NVQ Level 3 in Painting and Decorating

What is the NVQ Level 3 in Painting and Decorating?

The NVQ Level 3 in Painting and Decorating is a nationally recognised, work-based qualification for experienced decorators.

It’s designed for professionals who are already working on-site and want to formalise their skills, take on more responsibility, or move into supervisory roles.

Who Should Take the Level 3 Painting and Decorating?

This qualification is ideal for decorators who already hold a Level 2 NVQ or have significant on-site experience.

If you’re taking on more responsibility at work, such as overseeing other decorators, managing projects, or ensuring quality standards, this NVQ is the next step.

You might be a team leader, supervisor, or senior decorator looking to:

• Gain formal recognition for your advanced skills
• Qualify for the CSCS Gold Skilled Worker Card
• Move into better-paid or more secure roles on-site
• Demonstrate your ability to plan, monitor, and lead decorating work

What’s Covered in the Painting and Decorating Level 3 NVQ?

To achieve the NVQ Level 3, you’ll complete 7 mandatory units and 2 optional units. You’ll cover the core responsibilities expected of a senior decorator, while tailoring parts of the course to your specialist skills or job role.

The NVQ assesses your ability to carry out advanced decorating tasks on-site, from planning and surface preparation to applying finishes and working safely with access equipment.

Core areas covered include:

• ✓ Confirming work activities, resources, and methods on-site
• ✓ Developing and maintaining professional working relationships
• ✓ Erecting and dismantling access equipment (e.g. scaffolding, towers)
• ✓ Preparing surfaces using advanced techniques
• ✓ Applying surface coatings with brushes and rollers
• ✓ Conforming to health, safety, and welfare standards on-site

Optional units include skills like:

• ✓ Hanging wallcoverings
• ✓ Applying stencilled, textured, or specialist finishes
• ✓ Using spray application techniques
• ✓ Installing coving and decorative mouldings

🛠️ Note: Your assessor will help you choose the most relevant optional units based on your current role, responsibilities, and the decorating tasks you carry out on-site.

How Do I Complete this NVQ?

You’ll complete the NVQ Level 3 qualification by building a portfolio of evidence that reflects your skills, responsibilities, and leadership in real-world decorating jobs.

Once you enrol, your assessor will arrange an induction to:

• Set up your access to our online Learning Management System (LMS)
• Show you how to upload evidence and monitor your progress
• Guide you through each stage of the portfolio and assessment process

You’ll work through the NVQ at your own pace, supported one-to-one by your assessor with regular check-ins, feedback, and tailored advice — all designed to help you demonstrate the advanced competencies required at Level 3.

How Long Will it Take Me to Finish the NVQ Level 3?

The NVQ Level 3 is completed at your own pace, depending on how quickly you can gather evidence from your day-to-day decorating work. Since the qualification is fully work-based, you can fit it around your current role without stepping away from site.

You’ll be asked to submit written responses, site documentation, and photo or video proof of the tasks you lead or complete on the job. Your assessor will break the process down into clear steps and provide guidance at every stage.

While you have up to 12 months to finish, most learners complete the NVQ in around 4 to 5 weeks, especially if they’re working regularly and stay engaged with their assessor.

How is the NVQ Level 3 Painting and Decorating Assessed?

This NVQ is assessed entirely on-site, based on the tasks you already carry out in your current role. You'll build a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates your ability to manage, plan, and execute painting and decorating work to an advanced standard, with no exams or classroom time involved.

As part of your assessment, you’ll be asked to:

• Answer brief knowledge questions
• Upload photos or videos of your decorating work
• Provide documents like job specs or risk assessments
• Submit a witness statement from a supervisor or manager

Are there Any Entry Requirements for this Level 3 Qualification?

To enrol in the NVQ Level 3 in Painting and Decorating, you should already be working in the trade and ideally have completed a Level 2 NVQ or hold equivalent experience.

This qualification is aimed at decorators who are already managing jobs, overseeing quality, or supervising other workers on-site. You’ll need access to active decorating projects where you can demonstrate planning and advanced application techniques as part of your evidence portfolio.

What Will I Receive After Passing this Level 3 NVQ in Painting?

Once you complete the course, you’ll be awarded the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Decorative Finishing – Painting and Decorating. This is a nationally recognised qualification that confirms your advanced skills in the trade.

You’ll also qualify to apply for the CSCS Gold Skilled Worker Card - a recognised badge of competence for decorators in senior roles, including supervisors and those managing on-site decorating projects across the UK.

How Can I Progress After Completing this Painter and Decorator Qualification?

After completing the NVQ Level 3 in Painting and Decorating, the next step for many decorators is the NVQ Level 4 in Construction Site Supervision. This qualification is ideal if you want to move beyond hands-on decorating into a formal supervisory or management role on-site.

It’s also the recognised path to applying for the CSCS Gold Supervisor Card, giving you formal status as a construction site supervisor across the UK.

What Are the Benefits of Completing this Level 3 NVQ?

This advanced qualification offers a wide range of professional benefits for decorators ready to step up in their careers:

• ✓ CSCS Gold Card Eligibility – Qualify to apply for the Gold Skilled Worker Card, ideal for supervisors and lead decorators.
• ✓ Leadership Recognition – Show you're capable of managing projects, guiding teams, and maintaining high standards on-site.
• ✓ Access to Senior Roles – Unlock opportunities for better-paid work, team leader positions, or site supervision roles.
• ✓ Respected Industry Status – Strengthens your profile with clients and employers as a decorator working to nationally recognised standards.
• ✓ Work-Based, No Exams – No classroom learning or formal tests — just real evidence of your on-site decorating experience.
• ✓ Nationally Recognised Qualification – Valid for life and trusted across the UK construction industry.
• ✓ Built-In Health & Safety Awareness – Reinforces your understanding of site safety, regulations, and responsible working practices.

Can I Complete the NVQ Level 3 in Painting and Decorating Online?

Yes - this qualification is entirely online and completed through on-site evidence. You’ll upload proof of your work using our online learner platform, with no classroom attendance or exams required.

The entire process is based on the advanced decorating tasks you already carry out as part of your role.

How Much Does the NVQ Level 3 Painting and Decorating Cost?

The full cost of the NVQ Level 3 in Painting and Decorating is £899.99. This price includes one-to-one support from your assessor throughout the course, full access to our online learning and portfolio platform, your initial induction, regular progress check-ins, and final certification.

💡 There are no hidden charges, and we offer interest-free instalment plans to help make the qualification as accessible and stress-free as possible.

What Job Roles Can this Level 3 Painter and Decorator Qualification Lead to?

Achieving your Level 3 in Painting and Decorating can lead to higher-responsibility roles across the construction and decorating sectors, such as:

• ✓ Senior Painter and Decorator
• ✓ Site Supervisor (Decorating Team)
• ✓ Team Leader or Lead Hand
• ✓ Quality Inspector (Finishes)
• ✓ Specialist Finisher or Heritage Decorator

This qualification positions you for better-paid and more stable roles, especially if you’re already leading tasks or overseeing others on-site.

How Much Can I Earn with this Level 3 Painting and Decorating Course?

Qualified decorators holding a Level 3 NVQ and CSCS Gold Card often earn between £38,000 and £50,000+ per year, depending on experience, location, and the scope of responsibility.

Supervisors and lead decorators on commercial or heritage projects can earn significantly more.

How to Apply for Your CSCS Gold Card (Painting and Decorating)

To apply for the CSCS Gold Skilled Worker Card, you’ll need to:

1. Successfully complete this NVQ Level 3 in Decorative Finishing – Painting and Decorating.
2. Pass the CITB Health, Safety & Environment (Operatives) Test — within the last 2 years.
3. Submit your application via the official CSCS website, with evidence of both the NVQ and test pass.

📌 The Gold CSCS Card is valid for five years. For more details, see our blog on How to Get a CSCS Gold Card.