Course Overview
This Diploma in Engineering Technology – Level 3 course has been developed to provide you with knowledge of Health and Safety in an Engineering Environment, Engineering Organisational Efficiency and Improvement and Railway Infrastructure to include Railway Civil Engineering, Track Engineering Construction, Overhead Line Equipment Construction and Signalling Systems. The course is a mix of both practical and theory lessons, where you will be required to create a portfolio and complete practical-based assessments, undertaken on the rail track. You will be provided with full rail-approved Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to use on your learning journey.
Course Includes
- Level 3 EAL Diploma in Engineering Technology Qualification
- Safety Critical Training
- Network Rail Approved Drug, Alcohol and Medical Screening
- Small Plant training and assessment
- Sponsorship/Sentinel Registration
- All training conducted by Industry Experts
Entry Requirements
The course is open to all and no previous experience or qualifications are required. This qualification has been developed for those interested in pursuing careers in the rail industry.
Course Duration
The course is based upon 45 days of training, typically 2 days classroom-based plus an additional 1 day of home-study per week over 15 weeks. This course is based on sessions totalling 8 hours per day. Once you have completed all of the required assessments of your Level 3 qualification, you will attend the Safety Critical Training (SCT). We will fund this SCT course for you, once you have successfully completed your Diploma in Engineering Technology qualification, subject to you passing a medical and drug and alcohol screening.
The course consists of one qualification comprising the units listed below.
- Engineering and Environmental Health and Safety
- Engineering Organisational Efficiency and Improvement
- Railway Infrastructure – Railway Civil Engineering
- Railway Infrastructure – Track Engineering
- Railway Infrastructure – Track Engineering Construction
- Railway Infrastructure – Track Maintenance
- Railway Infrastructure – Overhead Line Equipment Construction
- Railway Infrastructure – Signalling Systems
This is the term used to cover the suite of mandatory course add-on module~ that must be completed before you can be allowed to work on, or near, rail infrastructure. Having the Level 3 Rail Engineering Technology qualification and/or competencies on its own is not sufficient for maintaining the track. Included in the Safety Critical Training are the following subjects:
- Personal Track Safety (PTS) – This is a licence which every worker must have before being allowed to work ‘On or Near’ any rail infrastructure owned or managed by Network Rail. The PTS course is assessed by multiple choice and written tests and is designed to help workers understand Safe Systems of Work, put in place to keep you and others safe.
- Track Induction Course (TIC)Â – This will provide the basic underpinning
knowledge of permanent way construction, components and working methods associated with maintenance, renewal, repair, adjustment and dismantling of Permanent Way assets. - Overhead Line Equipment Construction (OLEC)Â – This is a classroom-based course with the aim of providing the knowledge required under OLEC 1 to access Overhead Line Construction Sites safely and effectively for those who are directly or indirectly involved with Overhead Line Construction activities.
- Manual Handling – This course will cover manual handling risk factors and how injuries can happen, how to use mechanical aids, and how to carry out safe manual handling, including good handling techniques. You will also learn about Safe Systems of Work relevant to your tasks and environment.
- Emergency First Aid at Work– This will provide you with the knowledge and confidence to be able to respond to a potentially life-threatening medical emergency, either through illness or injury .
You will receive a certificate recognising your achievement for the Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Technology. On successful completion, you will also receive a Competency Card, which outlines the tools you are competent in using on the railway, which could include Impact Wrench, Cobra TT/ Robel Tamper and Hand Tools.
Other Useful Information
Hand Tools/ Small Plant Training and Assessment
You will get to use a range of hand tools that are commonly used in the Permanent Way (PWay) department. You will be trained on checks to be made prior to using tools and equipment and the processes to follow, should they be defective. You will have the opportunity to use the tools and equipment in a practical environment whilst carrying out maintenance activities; you will also be assessed on an ongoing basis throughout the course on your ability to use the tools and equipment correctly.
Passing the Course
The course is a mix of both practical and theory lessons, where you will be required to complete a portfolio and complete practical-based assessments. Your trainer is there to teach and support you throughout your learning journey with us. There are theory and practical assessments within your Safety Critical Training, delivered by a National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR) accredited provider .
Sponsorship
Prior to undertaking your Safety Critical Training course, you will be sponsored by a company licenced under the Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS). Your sponsor is essentially an agent who enables you to complete your Safety Critical Training and will provide support in finding you job opportunities. This may be within their own company or secondary companies they work with.
Network Rail Approved Drugs, Alcohol and Medical Screening
As a pre-requisite to the Safety Critical Training course, you must undergo a medical examination to Network Rail Standard and also pass a drug and alcohol screening. We will arrange these and fund them, however, if you fail to attend the session you will then need to organise and pay for a private assessment. A positive test result will automatically result in you being unable to gain any employment within this industry for the next five years. Network Rail operates a zero-tolerance policy to drugs and alcohol.
Sentinel Card
The Sentinel Card is your passport to working within the rail industry. It is only available to workers sponsored by Network Rail companies, not the general public, and it can only be purchased by your Sponsor. Your Sentinel Card is your digital passport to the Rail Industry .
Destination Data
FAQs
The Sentinel Card is the rail passport to working within the rail industry. It is only available to workers employed by rail engineering companies, not the general public.
You will register with your sponsor, and complete your Safety Critical Training. Once the Safety Critical Training is completed, the sponsor will upload the competencies onto the Sentinel database. On the successful completion of the Safety Critical Training, the Sentinel Card will be ordered and should arrive with the sponsor within 14 days to be activated.
As probationary workers, you can expect between 8 and 24 hours of work per week. A probationary worker wears a blue hat on site. Typically, once you have reached 20 entries into the “blue book” signed by a Controller of Site Safety (COSS), the probation period will be reviewed by the sponsor. As a general rule, when a white hat is received, hours can increase, these hours are dependent on the participant’s circumstances around travel, response times regarding shifts, and availability.
Yes, you will receive a certificate, which may be an e-certificate. Please note that it
may take up to 12 weeks to arrive.
Yes, you are not tied exclusively to your primary sponsor and you can have up to two
secondary sub-sponsors.
At the end of your course, you may be eligible or choose to advance onto higher
courses or additional training known as progression. Further training refers to the
ongoing process of enhancing skills, knowledge, and abilities beyond the initial training or education. If you would like to receive further information on additional courses, please email infobetaris@gloscol.ac.uk
There is no cost for PPE, as this is supplied during the course for you by
Gloucestershire College and this kit is yours to keep.
We value all our learners and welcome all feedback, whether positive or negative. Please let us know how we did, and if there is anything we can do to improve for future learners. We are really interested in your next steps so please let us know if you progress onto another course, find employment, or do an apprenticeship.
