secure, dress and finish sheet lead.
Use bossing and lead-welding skills where required by the specified component.
Install weatherings at chimneys and roof abutments.
Form weathering around soil or vent pipes and other penetrations.
Install leadwork at valleys, hips, ridges and roof openings.
Fabricate appropriate back gutters, aprons and pipe slates.
Form and install soakers and stepped flashings.
Construct valley liners, saddles, rolls and secret gutters where required.
Dress lead correctly to the roof form without compromising its ability to perform.
Point or seal flashing details in accordance with the specified construction.
Apply finishing or patination treatment where required.
Identify situations requiring a specialist leadworker or further technical direction.
Use appropriate tools and safe working-at-height arrangements throughout the work.

Measure, set out, mark, grade, size, hole, cut, fit and secure natural slates.
Install slate to battens or boards while maintaining the required roof form.
Complete the required selection of advanced details, which can include eyebrow dormers, swept valleys, laced valleys, curved vertical work and curved pitches such as cones or apse ends.
Use boards, wedges, fillets or split battens where these are required to create the correct support.
Determine and maintain appropriate lap and gauge as the roof form changes.
Cut and arrange slate carefully so that courses remain technically effective and visually appropriate.
Form soakers and related weathering at junctions where required.
Adapt methods to accommodate reclaimed slate and variations in traditional sizes.
Recognise significant traditional construction and avoid inappropriate alteration.
Report substructure faults or details requiring additional specialist input.
Protect the roof, surrounding fabric and materials during installation.
Work safely at height using suitable access arrangements and roofing equipment.

Assessment

Assessment is designed to establish whether the learner can perform heritage roof slating and tiling competently under genuine workplace conditions. The qualification is assessed against occupational performance and knowledge requirements rather than through a single final practical examination.

Evidence is assembled across the mandatory units and the two optional units selected for the learner's occupational role. The assessor must be satisfied that evidence is authentic, current, sufficient and relevant to the required endorsements.

Workplace Observation

Direct observation is a central source of evidence for practical competence. An occupationally competent assessor can observe the learner carrying out activities such as:

carefully stripping existing heritage roof coverings
salvaging and protecting reusable slate or tile
setting out battens, lap and gauge
re-laying historic roof materials
replacing defective coverings
repairing existing roofs
completing eaves, verges, ridges, hips, valleys and abutments
integrating retained and replacement materials
working at height using appropriate controls
completing advanced slate, tile or leadwork details included in the optional units.

Observation allows the assessor to judge not only the finished roof but also the decisions, preparation, sequencing, material handling, safety controls and conservation practices used to achieve it.

Portfolio and Work Products

A portfolio is used to bring together evidence showing how the learner has met the required occupational criteria.

Relevant evidence can include:

assessor observation records
photographs showing roof condition and work at appropriate stages
completed roof areas and details
drawings, specifications and work instructions used by the learner
risk assessments and method information relevant to the work
records of conservation findings or changes to the planned work
written, photographic or digital records of restoration activity
evidence of salvaged and stored heritage materials
job documentation demonstrating the learner's involvement
completed lead weatherings where the leadwork option is being assessed
records relating to defects, reporting and remedial action.

Photographs and documents support assessment but do not replace direct evidence that the learner personally performed the required occupational skills.

Professional Discussion and Questioning

Practical observation cannot always reveal the full technical reasoning behind an action. Professional discussion, oral questioning or written questioning can therefore be used to confirm underpinning knowledge.

Questions can address matters such as:

why a particular traditional material or fixing method was selected
how lap and gauge were determined
the effect of reclaimed imperial materials on setting out
reasons for retaining rather than replacing historic fabric
minimum-intervention and reversibility principles
responses to unexpected historic construction
correct procedures when conjecture would otherwise be necessary
roof defects and their likely causes
working-at-height controls
material characteristics and limitations
environmental and waste responsibilities
protection of sensitive historic fabric
communication and reporting responsibilities.

Witness Testimony and Supporting Records

Statements from suitably knowledgeable people can support evidence where they have directly witnessed the learner carrying out relevant work.

Witness evidence may be particularly useful for activities occurring between assessor visits, but it must relate clearly to the learner, the project, the work undertaken and the standard of performance demonstrated.

Employer and site records can also corroborate the learner's responsibility for particular heritage roofing activities.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Relevant previous experience and existing evidence can be considered where it demonstrates the same current occupational requirements.

Recognition of prior learning does not remove the need to prove competence. Historic photographs, employment experience or previous training are only useful where sufficient evidence can establish that the learner has actually met the required performance and knowledge criteria.

Simulation and Sufficiency of Evidence

Workplace evidence of the practical skills in these occupational units cannot be simulated. The learner must therefore demonstrate the required heritage roofing activities on real work rather than relying on training-centre exercises designed to imitate workplace conditions.

Evidence must also cover the endorsements attached to relevant units. This means, for example, that a learner cannot complete the re-laying unit by demonstrating only one roof-covering type when the unit requires a broader endorsed selection.

Similarly, replacing and repairing or maintaining heritage roof coverings require evidence from the specified number of heritage building or location contexts.

Completion is achieved when all mandatory units, the required optional units and their applicable endorsements have been assessed as competent, with sufficient evidence of both practical performance and underpinning knowledge.

Career Progression

The qualification recognises advanced occupational competence in heritage roof slating and tiling. It is therefore most directly relevant to skilled roofers who want to continue developing within traditional and conservation roofing rather than workers seeking only an introduction to roofing.

Progression depends on experience, the types of projects undertaken and any additional specialist or supervisory competence required for a future role.

Skilled Heritage Roofing Roles

The qualification is directly relevant to work as a:

heritage roof slater and tiler
traditional roofing craftsperson
conservation roofing operative
specialist natural slate roofer working on heritage projects
traditional tile roofer working on historic buildings.

The exact responsibilities depend on the learner's experience and the optional units and endorsements demonstrated.

Specialist Craft Development

Experienced heritage roofers can broaden their technical range by developing further competence in areas such as:

advanced natural slate detailing
random and diminishing-course slating
curved and swept slate or tile work
traditional peg and plain tile roofing
roof weathering leadwork
other specialist heritage roofing techniques relevant to the buildings on which they work.

Specialist activities should only be undertaken where the individual has the necessary competence and where any additional technical, safety or project requirements have been met.

Supervision and Management

With suitable occupational experience, a heritage roofer may progress towards responsibility for coordinating teams, planning specialist work, controlling resources or supervising conservation projects.

A relevant progression route can include a Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Supervision (Construction) – Traditional and Heritage Building where the person's role develops into site supervision.

Those who later take substantial management responsibility for traditional and heritage construction projects may progress towards a Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Management (Construction) – Traditional and Heritage Building, subject to having access to the management responsibilities needed for assessment.

CSCS Card

The exact qualification is currently mapped to the Heritage Roof Slating & Tiling occupation for a gold advanced-craft CSCS route. The relevant card is the Gold Skilled Worker card at advanced-craft level.

Holding the qualification supports the qualification requirement for this mapped occupation, but completing the NVQ does not automatically issue a CSCS card. The worker must make a separate card application and meet the other current scheme requirements.

Heritage Roof Slating & Tiling Card Mapping

The occupational mapping specifically identifies:

the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction) – Roof Slating and Tiling Occupations
the occupation of Heritage Roof Slating & Tiling
the gold advanced-craft route.

This is an exact occupational mapping rather than an assumption based simply on the qualification being a Level 3 construction NVQ.

Applicants should provide the required qualification evidence when making the card application and confirm that the occupational description matches the work for which the card is required.

Health, Safety and Environment Test

The mapped test for Heritage Roof Slating & Tiling is the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Specialist Work at Height test.

For a normal CSCS application, the appropriate Health, Safety and Environment test must have been passed within the required current validity period, unless an approved alternative applies.

Applicants should check the current Card Finder immediately before applying because card names, evidence arrangements, test requirements and application rules can change.

FAQs

The following questions address practical issues that are particularly important for learners considering this heritage roof slating and tiling qualification, including workplace access, materials, endorsements, assessment and card requirements.

No. This qualification specifically assesses heritage roof slating and tiling and includes mandatory competence in conservation and restoration, re-laying heritage roof coverings, replacing them and carrying out heritage repairs and maintenance.

A general roofing qualification may assess competent installation of roofing systems without requiring the same breadth of conservation principles, salvage practices, historic-fabric protection and heritage project evidence.

Yes, genuine workplace access is essential. The practical skills evidence required by the occupational units cannot be simulated.

The learner therefore needs access to real projects that provide sufficient opportunities to demonstrate the mandatory heritage roofing activities, selected optional units and relevant endorsements.

No. Current approved structures require all eight mandatory units and two selected optional units.

The optional units should normally reflect the learner's genuine work, such as natural slate, plain tile, advanced curved or swept details, or weathering leadwork. Completing one optional specialism does not imply competence in the others.

Not necessarily for every optional unit. Several optional slating and tiling units use an endorsement for either new materials or reclaimed materials.

The endorsement should reflect the material used in the workplace evidence. Working successfully with reclaimed coverings can require additional attention to condition, sizing, existing holes, dimensional variation, lap, gauge and visual integration.

The qualification assesses more than the age of the property. Heritage competence includes recognising significant existing fabric, retaining materials where appropriate, salvaging reusable coverings, integrating new and existing work sensitively and applying conservation principles such as minimum intervention.

Learners must also know when to stop and report rather than continue on the basis of conjecture, and they may need to record conservation work and unexpected findings.

Not for the required workplace skills evidence. The occupational units specify assessment in a work environment and do not permit simulation of the practical workplace competence.

Training activities can support skills development, but final competence evidence must come from genuine occupational work that provides the required tasks and endorsements.

Strong evidence commonly combines assessor observation with work products and supporting records. This can include evidence of stripping and salvaging coverings, setting out, re-laying, replacement and repairs, together with photographs, specifications, drawings, conservation records and relevant job documentation.

Questioning or professional discussion is used where the assessor needs to confirm technical knowledge, conservation reasoning, safety responsibilities or decisions that cannot be established from the finished roof alone.

Yes. The qualification is specifically mapped to the Heritage Roof Slating & Tiling occupation for the gold advanced-craft route.

The qualification does not issue the card automatically. A separate application is required, and the mapped Health, Safety and Environment test is the Specialist Work at Height test. Applicants should confirm the current Card Finder requirements before applying.

Application Form

Apply Now For This Course

An adviser will review your eligibility for Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction)—Roof Slating and Tiling and reply within 1–2 working days.