NEW: Level 3 Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician – ST0322
Ref : B26-64
Type : New Approval
Date : 28 May 2026
We are pleased to announce that NOCN has now developed the following apprenticeship standards and can now start delivering End Point Assessments:
Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician – Level 3 – V1.2 - 610/6928/0
Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician – Level 3 – V1.3 - 610/6929/2
All of the documents associated with this standard are now live and can be found on the Rubric/Proficient platform for centres that have a contract on this standard.
The changes that have occurred in version 1.2 when compared to the previous include:
| Version number & active dates | Area of Change | Detail of Change | Level of Impact |
| V1.1 to V1.2 01.10.2024 |
Funding | Funding band increased from £18,000 to £21,000 | Small |
| Occupational Standard — KSBs | Standard fully revised. KSBs now individually numbered (K1–K31, S1–S21, B1–B6). 11 new Knowledge statements added covering: gases under pressure (K10); collaborative working (K22); communication (K23); mental health and wellbeing (K24); EDI (K25); commissioning documentation and handover (K26); project leadership (K27); project management (K28); component warranty and regulatory requirements (K29); digital technology and GDPR (K30); ethical principles (K31). | Large | |
| Occupational Standard — Skills | New skills added: retrofit and retrofill to lower GWP refrigerants (S13); communication (S16); commissioning documentation and customer handover (S17); collaborative working (S18); project leadership (S19); digital technology and GDPR compliance (S20); ethical principles (S21). | Large | |
| Occupational Standard — Behaviours | New behaviour added: promotes and supports an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace (B6). Existing behaviours updated to align with new KSB numbering. | Small | |
| Assessment method — Observation removed | Work-based observation has been removed as a standalone EPA method. Competence previously evidenced through observation is now assessed through the Practical Skills Test and Development Journal Synopsis. | Large | |
| Assessment method — Development Journal Synopsis (new) | New EPA method. Apprentice maintains a development journal throughout the apprenticeship and produces a written synopsis prior to EPA gateway. Covers KSBs relating to sustainability, communication, collaboration, EDI, digital, CPD and ethics. Submitted to the EPAO and used as the basis for the Professional Interview. | Large | |
| Assessment method — Professional Interview (new) | New EPA method. Structured discussion conducted by the EPAO assessor, based on the Development Journal Synopsis. Approximately 45–60 minutes. Assesses broader professional and behavioural KSBs not covered by the MCQ or Practical Skills Test. Contributes to the overall EPA grade. | Large | |
| Knowledge and Skills Test (MCQ) | Format unchanged: 50 questions, 75 minutes, graded Fail/Pass/Merit/Distinction. Coverage updated to reflect v1.2 KSBs. Two entirely new KSB areas added to the MCQ: K10 (gases under pressure, brazing, pressure testing — 4 questions) and K29 (component warranty and regulatory requirements — 2 questions). Sustainability reduced from 12 to 5 questions (K20). Health and Safety reduced from 8 to 5 questions across K1 and K2. | Large | |
| Practical Skills Test | Structure retained: 2 tasks over 14–18 hours across maximum 3 days. Task 1 updated from refrigerant change to retrofit/retrofill of an existing system to a lower GWP refrigerant, reflecting new S13. Commissioning documentation and customer handover now explicitly assessed (K26, S17). Oral questions retained and structured around v1.2 KSBs. | Large | |
| Grading | Overall grade structure unchanged: Fail, Pass, Merit, Distinction. Grade now determined by three assessment methods (MCQ, Practical Skills Test and Professional Interview) rather than two. | Small |
The updated version (1.3) is the outcome of a systems update from Skills England and has not resulted in any material change to the assessment plan, so therefore all assessments will remain the same.
The documents available to centres include;
- Development Journal Synopsis
- EPA Guide
- Practical Equipment List
- Project and Task Evidence Template
Please see the link below to the new apprenticeship standard(s).
Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician – Level 3 – V1.2 - 610/6928/0
Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Technician – Level 3 – V1.3 - 610/6929/2
If you have any questions, please contact your Business Development Advisor.