Network Cable Installer (NCI®) Apprenticeship

The First Government Funded Apprenticeship for Network Cable Installation

The Network Cable Installer (NCI®) Apprenticeship has been developed by CNet Training in collaboration with major installation companies. It is perfect for individuals wishing to start a career in the cabling industry. Apprentices will learn to complete both copper and fibre cable installation projects and demonstrate the highest levels of skills and expertise in network cabling infrastructure. It is suitable for new entrants to the cabling industry, as well as those already working within the cable installation environment wishing to improve their skills.

CNet is an Apprenticeship Main Provider, approved to fully deliver Apprenticeships by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (EFSA). The ESFA recognises high-quality Apprenticeship training and education companies, and approval from the ESFA provides confidence and total reassurance for employers and apprentices, knowing that CNet has undergone rigorous assessment and meets strict criteria regarding the delivery and efficacy of the training.

Those who undertake the Apprenticeship will gain the knowledge and skills to confidently install, test and certify copper and fibre cable installations whilst working to the correct standards and best practices. Apprentices will also gain the desired levels of competency and confidence to install Smart Building technology such as wireless access devices, VoIP telephony, CCTV cameras, door access controls and biometric security systems.

The NCI® Apprenticeship is levy funded to £9,000 or 95% co-funded. The NCI® Apprenticeship is deemed to be an ‘Apprenticeship in a Box’, purely because all the planning has already been completed in readiness for both employers and employees to follow. This includes a detailed timetable of professional development activity to enhance knowledge and skills and become professionally certified, therefore alleviating the need for the employer to dedicate valuable time and effort in this essential planning stage and allowing the apprentice to commence straight away.

What does the certification mean to organisations?
For employers who have a team of certified individuals, it will instantly deliver confidence and competitive advantage to the market place, in addition to helping to secure the organisation’s professional reputation as a leader in its field. There is also a benefit of the ROI associated with having a team of professionally trained staff, as they work more competently, accurately and efficiently.

Thank You to All the Companies That Are Committed to Supporting the Network Cable Installer (NCI®) Apprenticeship

CNet Training has created a special digital badge to recognise the companies committed to supporting the Network Cable Installer (NCI®) Apprenticeship.

Client Story - Bluepoint Technologies Ltd

Read about Bluepoint Technologies' experience with the Network Cable Installer (NCI®) Apprenticeship.

Topics covered in the NCI® Apprenticeship include the following:

  • Health, Safety & Welfare in Construction
  • Working at Heights
  • Asbestos Awareness Training
  • First aid at work
  • Manual Handling
  • Containment Systems Installation Practice (with employer)
  • Network Equipment Installation Practice (with employer)
  • Asbestos Awareness
  • Cable Management
  • Contextualised English for the NCI®
  • Contextualised Maths for the NCI®
  • Cyber Security
  • Effective Cost Control
  • Emerging Technologies
  • People Skills
  • Team Working
  • Time Management

Certified Network Cable Installer (CNCI®) - Copper Cabling

  • Introduction to Structured Cabling
  • LAN Hardware
  • PCs, switches, routers
  • Installing Structured Cabling
  • Network Overview
  • Signal Theory
  • Health & Safety
  • Standards
  • Fire Safety
  • Documentation & Labelling
  • Testing & Commissioning
  • Practical
  • Fluke CCTT (Copper)

Certified Network Cable Installer (CNCI®) - Fibre Optic Cabling

  • Safely Working with Fibre/General safety
  • Network Overview
  • Hardware
  • Theory of Light Transmission
  • Cable
  • Enclosures
  • Standards
  • Connectors
  • Outside Plant (OSP)
  • Fibre Splicing
  • Fibre Termination
  • Fluke CCTT (Fibre)

Certified Integrated Infrastructure Technician (CIIT®)

  • The Internet of Things
  • Compliance
  • Power over Ethernet
  • Virtual Local Area Networks
  • Health and Safety
  • IT Networks
  • Fixing and Fastening IT Networks
  • Understanding Intelligent Architecture
  • Practical Installation Tasks

The Network Cable Installer (NCI®) Apprenticeship is 12 – 15 months in duration.

The Network Cable Installer NCI® Apprenticeship is perfect for individuals wishing to acquire the very latest skills and knowledge to enable them to complete both copper and fibre cable installation projects to the highest standards whilst gaining valuable On-the-Job training.

It is relevant to those who have recently embarked on a new career within the cable installation sector, and to those who already work within the cable installation sector and wish to improve their skills.

Maths and English at Level 2 is required to attend the Apprenticeship. No previous experience is required to attend this program, however, you do need to be employed within the network infrastructure industry.

Successful learners will have the knowledge and skills to confidently install, test and certify a complete copper and fibre cable installation.

On successful completion you will gain the following:

  • Internationally and industry recognised BTEC Level 3 Award Certified Network Cable Installer (Copper)
  • Internationally and industry recognised BTEC Level 3 Award Certified Network Cable Installer (Optical Fibre)
  • Official Certified Network Cable Installer (CNCI®) certification
  • Official Certified Integrated Infrastructure Technician (CIIT®) certification
  • Internationally and industry recognised Level 4 BTEC Professional Award Certified Integrated Infrastructure Technician

Along with the following:

You will also benefit from:

  • The ability to work to the correct standards and best practices
  • Building contacts with other like-minded industry professionals
  • Knowing you are a leader in network cabling and are therefore contributing to the changing face of the industry
  • Become one of the elite certified network cable installers in the country
  • Demonstrate the highest levels of knowledge, skills and expertise in network infrastructure installation
  • Plan individual tasks and materials required accurately and with confidence
  • Install copper and fibre network cable infrastructure projects on time and within budget, maximising profit potential
  • Gain valuable On-the-Job training
  • The apprentice will be eligible to apply for registrations as a full member of the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals
  • Confidence that employees have a full and rounded knowledge in network infrastructure installation, improving competency and productivity
  • Reduced time and material wastage – employees can carry out tasks in an accurate and timely manner
  • Delivering infrastructure installation projects to the highest quality standards resulting in increased client satisfaction and potential repeat business
  • Meet contractual requirements reducing sign off and project hand over times
  • Barking and Dagenham College - Romford, East London
  • Dudley College of Technology
  • Northern College – Barnsley, South Yorkshire
  • CNet Training Head Quarters Bury St Edmunds

There is no upper age limit to enrol an apprentice onto this apprenticeship program, but all applicants must be 16 years or over.

No, the apprenticeship is a mixture of both off and on the job training. 80% of the apprenticeship is on the job training and 20% is off job/external block release training over the 12–15 month period.

The NCI® apprenticeship is levy funded to £9,000 or 95% co-funded. For employers who are levy payers it will come out of the Apprenticeship levy pot, for Non levy payers is costs 5% of the apprenticeship (£450)

There is also an additional charge charged by the college for some of the health and safety certificates which can’t be funded through the apprenticeship. This is about £500 and will be covered by the organisation.

No, but organisation and apprentices will need to be prepared for the apprentice to travel to the college for the training.

20% Off-the-Job/external block-release training and 80% on the job training.

On completion, apprentices will be eligible to apply for registration as a full member of the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals.

Successful completion of the NCI® Apprenticeship also awards:

  • Official Certification - Network Cable Installer (CNCI®) certification
  • BTEC Level 3 Award Certified Network Cable Installer (Copper)
  • BTEC Level 3 Award Certified Network Cable Installer (Optical Fibre)
  • NRSWA Guarding and Lighting/Operative - Unit 2
  • Eligibility for an ECS (Electrotechnical Certification Scheme) Network Infrastructure Installer Gold Card
  • Eligibility for ECS Apprentice card while completing the Apprenticeship
  • Fluke CCTT® Certification
  • Plus: Official Certification - Certified Integrated Infrastructure Technician (CIIT®) Official Certification

Yes, as part of the NCI® Apprenticeship, learners will receive Health and Safety Training in the following:

  • Health, Safety & Welfare in Construction
  • L2 Confined Spaces
  • Working at Heights
  • PASMA Mobile Towers
  • Asbestos Awareness Training
  • NRSWA Guarding and Lighting Operative
  • First aid at work

Download the NCI® Apprenticeship Prospectus here for more information.

For employers who have a team of certified individuals, it will instantly deliver confidence and competitive advantage to the marketplace, in addition to helping to secure the organisation’s professional reputation as a leader in its field. There is also a benefit of the ROI associated with having a team of professionally trained and certified staff, as they work more competently, accurately and efficiently.

The NCI® Apprenticeship provides organisations with the confidence that their employees have a full and rounded knowledge in network infrastructure installation, improving competency and productivity. It ensures employees can carry out tasks in an accurate and timely manner and deliver installation projects to the highest quality standards.

There is no age limit on this Apprenticeship, but learners must be above 16.

No, the Apprenticeship is a mixture of both off and on the job training. (20% Off-the-Job/external block-release training and 80% On-the-Job training.

There are no direct costs to the apprentice to be involved in the NCI® Apprenticeship. The apprenticeship cost is £9,000 but government funded, for employers who are levy payers it will come out of the Apprenticeship levy pot, for Non levy payers is costs the organisation 5% of the apprenticeship (£450).
There is an additional charge charged by the college for some of the health and safety certificates which can’t be funded through the apprenticeship. This is about £500 and will be covered by the apprentice’s employer.

No, but you will need to be prepared to travel for the training you receive.

20% Off-the-Job/external block-release training and 80% On-the-Job training.

On completion, apprentices will be eligible to apply for registration as a full member of the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals.

Successful completion of the NCI® Apprenticeship awards:

  • Official Certification - Network Cable Installer (CNCI®) certification
  • BTEC Level 3 Award Certified Network Cable Installer (Copper)
  • BTEC Level 3 Award Certified Network Cable Installer (Optical Fibre)
  • NRSWA Guarding and Lighting/Operative - Unit 2
  • Eligibility for an ECS (Electrotechnical Certification Scheme) Network Infrastructure Installer Gold Card
  • Eligibility for ECS Apprentice card while completing the Apprenticeship
  • Fluke CCTT® Certification
  • Plus: Official Certification - Certified Integrated Infrastructure Technician (CIIT®) Official Certification

Maths and English at Level 2 is required to attend the Apprenticeship. No previous experience is required to attend this program, however if you are working in the Network Infrastructure industry, it will prove advantageous.

  • Become one of the elite certified network cable installers in the country
  • Follow the internal Apprenticeship route or the external Apprenticeship route
  • Demonstrate the highest levels of knowledge, skills and expertise in network infrastructure installation
  • Plan individual tasks and materials required accurately and with confidence
  • Install copper and fibre network cable infrastructure projects on time and within budget, maximising profit potential
  • Gain valuable On-the-Job training
  • Apprentices will be eligible to apply for registration as a full member of the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals

No, you must be an employee (for more information about apprenticeships visit https://www.gov.uk/become-apprentice)

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