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trades · United Kingdom edition

It’s easy to be a Bricklayer.

Bricklayers in the UK earn from around £25,000 as a newly qualified starter up to about £45,000 with experience, per the National Careers Service. Most train through a Level 2 apprenticeship (about 24-30 months), combining paid site work with a Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations and a CSCS card, the certification required to work on site.

Last verified Version 1By Editorial Team

Key facts

United Kingdom
Median salary (2026)

£35,000/yr

Range £25,000 – £45,000

National Careers Service

Time to qualify

2–3 years

Around 2 to 2.5 years via a Level 2 apprenticeship — the official Bricklayer apprenticeship standard gives a typical completion time of 24-30 months for the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations (Construction). Progressing to the Level 3 Advanced apprenticeship or specialising afterwards adds further time.

Cost to qualify

£0 – £60

Apprentices hold a free CSCS Apprentice card while training, and apprenticeship tuition itself is not paid for by the apprentice. The out-of-pocket cost applies mainly to a direct/experienced route to certification: the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test (£23.50 at a Pearson Professional Centre) plus the £36 CSCS Blue Skilled Worker card application fee.

All figures apply to United Kingdom. Salaries, licensing, and timelines differ by country — where other editions exist, switch between them at the top of the page.

Is it easy for you?

Tell us where you are now and get a personalized gap analysis for becoming a Bricklayer — what you’ve already met, what’s left, and your likely remaining time. Computed from the sourced requirements on this page; nothing is stored unless you explicitly ask us to introduce you to a programme afterwards.

How to become a Bricklayer — step by step

  1. 1

    Choose your entry route Decision typically made around age 16-18

    Decide between a college course (e.g. a Level 2 course or a T Level in On Site Construction), a bricklaying apprenticeship, or starting on-site as a labourer or hod carrier and training on the job.

  2. 2

    Complete a college bricklaying course or start as a site labourer Typically 1 year for a college course

    A college course covers basic construction and bricklaying skills before moving into work. Alternatively, start as a labourer or hod carrier and begin building the site experience needed toward an NVQ.

  3. 3

    Undertake a Level 2 Bricklaying apprenticeship Typically 24-30 months

    Combine paid employment with day-release or block study, working toward the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations (Construction), which is mapped to the official Bricklayer apprenticeship standard.

  4. 4

    Pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test Half-day booking; can be taken at any point during training

    A multiple-choice test on site safety topics, required within two years of applying for most CSCS cards, taken at a Pearson Professional Centre or via CITB's mobile testing service.

  5. 5

    Apply for a CSCS card Card typically arrives within 5 working days of a successful application

    Hold a free Apprentice card while training. Once the Level 2 NVQ is achieved and the HS&E test is passed, apply for the Blue Skilled Worker card needed to work unsupervised on most UK sites.

  6. 6

    Build up supervised site experience Ongoing through the apprenticeship or traineeship

    Practise brick, block, cavity-wall and mortar-joint work under supervision, gathering the evidence needed to complete NVQ competence units.

  7. 7

    Progress to Level 3 Advanced Craft Bricklaying (optional) A further 12-18 months

    Take on more complex brickwork — reinforced structures, chimneys, heritage restoration — and build toward supervisory roles via the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations.

  8. 8

    Specialise, supervise, or go self-employed Typically after 3-5+ years' experience

    With several years' experience, move into site supervision, become a construction estimator or site inspector, specialise in heritage brickwork, or set up as a self-employed subcontractor.

Requirements to be a Bricklayer

  • Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations (Construction) or equivalent apprenticeship qualificationeducationRequired

    Achieved via a Level 2 Bricklaying apprenticeship, a college NVQ, or on-site assessment while working as a labourer or hod carrier.

  • CSCS card (Construction Skills Certification Scheme)certificationRequired

    Needed for site access and training. Apprentices hold a free Apprentice card, upgrading to the Blue Skilled Worker card (valid five years) once the Level 2 NVQ is achieved.

  • CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) testcertificationRequired

    Must be passed within the last two years to apply for a Blue Skilled Worker card. Costs £23.50 at a Pearson Professional Centre.

  • GCSEs in English and maths (or equivalent)educationOptional

    Not required for the Foundation apprenticeship or direct on-the-job entry, but a college course, T Level, and the Intermediate/Advanced apprenticeships typically ask for some GCSEs, commonly including English and maths.

  • Manual dexterity and physical fitnessskillRequired

    The work involves repetitive lifting, working outdoors in all weather, and often working at height.

  • On-the-job site experienceexperienceRequired

    Whether gained via apprenticeship, labouring, or a college placement, hands-on site experience is required to complete the NVQ competence units.

A day in the life of a Bricklayer

A bricklayer's day usually runs 8am to 6pm across a 40-44 hour week, mostly outdoors on housebuilding, commercial or restoration sites. Tasks include reading building plans, mixing mortar, laying bricks and blocks to a line and level, checking alignment with levelling tools, repairing mortar joints, and building decorative or specialist brickwork such as arches, chimneys or feature walls. Much of the work is done standing, bending and lifting, often in a small team, and sometimes at height on scaffolding.

Is it worth it to be a Bricklayer?

Bricklaying suits people who enjoy visible, physical, outdoor craftwork and want a trade income without university debt — pay progresses from around £25,000 to £45,000+ as you gain experience (National Careers Service), and self-employed bricklayers can set their own rates once qualified. It's genuinely not for everyone: the work is physically demanding, often outdoors in poor weather and at height, with early starts and travel between sites. It's a poor fit if you want predictable indoor hours, dislike repetitive precise manual work, or want to reach a high salary quickly without several years of on-site experience and NVQ evidence-gathering.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Leaving the CSCS card and CITB HS&E test until the end of training — most principal contractors won't let you on site without a valid card, so delaying it can stall an apprenticeship or first job.
  • Assuming labouring experience automatically counts toward the NVQ — competence-based NVQ units need evidence gathered and assessed on-site from day one; unlogged years of labouring often don't convert into qualification credit.
  • Underestimating the physical demands — the job involves sustained lifting, working outdoors in all weather and at height, which catches out people who picture bricklaying as light, indoor-adjacent work.
  • Picking a training provider or 'fast-track' course without checking it leads to a recognised Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations — a qualification that isn't accepted for the Blue Skilled Worker card leaves you applying for an Experienced Worker card instead.
  • Letting the Blue Skilled Worker card lapse — it's only valid for five years, and turning up to a new site with an expired card means being turned away regardless of skill level.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need GCSEs to become a bricklayer?

It depends on the route. Direct entry as a labourer or hod carrier, and the Foundation apprenticeship, need no set qualifications. A college course or T Level typically asks for 4-5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 including English and maths, and the Intermediate and Advanced apprenticeships usually expect some GCSEs including English and maths.

What's the difference between the Apprentice and Blue Skilled Worker CSCS cards?

The Apprentice card is issued free of charge while you're on a recognised apprenticeship. Once you've achieved a construction-related Level 2 NVQ/SVQ and passed the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test, you can apply for the Blue Skilled Worker card, which is valid for five years and is what most sites expect from a qualified bricklayer.

How long does it take to become a fully qualified bricklayer?

The official Bricklayer Level 2 apprenticeship standard gives a typical completion time of 24-30 months, covering on-the-job training and the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations. Progressing to the Level 3 Advanced apprenticeship for more complex or supervisory work adds further time.

Can I become a bricklayer without doing an apprenticeship?

Yes. You can start as a construction site labourer or hod carrier and train on the job, or take a college bricklaying course first. You'll still need to work toward a Level 2 NVQ and a CSCS card to work unsupervised on most sites.

How much do bricklayers earn in the UK?

The National Careers Service puts starter pay at around £25,000 a year, rising to about £45,000 with experience. Self-employed bricklayers set their own rates, so earnings can vary more than for employed roles.

What does the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test involve, and what does it cost?

It's a computer-based multiple-choice test on site safety topics, taken at a Pearson Professional Centre or via CITB's mobile testing service. It costs £23.50 at a Pearson centre, and a pass is valid for two years when applying for most CSCS cards.

Sources

Every figure on this page traces to one of these primary sources.

  1. 1About the Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test — CITB · accessed September 7, 2026
  2. 2Blue Skilled Worker card — CSCS · accessed September 7, 2026
  3. 3Bricklayer apprenticeship standard (ST0095) — Skills England / Institute for Apprenticeships · accessed September 7, 2026
  4. 4Bricklayer career profile — Go Construct (CITB) · accessed September 7, 2026
  5. 5Bricklayer job profile — National Careers Service · accessed September 7, 2026
  6. 6Don't pay more than £36 for a CSCS card — CSCS · accessed September 7, 2026
  7. 7Types of CSCS cards — CSCS · accessed September 7, 2026