Who is this course suitable for?
This course is suitable for anyone who:
Upcoming training course dates
September 25, 2026
October 09, 2026
October 23, 2026
November 20, 2026
December 18, 2026
About the Ground Source Heat Pump Systems (Level 3) – Focused Course
This specialist course gives learners the chance to develop the expertise necessary to begin installing and maintaining ground source heat pumps. It forms part of our wider renewable energy training for qualified engineers developing their skills in low carbon heating technologies.
Ground source heat pumps extract thermal energy from the ground and transfer it into a building’s heating and hot water system. System performance is closely connected to factors such as heat loss, flow temperatures, emitter sizing and system hydraulics, making the skills covered within our Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water Systems Level 3 course particularly relevant to engineers working with heat pump systems.
As a focused course, your learning programme will be built around the installation, maintenance and ongoing servicing of ground source heat pump systems. Engineers looking to develop their skills across both ground source and air source technologies can take this training as part of our four day Air and Ground Source Heat Pump Systems Level 3 Combined Course.
You will learn:
Once you earn your NVQ Diploma in Plumbing & Heating, you will be eligible to:
The course is designed for learners from a heating background (wet central heating systems), allowing them to establish a strong knowledge of in the installation and maintenance of ground source heat pump systems (specifically non-refrigerant circuits).
How is the Ground Source Heat Pump Systems (Level 3) – Focused Course delivered and assessed?
The course is taught over four full days of teaching at our Stafford training centre.
You will be assessed through work performance activities and two or three online assessments, depending on which learning route you take.
There are no credits or honours for this course. You will either pass and gain your qualification, or you will be referred and have the opportunity to retake the exam at a later date. If you need to retake the exam, you will receive a free re-sit for each module.
What are the next steps after earning my Ground Source Heat Pump Systems (Level 3) qualification?
Once you are qualified to install and maintain ground source heat pump systems, we will offer you support on next steps. This can include connecting you with partner organisations and clients who are in need of qualified installers, either on a direct of subcontracting basis.
Frequently asked questions
If you were to secure your certificate, you can apply to be a member of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). However, if you are registering strictly for the installation of heat pumps, you will be required to demonstrate that you have a contract in place with a qualified design engineer.
You do not need to have any specific professional experience of working with heat pump systems, however, you need to hold a N/SVQ Level 2 or 3 certificate in your relevant professional industry. For heating installers, you need to have experience installing wet central heating systems, evidenced either by Gas Safe, OFTEC, MCS or HETAS registration.
You will also need your WRAS Water Regulations/Water Byelaws Certificate or equivalent.
For more information about the specific requirements for this course, please visit the LCL Awards course page. If you’re unsure whether this course is right for you or not, you can talk to our team of teachers and engineers. We’ll be happy to offer you all the advice and guidance you may need.
Staffordshire Training Centre is one of approximately 160 approved centres delivering training and carrying out assessments under the LCL Awards.
The LCL Awards is one of the Building Services Engineering (BSE) sectors foremost awarding organisation and certification bodies. They’re a well-trusted and recognised organisation; read more about the LCL Awards here.
If you were unable to successfully pass the assessment phase of the course, you would be referred and together, we’d work out what approach is best for you.
If a candidate wants to retake their exams, we provide you with the opportunity to re-sit any module exam for free. We’d also work with them to ensure they can further develop their skills and practical experience, giving them the confidence and knowledge to hopefully pass their exams this time round.
If we or the candidate feels they need more significant support or that the course isn’t suitable for them, we would work with the candidate to work out the best outcome for all.
To join this course, you will need to be over 18 years of age and no longer in full-time formal education.
We’re lucky enough to have a great mix of people join us in our classrooms, and we often welcome learners who are over 50.
