Construction Skills College provide intensive hands-on accredited plastering training to equip students with essential skills needed to complete work away from the centre.
At Construction Skills College (TradeTeacher), our plastering courses in the UK are designed for beginners, career changers and tradespeople who want practical, job-ready plastering skills they can use in the real world. Training is hands-on in realistic bays with tools and materials supplied, so you build confidence using methods you will face on real jobs. The aim of our courses is to teach you the skills needed for real plastering work including boarding, skimming, and patch and repair work.
The following video showcases our plastering course content, the size of our training bays and the work completed.
Based in Stoke-on-Trent, we welcome learners from across the UK. You are welcome to visit the training centre and see courses running before booking.
Best option: 5 Day Plastering Course
Ideal for beginners, homeowners and property renovators who want a practical introduction to boarding, skimming and repair work.
Best option: 9 Day Advanced Plastering Course
The strongest practical route for learners who want more hands-on time, more realistic backgrounds, better finish quality and greater confidence for paid work.
Best option: 9 Day Advanced Plastering Course
You attend the same 9 day practical plastering course, then choose whether to complete it with no certificate, an AIM Qualifications Level 3 unit certificate titled “Plastering Skills” for £100, or the City & Guilds Level 1 unit certificate for £100.
Best option: Saturday Plastering Course
A weekend route for learners who want to build skills steadily while keeping weekdays free.
Best option: Skimming Practice Course
Ideal if you want more hands-on time improving trowel control, timing and finish quality.
Best option: Free 6 Week Plastering Course
A longer, fully funded skimming-focused route for eligible learners who want much more daily practice and the chance to achieve a British Gypsum-assessed certificate.
5 days £600
Beginner-friendly route covering key plastering skills and workflow fundamentals. Ideal for DIY, property work, and building a solid base before progressing to more advanced work. This course is non-accredited and you will receive an attendance certificate.
9 days £1,150
More in-depth, more practice time, and wider scenario coverage. This is the strongest practical route for building confidence on real backgrounds, improving finish quality, and moving towards paid plastering work.
Optional qualification routes available:
Business support included: estimating materials, planning jobs, and producing simple quotes for plastering work.
4 Saturdays £600
Practical training around work and other commitments. A strong route for beginners who want to build skills steadily over Saturdays. This course is non-accredited and you will receive an attendance certificate.
Practice £150
Extra hands-on practice for learners who want additional time improving trowel control, timing and finish quality. Ideal for confidence-building and refining technique.
6 weeks Free
A longer, fully funded British Gypsum skimming course for eligible learners. Delivered Monday to Friday over 6 weeks, this route is ideal if you want maximum repetition, more daily practice, and the chance to work towards a British Gypsum-assessed certificate.
| Your goal | Best course option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Learn the basics quickly | 5 Day Plastering Course | Build core skills and workflow foundations you can apply immediately on small projects. |
| Get confident for paid plastering work | Advanced Plastering Course (9 Days) | More practice time, more realistic backgrounds and stronger finish quality for career changers and paid work. |
| Need an accredited plastering route | Advanced Plastering Course (9 Days) + AIM or City & Guilds route | You attend the same practical course, then choose whether to complete it with no certificate, an AIM certificate, or a City & Guilds certificate. |
| Train around work and commitments | Saturday Plastering Course | Learn steadily over Saturdays while keeping weekday commitments. |
| Improve your skimming finish | Skimming Practice Course | Extra practice time focused on timing, control and producing a cleaner finish. |
| Want a longer funded route with more daily practice | Free Plastering Course (6 Weeks) | Longer duration option for eligible learners who want more skimming repetition and a British Gypsum assessment opportunity. |
Many learners can complete small DIY tasks after a beginner course, but if your goal is paid work, more practice time helps you build consistency and speed faster. A common route is: learn fundamentals, get more practice time, build a small portfolio, then take on progressively larger domestic jobs.
If you have never plastered before, we start from the basics, including tools, preparation, mixing, application and finishing, so you can complete projects with a smoother and more professional-looking result.
Ideal if you want to retrain into a practical trade. Longer routes give you more trowel time and wider background coverage, helping you build confidence for real domestic and site work.
Popular with builders, property renovators and maintenance teams who want stronger skills for patching, boarding and skimming to improve finish quality and reduce reliance on subcontractors.
Popular with people who are renovating their own property and want to complete plastering work themselves. This enable them to save money, not have the hassel of finding and booking in a tradesperson, being able to complete elements of the renovation as and when they want and have more flexibility with changing timescales.
| Route | What it is | Additional cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard course | Practical training only, no certificate | Included | DIY learners, property projects, skill building and practical confidence |
| AIM certificate | AIM Qualifications Level 3 unit certificate titled “Plastering Skills” | £100 | Learners who want short accredited evidence of training |
| City & Guilds qualification | City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Construction Skills (Plastering) | £100 | Learners who want a recognised City & Guilds certificate for marketing |
| Course | Duration | Price (inc. VAT) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastering Course | 5 days | £600 | View |
| Advanced Plastering Course | 9 days | £1,150 | View |
| AIM Qualifications Level 3 unit certificate titled “Plastering Skills” | Completed during 9 day course | £100 | View |
| City & Guilds Level 1 certificate | Completed during 9 day course | £100 | View |
| Saturday Plastering Course | 4 Saturdays | £600 | View |
| Skimming Practice Course | Practice | £150 | View |
| Free Plastering Course | 6 weeks | Free | View |
To secure your place, we normally ask for a £150 deposit, with the remaining balance due four weeks before your course start date.
Your plastering training is delivered by Mark, who has been working as a plasterer for around 20 years. During that time he has worked across residential, commercial and site-based jobs, completing boarding, skimming and floating work. Mark achieved his Advanced Craft plastering qualification around 20 years ago and has been on the tools ever since.
His teaching is practical, supportive and based on real-world methods, helping learners build a smoother finish, better timing and stronger confidence on real plastering tasks.
We are based in Stoke-on-Trent (ST6 2DJ). We regularly welcome learners travelling from across the UK and overseas. We encourage visits while courses are running, ideally towards the end of a course, so you can see the quality of work produced and the training environment for yourself.
If you are staying locally, there are hotels, B&Bs and campsites nearby. See local options here: Student accommodation.
Recent learner feedback:
“I would recommend this course to others, very useful for getting plenty of practice / experience. The most interesting and useful parts of the training course for me was being taught all aspects of plastering in person, professionally and being able to practice. The college is set out very well and seems to cover everything needed and enough support to learn effectively.”
J Brinkworth, 6-week Plastering Course, July 2026
“The most interesting and useful parts of the training course for me was everything from start to finish, classroom work to practical was very good, learnt a lot from Mark, very good tutor. Learn a lot in the space of 6 weeks.”
K Burke, 6-week Plastering Course, July 2026
“A great place to learn work skills that can be turned into work prospects. I could not fault any of it. The tutor Mark demonstrated and explained everything step by step in a way we all picked up on. ”
P McGauley, 6-week Plastering Course, July 2026
“I would recommend this course to others, shows you how to do a real job which you can earn money in a short amount of time. Friendly, knowledgeable course, tutor goes out of his way to help you. Thanks to Dave and the team for their help over the last 2 weeks.”
G Brown, 9 Day Plastering Course, July 2026
“The most interesting and useful parts of the training course for me was practical skills and use of these skills to plaster different walls and areas. Useful to get skills both for personal use or future work.”
C Voysey, 9 Day Plastering Course, June 2026
“Yes, I would recommend this course to others, great use of ELCAS, I feel confident going forward completing my own plastering jobs. What I like about the college is the environment to work in. Mark was experienced, knowledgeable and always willing to help take time to improve my technique.”
L Jewitt, 9 Day Plastering Course, June 2026
No. Our plastering courses are suitable for complete beginners and start from the basics.
If your goal is paid plastering work, most learners choose the 9 day plastering course for more practice time, broader background coverage and optional accredited routes. Or the 6 week course as this gives you more time to practice, although 6-weeks is a long committment so ensure you can afford the time off work, travel, etc.
You can complete the 9 day course and receive an attendance certificate, add the AIM Qualifications Level 3 unit certificate titled “Plastering Skills” for £100, or add the City & Guilds Level 1 unit certificate for £100.
The AIM option is a shorter accredited unit certificate and is often chosen by learners who want evidence of structured training. The City & Guilds option is a more widely recognised awarding organisation and is typically chosen by learners who specifically want a recognised City & Guilds certificate.
You attend the same standard 9 day course, but complete additional assessments during the course.
Plastering is very learnable with the right instruction and enough practice time. The biggest improvements come from understanding timing, trowel control and correct background preparation.
A short course can give you a strong foundation, but confidence for paid work comes from practice on real jobs. The best route is: learn the correct methods, practise, start with smaller jobs, then build a portfolio.
Yes. We include practical guidance on estimating materials, time, planning jobs and producing simple quotes, which many career changers find useful when starting out.
Yes. Tools and materials are provided throughout your training.
You will practise on realistic training bay backgrounds and scenarios, with a focus on preparation, suction control and improving finish quality in the real world.
Yes. The Saturday route is designed for learners who want to build skills steadily around weekday commitments.
If you want extra hands-on time to improve trowel control, timing and finish quality, the skimming practice course is a useful confidence and technique booster.
It is a longer funded route for eligible learners who want much more daily skimming practice and the opportunity to work towards a British Gypsum-assessed certificate. See the course page for current eligibility and details.
We accept ELC funding (ELCAS). We can also advise on other funding routes where applicable, including ReAct+ and DWP Low Value Provision support for eligible learners.
Yes. Contact us to arrange a visit. We encourage visits while courses are running, ideally towards the end of a course so you can see the standard of work produced.
Our success stories highlight the remarkable journeys of our learners — from enrolling in our courses to achieving tangible, real-world outcomes. Whether it’s a career change, skill development, or personal growth, their achievements inspire us all.
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We value every voice. The feedback we receive helps us grow, improve, and continue delivering the best possible experience. Here’s what our learners have to say about their journey with us.
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Choosing the right training centre is key to reaching your goals. At Construction Skills College, we provide expert instructors, practical hands-on training, and tailored support to boost your success. When you compare our course content with others, you’ll see we cover more in the same or less time. We achieve this by minimizing classroom sessions and focusing on real-world practical work—not small, low-value projects that don’t prepare you for actual job sites.
Choosing A Training Centre
Discover top-tier plastering courses at Construction Skills College, designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel in plastering projects. Whether you’re enhancing your own property, seeking employment, or launching a self-employed career, our courses prepare you for success. Visit our excellent training centre to witness a course in action and see the exceptional work produced by our learners.
Our intensive plastering training courses are delivered by seasoned tradespeople in a supportive, friendly, and professional environment. We prioritize your success, offering ongoing support even after course completion. Feel free to drop by our centre or contact your tutor directly to discuss any aspect of your training, ensuring you’re confident in applying your new skills.
At Construction Skills College, we maximize your learning with less classroom time and more hands-on practice. Our short yet intensive courses dive into practical work from day one, guided by expert instructors. Master plastering through extensive practice in our spacious training bays, designed to build your confidence for real-world projects. When choosing a training provider, compare training bay sizes and visit during a course to speak with learners and assess the quality of work firsthand.
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