Solar Thermal Domestic Hot Water Systems (PLA)
Level 3
Part Time
29 September 2025 — 1 October 2025
City Centre Campus, Cardiff
This course is available at other locations or at different start dates/levels.
About this course
The course will enable candidates to select the most appropriate solar system for a building based on the client’s needs and to install and maintain any of the common systems in the UK safely and efficiently.
This FREE course is only available to adults that are eligible for a Personal Learning Account (PLA). Personal Learning Accounts, funded by the Welsh Government, are available to employed adults living in Wales that wish to develop skills to progress or change career.
Find out if you're eligible today.
What you will study
The training course will cover the following:
- Introduction to solar heating
- Service and maintenance
- Solar collectors
- Hot water storage and key installation issues
- Preparation install a solar water heating system
- Fitting solar collectors
- Plumbing layout and design of solar water heating systems
- Control and power requirements
- System commissioning and handover to client
- Assessments consist of a combination of practical and theory examinations.
The certificate meets the requirements for MCS operators.
Entry requirements
Trainees should have a minimum
- N/SVQ Level 2/3 in Plumbing or equivalent earlier certification; or
- N/SVQ Level 2/3 in Heating and Ventilating (Domestic Installation) or equivalent earlier certification; or
- N/SVQ Level 2/3 in Heating and Ventilating (Industrial and Commercial Installation) or equivalent earlier certification; or
- N/SVQ Level 2/3 in Oil-Fired Technical Services or equivalent earlier certification; or
- N/SVQ Level 2/3 in Gas Installation and Maintenance or equivalent earlier certification: or
- A minimum 3 years demonstrable relevant experience AND if not included in the above qualification:
- Water Regulations/Water Byelaws
- Unvented Domestic Hot Water Storage Systems Stand-alone technical certificates/Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQ) (non-competency based) are NOT acceptable.
Important points
- The College welcomes contact with parents/guardians of students who are under 18.
- Additional support is available for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
- Cardiff and Vale College is committed to inclusion and values diversity. We are determined to promote equality of opportunity and to treat everyone fairly and with respect.
- Cardiff and Vale College reserves the right to make changes to this course without prior notice.
- Course fees are subject to change. Your fee will be confirmed prior to enrolment.
- All courses are accurate at the time of upload or print.
- Courses can only run if there are sufficient numbers.
- Please note, if you choose three or more course choices, then you may be referred for a careers appointment first. This does not apply to A Level or GCSE choices.
Key information
Start date
29 September 2025
End date
1 October 2025
Time of day
Day Time
Part Time
24 hours per week
Course code
RTCC3P01AA
L3
Qualification
Solar Thermal Domestic Hot Water Systems (PLA)
Facilities
Career prospects & further study
Heat Pump Systems Installer course.
Locations
City Centre Campus, Cardiff