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Education & Training
BTEC National Certificate
in Polymer Processing & Materials Technology
The North East Polymer Centre, based in Stockton-on-Tees, has recently been established by Stockton Riverside College in order to support the region’s polymer industry in the areas of education, training and technical assistance.
As part of our education and training provision, the centre offers the BTEC National Certificate in Polymer Processing & Materials Technology and this factsheet provides an outline of the course, its content, assessment, progression routes and qualifying conditions.
What is the National Certificate?The BTEC National Certificate in Polymer Processing & Materials Technology is a Level 3 specialist work related qualification. Recently developed by BTEC, the course will suit individuals working in the polymer industry in a technical capacity, people who are considering career change or those undertaking an advanced modern apprenticeship
Nationally recognised, the course is accredited by the Qualifications Curriculum Authority.
Who will benefit from enrolling on the National Certificate?Those individuals most likely to find the course beneficial are as follows:
- Operators moving to a team leader role
- Advanced Modern Apprentices (AMA’s)
- Polymer technicians
- Technical sales people
- Setters/operators
- People looking for a career change
The course is comprised of 12 units, which can be separated into 4 core units and 8 specialist units. A list of the units is shown below:
Core Units
- Introductory Science for Polymer Technicians
- Mathematics & Statistics for Polymer Technicians
- ICT & MIS in the Polymer Industry
- Basic Polymer Technology
Specialist Units
- Plastic Materials
- Plastic Processing
- Engineering Studies
- Polymer Technology Investigations
- Polymer Process Engineering
- Further Maths for Technicians
- Health, Safety & Welfare
- Quality Assurance & Control
A variety of methods are used to assess the BTEC National Certificate. The following list is not exhaustive, but indicates the most regularly used means of assessment:
- Case studies
- Assignments
- Work-based assessment
- Projects
- Performance observations
- Time-constrained assessments
Both internal and external assessment and verification are utilised for this qualification
How long is the course of study?The BTEC National Certificate is studied over 2 academic years
What is needed to start the course?Prior to commencement, individuals will need to have knowledge of manufacturing, and specifically the plastics/polymer industry.
Typical qualifications that course entrants may have are as follows:
- BTEC first qualification in a related vocational area
- Intermediate GNVQ in a related vocational area
- 4 GCSE’s at grade C or higher, to include Maths, English and a science
- A Foundation Modern Apprenticeship (FMA)
- Another qualification equivalent to the level shown above
- Relevant experience within the polymer industry
The following study options exist after successful completion of the BTEC National Certificate:
- BTEC HNC in Polymer Processing & Materials Technology
- A foundation degree
- A degree in a related area of study
- Additional specialist polymer courses
Stockton Riverside College Harvard Avenue Stockton-On-Tees TS17 6FB United Kingdom
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