Plasterer
Level 2 · IntermediateConstruction and the built environment 2 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
This Level 2 apprenticeship trains you in the traditional and modern craft of plastering, covering solid plastering, dry lining, and decorative plasterwork on residential and commercial buildings. You will prepare surfaces, apply coats of plaster, and finish walls and ceilings to a smooth, ready-to-decorate standard. It can lead to senior plasterer, supervisor, or specialist heritage and decorative plastering roles.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Solid plastering techniques for walls and ceilings using sand and cement
Dry-lining methods including plasterboard fixing and skim finishing
Preparation of surfaces including bonding, beading, and dubbing out
Mixing plaster products to correct consistency and coverage ratios
Health and safety on plastering sites including manual handling
Reading construction drawings and specifications for plastering works
Decorative plasterwork including cornices, coving, and mouldings
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Prepare walls and ceilings by cleaning, bonding, and fixing beads
Apply scratch coats, floating coats, and finish coats of plaster
Skim plasterboard and achieve a smooth flat finish ready for decorating
Fix plasterboard sheets to steel or timber frames on dry-lining systems
Apply external render to brickwork and block walls
Cut and fix decorative coving, cornices, and plaster mouldings
Clean up and maintain tools and scaffolding at end of working day
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 2 (Intermediate) - roughly GCSE level. Often open with few or no formal qualifications - a strong first step. Some employers ask for a couple of GCSEs.
What’s next: Typically leads on to a Level 3 (Advanced) apprenticeship.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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