Building technician
Environmental and Land

How to become a building technician

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship

University

You could take a foundation degree or higher national diploma in:

• construction
• the built environment
• surveying
• civil engineering

University (Entry requirements)

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma

College

You can do a college course, which may help you to get a job as a trainee technician. Courses include:

• Level 3 Diploma in Civil Engineering
• Level 3 Extended Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment
• T level in Design, Surveying and Planning

College (Entry requirements)

You may need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level

Apprenticeship

You can get into this job by completing an advanced apprenticeship in construction, surveying or building services design. You can also do a construction engineering technician or a design and build technician higher apprenticeship. The exact apprenticeship you take will depend on your job role and duties.

Apprenticeship (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
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More info

Registration

• you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site

Further information

You can get more advice on how to become a building technician from Go Construct.

What it takes

Skills & Knowledge

You'll need:

• knowledge of building and construction
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• thinking and reasoning skills
• customer service skills
• analytical thinking skills
• maths knowledge
• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you'll do

Day to day

Your duties day-to-day tasks may include:

• estimating different costs for use in bids for contract tenders
• negotiating with suppliers on the cost of materials, equipment and labour
• checking the quality of suppliers
• helping to plan the methods used in each construction stage
• drafting construction plans and blueprints using CAD software
• monitoring build progress against completion dates
• reporting on progress at update meetings
• preparing construction sites before work begins
• supervising teams of contractors

Working environment

You could work on a construction site or in an office. Your working environment may be at height and outdoors in all weathers. You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

Career path & progression

With experience you could move into construction project management or specialise in estimating, CAD drafting or buying. You could find work with national and international building firms and contractors, central and local government, and organisations that do their own construction work, like utility companies, major retailers and the NHS.