The PIABC Level 2 Award in Timber and Panel Products is recognised as giving an excellent foundation in and introduction to the timber industry.  Our Award in Timber and Panel Products course provides a level of insight and understanding of the wood industry that adds real and measurable value to careers and businesses.   This is a distance learning course where you are supported throughout by a work-based mentor.

Why study towards the PIABC Level 2 Award in Timber and Panel Products?

Completion of the L2 Award in Timber and Panel Products demonstrates your commitment to your career and to the industry.
Delegates who successfully complete the course are equipping themselves for progression within the industry.
 

Who should take the course?

The PIABC Level 2 Award in Timber and Panel Products is best suited to those who are new to the industry, or wish to broaden their knowledge.  This course provides product knowledge and a wide understanding of the timber industry. 

How can I study the course?

Our PIABC Level 2 Award in Timber and Panel Products course is studied via distance learning to allow you to fit your learning around a busy professional and personal life.  We will provide you with all the necessary course materials which you should work through with the support or your mentor.  Once you have completed the workbooks and self-assessment tasks you should register to take the final assessment, in the form of a 90 minute exam, which takes place in June and November each year.  The whole course represents a study time of 100 hours, of which 12 should be guided learning with others and we anticipate that you should be able to complete the course is approximately six months.

How is the course structured?

Using the workbooks provided, learners must work their way through a number of units, which include tasks to check your understanding.

Part 1 - Timber and panel products
The first part of the course is comprised of two sections:

  • Timber:
     Softwoods and hardwoods and where they come from
     Examples of the main species traded and their characteristics
     Sizes, prices and grades
     Preservation and environmental considerations
  • Panel Products:
    Plywood, particleboard fibreboard and OSB: characteristics manufacture and grades
    Adhesives, properties and exposure classes
    Storage and handling
 

Part 2 - Timber use: carcassing and joinery
The second part of the course is also made up of two sections.

  • Carcassing
    Types and applications
    Timbers and grades used
    Sizes, strength grading, classes and marks
  • Joinery
    Applications and reasons for use
    Timbers and grades
    Mouldings, wood trim, flooring, profiled sections
    Components, windows, doors and stairs
    Fire doors and FR boards
    Product care

How is the course assessed?

The course is assessed through a formal written examination lasting one and a half hours.  You should take this exam as part of PIABC's main examination series in either June or November and you should sit the exam once you have completed your workbook.  The exam is based on the learning outcomes and assessment criteria set out in the course specification by the awarding body. The whole course represents a study time of 100 hours, of which 12 should be guided learning with others. This is a Award with a credit value of 10.

How much does the course cost?

Our course fee is £350 (+VAT at 20% where applicable) and there is an additional fee of £125 (VAT free) to register you with the awarding body, PIABC.

This makes the total cost including VAT £545.

IOM3 members and subscribers to our Business Partner Programme are entitled to a discount of 10% on the course fee.


 

Register to study our distance learning course leading to the Level 2 Award in Timber and Panel Products and their Uses qualification from PIABC.