Engineering covers a wide range of sectors and activities, and is a fast moving and diverse industry with many occupational routes including a significant number of roles at Technician level, Foundation Apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships and Graduate level Apprenticeships can be supportive in meeting the needs of the sector in many areas of engineering skills requirements.
The Level 3 qualification is work based but candidates are required to attend college to complete an NC or HNC and this can take between 12 and 24 months depending on the chosen route. The qualification structure requires the learner to complete common mandatory units within their chosen pathway followed by a number of optional units from a provided selection but additional units can be taken to meet a business’s needs. There are 4 separate pathways under this framework. The first 4 mandatory units apply to each pathway as listed below:
Full details of the qualification can be found on the SQA or EAL Website as appropriate using the following link :
Full details of the Modern Apprenticeship framework can be found on the Skills Development Scotland Website using this link :
| Qualification | Modern Apprenticeship |
| Awards Body | EAL |
| SVQ Level | 3 |
| SCQF Level | 6 |
| Course Code | GM1T 46 |
Mandatory Units
All 4 mandatory assessment routes must be completed
| SICM3/001A | Complying with statutory regulations and organisation safety requirements |
| SICM3/002A | Using and interpreting engineering data and documentation |
| SICM3/003A | Working efficiently and effectively in engineering |
| SICM3/004A | Handing over and confirming completion of installation or commissioning activities |
Optional Units
Pathway 1 – Commissioning SICMA
Learners must complete a further 1 assessment route from the optional section (total of 5 units) for this pathway
Group B : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SICM3/020A | Commissioning mechanical equipment and systems |
| SICM3/021A | Commissioning electrical/electronic equipment and systems |
| SICM3/024A | Commissioning instrumentation and control equipment and systems |
| SICM3/025A | Commissioning fluid power equipment and systems |
| SICM3/032A | Commissioning waste/foul water distribution equipment and systems |
| SICM3/034A | Commissioning refrigeration equipment and systems |
Pathway 2 – Traction Lift Installation SICMB
Learners must complete a further 7 mandatory assessment routes (total of 11 units) for this pathway
Mandatory Group B : all 7 mandatory assessment routes must be completed
| SICM3/035A | Carrying out fault diagnosis on lift installations |
| SICM3/036A | Measuring and setting out lift installations |
| SICM3/037A | Installing lift well and ancillary equipment |
| SICM3/038A | Installing traction lift equipment |
| SICM3/039A | Installing lift ropes and chains |
| SICM3/040A | Installing lift doors, frames and ancillary components |
| SICM3/041A | Checking and setting lift installations |
Pathway 3 – Welding Machine Settings and Operating SFWEC
Learners must complete a further 2 optional assessment routes – 1 from Group A and 1 from Group B (total of 5 units) for this pathway
Group A : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SICM3/010A | Preparing mechanised arc welding equipment for production |
| SICM3/011A | Preparing resistance spot, seam and projection welding machines for production |
Group B : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SICM3/016A | Welding materials with mechanised arc welding equipment |
| SICM3/017A | Welding materials using resistance spot, seam and projection welding machines |
Pathway 4 – Plateworking (3mm upwards) SFWED
Learners must complete 6 optional assessment routes – 1 from Group A, 1 from Group B, 2 from Group C and 2 from Group D (total of 9 units) for this pathway
Group A : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SICM3/022A | Marking out components for metalwork |
| SICM3/027A | Developing and marketing out templates for metalwork |
Group B : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SICM3/032A | Cutting plate and sections using shearing machines |
| SICM3/033A | Cutting and shaping materials using portable thermal cutting equipment |
| SICM3/034A | Cutting materials using saws and abrasive discs |
| SICM3/066A | Operating CNC fabrication equipment |
Group C : Two optional assessment route must be completed
| SICM3/035A | Bending and forming plate using press brakes or bending machines |
| SICM3/036A | Forming platework using power rolling machines |
| SICM3/037A | Producing and finishing holes using drilling machines |
| SICM3/038A | Producing platework assemblies |
Group D : Two optional assessment route must be completed
| SICM3/028A | Joining fabricated components using mechanical fasteners |
| SICM3/031A | Producing fillet welded joints using a manual welding process |
| SICM3/039A | Slinging, lifting and moving materials and components |
Pathway 5 – Sheet Metalworking (3mm or less) SFWEE
Learners must complete a further 3 mandatory assessment routes from Group A, plus 3 additional optional assessment routes – 2 from Group B, and 1 from Group C (total of 9 units) for this pathway
Group A : The following 3 mandatory assessment routes must be completed
| SICM3/022A | Marking out components for metalwork |
| SICM3/023A | Cutting sheet metal to shape using hand and machine tools |
| SICM3/024A | Forming sheet metal using hand and machine tools |
Group B : Two optional assessment routes must be completed
| SICM3/025A | Producing sheet metal assemblies |
| SICM3/026A | Heat treating materials for fabrication activities |
| SICM3/027A | Developing and marking out templates for metalwork |
Group C : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SICM3/028A | Joining fabricated components using mechanical fasteners |
| SICM3/029A | Bonding engineering materials using adhesives |
| SICM3/030A | Joining materials by resistance spot welding |
| SICM3/031A | Producing fillet welded joints using a manual welding process |
| SICM3/039A | Slinging, lifting and moving materials and components |
| SICM3/066A | Operating CNC fabrication equipment |
Pathway 6 – Structural Steelwork SFWEF
Learners must complete a further 6 optional assessment routes – 1 assessment route from Group A, 1 from Group B, 2 from Group C and 2 from Group D (total of 9 units) for this pathway
Group A : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SICM3/022A | Marking out components for metalwork |
| SICM3/027A | Developing and marking out templates for metalwork |
Group B : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SICM3/032A | Cutting plate and sections using shearing machines |
| SICM3/033A | Cutting and shaping materials using portable thermal cutting equipment |
| SICM3/034A | Cutting materials using saws and abrasive discs |
| SICM3/066A | Operating CNC fabrication equipment |
Group C : Two optional assessment route must be completed
| SICM3/040A | Forming structural sections using machines |
| SICM3/041A | Producing structural steel ancillary components |
| SICM3/042A | Producing major structural components/sub-assemblies |
| SICM3/037A | Producing and finishing holes using drilling machines |
Group D : Two optional assessment route must be completed
| SICM3/028A | Joining fabricated components using mechanical fasteners |
| SICM3/031A | Producing fillet welded joints using a manual welding process |
| SICM3/039A | Slinging, lifting and moving materials and components |
| SICM3/043A | Erecting structural steelwork |
Pathway 3 – Equipment Installation SICMC
Learners must complete a further 1 assessment routes from Optional Group B (total of 5 units) for this pathway
Group B : One optional assessment route must be completed
| SICM3/005A | Installing mechanical equipment |
| SICM3/006A | Installing electrical/electronic equipment |
| SICM3/008A | Installing instrumentation and control equipment |
| SICM3/009A | Installing fluid power equipment |
| SICM3/017A | Installing waste/foul water distribution equipment |
| SICM3/019A | Installing refrigeration equipment |
Pathway 4 – Hydraulic Lift Installation SICMD
Learners must complete a further 6 mandatory assessment routes from Optional Group B (total of 11 units) for this pathway
Mandatory Group B : all 6 mandatory assessment routes must be completed
| SICM3/035A | Carrying out fault diagnosis on lift installations |
| SICM3/036A | Measuring and setting out lift installations |
| SICM3/037A | Installing lift well and ancillary equipment |
| SICM3/039A | Installing lift ropes and chains |
| SICM3/040A | Installing lift doors, frames and ancillary components |
| SICM3/041A | Checking and setting lift installations |
Workplace Core Skills
| F427 04 | Communication at Level 5 |
| F42B 04 | Numeracy Level 5 |
| F42F 04 | Information and Communication Technology Level 5 |
| F42K 04 | Problem Solving Level 5 |
| F42P 04 | Working with Others Level 5 |