What changes are being made to Skills for Wales qualifications?

Changes are being made to the range of Skills for Wales qualifications in 2026 and 2027, which will reflect changes which are being made to apprenticeship frameworks in construction in Wales. These changes will see five new qualifications for work-based learners, including apprentices, being introduced by City & Guilds.

Five new qualifications will be introduced:

• Construction (Level 2) – Bricklaying
• Construction (Level 2) – Scaffolding
• Construction (Level 2) – Site Carpentry
• Construction (Level 3) – Craft Bricklaying
• Construction (Level 3) – Craft Site Carpentry.

The following qualifications will be withdrawn, as their current purpose will be fulfilled by the new qualifications:

• Construction (Level 3) – Bricklaying [C00/4169/3]
• Construction (Level 3) – Site Carpentry [C00/4283/1].

What will the new qualifications offer to learners?

The qualifications will allow work-based learners to achieve separate level 2 and level 3 qualifications, beginning at level 2. Each qualification will be developed in line with recognised national standards to enable learners who successfully complete them to achieve recognition through a trade card.

Learners who successfully complete a level 2 qualification will be able to obtain a blue trade card. In bricklaying and site carpentry, level 3 qualifications will be available that enable progression from level 2 and the achievement of a qualification will be recognised at a higher level through a gold trade card.

How are the qualifications being designed?

The new qualifications will be designed to ensure they meet national standards, as set by CITB. Initially, the qualifications will be aligned with the requirements of CITB’s Recommended Qualification Structures (RQSs), ensuring that learners who successfully complete them will be able to attain a relevant blue trade card.

However, the qualifications are being developed at a time of change for the way in which the construction industry is defining and expressing what it means to be competent in a construction occupation, which is seeing CITB introduce new Competence Frameworks, as well as reviewed National Occupational Standards and new RQSs. We anticipate the publication of these new documents in bricklaying and site carpentry during the initial years of the new qualifications. This could mean that some updates will be needed to these qualifications to ensure that learners who successfully complete them can obtain a relevant trade card. Any such updates will only be made to align with industry requirements that ensure the value and continued currency of these qualifications for learners. You can find out more about CITB’s work on Competence Frameworks on their website.

Will learners be able to choose to start at either level 2 or level 3 in bricklaying and site carpentry?

No. To align with changes to the apprenticeship framework, the new level 2 qualifications are providing the new entry point for work-based learners in bricklaying and site carpentry.

The new level 3 craft qualifications will provide opportunities for progression in these trades, for learners who have successfully completed a relevant level 2 qualification. These level 3 qualifications will only be suitable for learners who have achieved a relevant level 2 work-based learning qualification.

When are the changes happening?

There are key dates to be aware of:

Further key dates, including on the availability of each assessment, will be provided by City & Guilds in due course.

What does this mean for users of the existing level 3 qualifications in bricklaying and site carpentry?

Learners who are already registered on the existing level 3 qualifications in bricklaying and site carpentry will be able to complete their qualifications without interruption. They will be able to complete their qualifications until 31 August 2030. After this date, there will be no further opportunities for certification.

For learners who are currently taking an apprenticeship in bricklaying or site carpentry, but who have not yet registered for the level 3 qualification, they will be able to do so until 31 August 2026. After this date, no new registrations will be possible. Instead, the new level 2 qualifications for work-based learners in these trades are being introduced.

What does this mean for the other Skills for Wales qualifications?

Most Skills for Wales qualifications will not be impacted by this change. The following qualifications will continue to be available:

• Foundation in Construction and Building Services Engineering (Level 2)
• Core in Construction and Building Services Engineering (Level 2)
• Progression in Construction (Level 2)
• Progression in Building Services Engineering (Level 2)
• Construction (Level 3) qualifications in trades other than bricklaying and site carpentry
• Building Services Engineering (Level 3) qualifications.

The Skills for Wales awarding bodies are also working to expand the range of pathways available to learners.

Will existing level 3 apprenticeships remain the same?

Medr will be reviewing existing apprenticeship pathways in trades other than bricklaying and site carpentry. Further information will be issued by Medr.

What new pathways are being made available?

To support centres and learners with access to occupational routes used in Wales, two additional new qualifications for work-based learners, including apprentices, are being introduced from September 2026:

• City & Guilds Construction (Level 3) – Floorcovering
• EAL Building Services Engineering (Level 3) – Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps.

Register for updates on the Skills for Wales website to receive updates on the introduction of these new qualifications.

Will the fees for the new level 2 and level 3 qualifications be the same as existing level 3 qualifications?

No. The new qualifications are being developed so that they can be used on new construction apprenticeship courses which are being introduced by the tertiary education funder and regulator, Medr. As such, they are outside of the planned scope of the Skills for Wales suite. Qualifications Wales is providing some support to City & Guilds to offset a part of the additional costs involved in developing and introducing new qualifications, but it is highly likely that the fees associated with these new qualifications will be higher than those currently set for existing level 3 qualifications. These fees will support the viability of the new qualifications, as well as implementation and centre support activity which City & Guilds will carry out when introducing them.

City & Guilds will release details of the fees as development of the qualifications progresses. Medr will also outline funding rates for programmes of learning which include these new level 2 qualifications, and registration fees will be reflected in the funding rates.

Will learners who are registered on an existing level 3 qualification be able to transfer to a new level 2 qualification instead?

Medr will provide information about any possible transition scenarios for existing apprentices.

When the qualifications are approved, City & Guilds will provide further information about registration processes for the new qualifications.

Will there be any recognition of prior achievement of assessments taken as part of existing level 3 qualifications, should learners transfer to a new level 2 qualification?

No. However, there will be opportunities for learning providers to recognise prior learning. This is because many of the same National Occupational Standards will be reflected in both the existing level 3 qualifications and the new level 2 qualifications.