Engineering maintenance technician

You could do a foundation degree or higher national diploma in engineering before applying for a job as a trainee technician.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science

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

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You could take a college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed to get a trainee position.

Courses include:

• engineering
• engineering technology
• mechanical engineering
• electrical and electronic engineering
• T Level in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing
• T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

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

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
• guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
• search for courses|/find-a-course

You could apply to a company to do an apprenticeship, such as:

• Engineering and Manufacturing Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
• Engineering Maintenance Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Mechatronics Maintenance Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

You could also apply for a place on an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship in a specific industry, like:

• aviation
• compressed air and vacuum manufacturing
• lifting equipment
• rail engineering
• heavy vehicle servicing

Foundation apprenticeship

You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.

If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:

• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• are in care or have been in care
• are in prison or have been in prison

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

You could start as an engineering operative and become a technician through on-the-job training and promotion.

Further information

You can get more advice about engineering careers through Tomorrow's Engineers and The Institution of Engineering and Technology .

As an engineering maintenance technician, you could:

• organise routine service schedules and assign tasks
• maintain electrical and mechanical systems like motors, gearboxes and pumps
• check instrument control panels
• find and fix faults and arrange for replacement parts
• complete job reports and inform production managers of progress
• do risk assessments and safety checks
• keep stock control and work records up to date

You could work in a factory, on a construction site or at a manufacturing plant.

Your working environment may be noisy and outdoors some of the time.

You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.