Painting and Decorating

Course overview

If you are looking to pursue a career in painting, decorating or a related construction occupation then the National Progression Award (NPA) in Painting and Decorating is for you. This award will provide you with the skills you need to enter the construction industry.  

You will be encouraged to gain a work placement with an employer within the painting and decorating trade for the duration of this course. These opportunities will be supported by your College lecturers but are not mandatory.

Practical work experience with an employer allows you to gain knowledge of the construction industry and will heighten your employability skills. 

This course is taught between Edinburgh College classrooms and our workshops where you will gain essential, hands-on and real-life experience of the construction trade. 

This course is a steppingstone towards an apprenticeship or employment as a painter or decorator which can lead to further learning of specialised skills or owning your own business. The course is based at Edinburgh College’s Granton campus. 

What you will learn

• Health and Safety in the Construction Industry

• Technical Drawing

• Information Technology

• Decorative Painting and Finishes

• Plastering

• Carpentry and Joinery

• The Core Skills of ICT, Numeracy and Communication will be developed and certificated on this course

How the course is assessed

• The course is unit based and will be graded through SQA Assessment Strategy through continuous assessment in both practical skills and theory 

Number of days per week

• 3 days per week over 36 weeks