City & Guilds
Examination in Caravan Service Engineering
PLEASE NOTE - This is an exam only, based upon skills engineers have learnt in the workshop. There is not a taught course.
Touring caravans and motorhomes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and customers have even higher expectations of the level of service engineers' competency. CITO provide the only industry specific City & Guilds qualification, designed to assess and formally recognise the abilities of touring caravan and motorhome service engineers.
Why take the assessment?
As the great majority of training for service engineers takes place in the workshop, there is as yet no formal training scheme available within the Industry. The City & Guilds assessment therefore provides evidence that the service engineer is competent and performs to a recognised standard of work.
Achieving a City & Guilds qualification demonstrates commitment to ensuring that work carried out meets customers' high expectations. That workshop staff hold the Certificate is therefore now a requirement within the Approved Workshop Scheme.
What is involved?
The qualification consists of an observed service carried out in a caravan workshop, and a short multiple choice exam (tick box) to make sure that candidates understand some of the theory behind British and European standards, gas, electricity, health & safety and other issues.
Although under exam conditions, the observed practical assessment simply follows the service engineer through a caravan service, typical of their everyday work. Examiners understand that candidates are practical and non acadaemic, and do their best to put them at ease. To prepare the candidate for their written exam, the candidate will receive a copy of the Engineers' Handbook which contains all the background information they will need in order to pass. In addition, CITO also holds Pre-exam Seminars to help the candidate understand the material and any aspect of the assessment they may be uncomfortable with. There are no trick questions or hidden problems for them to identify. Both the practical and the written assessments examine the candidate on their knowledge, the competence of their every day work and conformity to health & safety requirements.
NOTE:
There are no recognised ‘training schemes’ available as such for caravan service and repair at the moment. The majority of engineers are trained by their employers within the individual caravan dealerships. The City & Guilds qualification is only an exam and does not constitute part of a taught course. Candidates are assessed on their experience and training they have received at their respective workshops following the Engineers Handbook and the above syllabus.
What happens when I pass the assessment?
Having achieved a successful pass in both parts of the assessment, the candidate will receive a City & Guilds certificate and registration as a qualified engineer and be sent their CITO Skills Passport to record continuing training and development. Each year the two candidates with the highest overall marks benefit from a cash award sponsored by SkillsActive.
Locations & Cost
The written assessments are held across the country at regional exam centres during November.
Written Exam Locations
Typically exams are held at Aldershot, Bradford, Cornwall, Exeter, Glasgow, Gloucester, Maidstone, North Wales and Nottingham. However, when there is sufficient demand, additional centres of Bournemouth, Cambridgeshire, Cardiff, Carlisle, Manchester and Tyneside may be used.
Practical Exam Locations
However CITO relies upon the goodwill of dealers across the country in providing workshop space for the practical assessments. Exam centres are planned each year according to demand and location of candidates. The practical exams are held on a rolling basis. The majority of assessments take place in the autumn and winter, however where ever possible candidates will be assessed as soon as possible.
- NCC/BH&HPA Members: £250
+ VAT
- inclusive of £100 written / £150 Practical
- Non Members: £370 + VAT
- inclusive of £150 Written / £220 Practica
Pricess will increase by £20 from 1st April 2009
Enrolement Closing Dates
- Autum enrolement (November Written Exam) - 31st July
- Spring enrolement (March Written Exam) - 31st December
Further Information
If you would like to know more about the qualification, wish to book a place or are interested in hosting an assessment in your workshop, please do not hesitate to contact CITO for further information.
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