Craft plasterer
Level 3 · AdvancedConstruction and the built environment 1.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
The Craft Plasterer apprenticeship trains you to apply plaster and render to internal and external surfaces, produce ornamental plasterwork, and restore decorative features to a professional craft standard. You will work with solid plastering, fibrous plasterwork, and drylining systems in residential, commercial, and heritage settings. This Level 3 qualification represents the full craft standard for plastering and leads to careers as a skilled tradesperson or specialist heritage restorer.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Properties of gypsum, lime, and cement plasters and when each is used
Solid plastering - scratch coat, floating coat, and finishing coat application
External rendering systems including traditional and modern thin-coat systems
Fibrous plasterwork and the production of cornices, roses, and mouldings
Heritage plastering including lime work and restoration of decorative features
Drylining as an alternative to wet plaster and its compatibility with plastering
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Prepare backgrounds by suction control, lathing, and mechanical key
Apply multi-coat plaster systems to walls and ceilings to a flat finish
Run plain and decorative mouldings using screeds and running rules
Cast and fix fibrous plaster features including cornices and enrichments
Apply external renders including scratch-coat and finish-coat systems
Repair and restore lime plasterwork on historic buildings to original profile
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
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What it’s really like
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