Level 3 Diploma in Construction Planning & Project Controls

1. Construction Planning : Introduces construction project planning, project objectives, scope, project phases, work sequencing, construction methodologies, planning responsibilities, milestones and the relationship between project planning and successful delivery.

2. Work Breakdown and Scheduling : Develops knowledge of work breakdown structures, activities, dependencies, sequencing, network logic, programme development, critical-path concepts, milestones, constraints and baseline schedules. ISO 21511:2018 provides guidance on work breakdown structures and their use in project planning and control.

3. Resource Planning : Covers labour, plant, materials and equipment planning, resource allocation, productivity considerations, resource loading, resource conflicts, site constraints and techniques for supporting efficient construction-resource utilisation.

4. Progress and Cost Control : Develops competence in measuring physical progress, updating programmes, monitoring planned versus actual performance, basic cost control, expenditure tracking, forecasting and variance analysis. ISO 21508:2026 provides current guidance on earned value management and its integration with project monitoring and control.

5. Risk and Change Control : Examines construction-project risks, risk registers, risk responses, emerging risks, change identification, change evaluation, approval workflows, programme effects, cost implications and documentation of approved changes.

6. Reporting and Forecasting : Develops practical skills in project-control reports, progress dashboards, schedule updates, trend analysis, performance indicators, forecasts, management information and communication of project status to relevant stakeholders.

7. Planning Software and Digital Controls : Introduces the use of scheduling and project-control software, digital programme updates, data management, dashboards, electronic records and structured project information to support planning, monitoring and reporting.

8. Integrated Project Controls : Requires learners to apply planning, scheduling, resource, cost, risk, progress and reporting techniques to a construction project and produce a coordinated project-controls portfolio.

Successful learners can develop:

• Practical construction-planning knowledge.

• Ability to structure construction activities.

• Understanding of work breakdown structures.

• Scheduling and programme-development skills.

• Critical-path awareness.

• Resource-planning capability.

• Progress-measurement skills.

• Basic cost-control and variance-analysis skills.

• Risk and change-control knowledge.

• Project reporting and forecasting skills.

• Digital planning and project-controls awareness.

• Ability to integrate project-control information into a coherent construction project report.

ISO 21502:2020 is applicable across different project types and delivery approaches and provides high-level guidance on project-management practices that support effective project delivery.

The qualification is suitable for:

• Junior Construction Planners.

• Planning Assistants.

• Project Controls Assistants.

• Junior Planning Engineers.

• Site Coordinators with planning responsibilities.

• Construction Supervisors developing project-control skills.

• Project Administrators.

• Construction professionals moving into planning functions.

• Cost and progress-control support personnel.

• Learners preparing for higher-level construction planning or project-controls qualifications.

Assessment Format: Written knowledge examination combined with construction-planning assignments, scheduling exercises, work-breakdown development, resource-planning activities, progress and cost-control exercises, risk and change-control assessments, project reporting and an integrated project-controls portfolio.

Total Questions: 60 Questions

Passing Score: 70%

Duration: 120 Minutes

Certification: Successful learners receive the HiQual UK Level 3 Diploma in Construction Planning & Project Controls, subject to the qualification's approved assessment and quality-assurance requirements.

To deliver this Qualification, HiQual UK Approved ATPs must demonstrate the capability to deliver, assess, and internally quality assure qualifications in line with recognised regulatory principles and the expectations of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Approved centres must operate effective systems to ensure the validity, reliability, fairness, consistency, and security of assessment.

1. Centre Recognition and Legal Compliance

Centres must be formally recognised by HiQual UK prior to the delivery or assessment of any qualification. To maintain recognition, centres must: Be a legally constituted organisation operating in compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements. Demonstrate effective governance, management oversight, and clear lines of accountability. Comply with all HiQual UK policies, procedures, and conditions of centre recognition. Notify HiQual UK promptly of any material changes that may affect delivery, assessment, or internal quality assurance arrangements.

2. Resources, Facilities, and Learning Environment

Centres must ensure that sufficient and appropriate resources are in place to support learning and assessment. This includes: Learning environments appropriate to the mode of delivery, including classrooms and, where applicable, specialist or practical facilities. Access to learning and assessment resources that enable learners to meet qualification outcomes. Secure systems for managing learner data, assessment records, and certification claims. Arrangements that support equality of access and reasonable adjustments for learners where required.

3. Staff Competence and Occupational Expertise

Centres must ensure that all staff involved in delivery, assessment, and internal quality assurance are competent and suitably qualified. Centres must: Appoint tutors with appropriate subject knowledge, teaching competence, and relevant occupational or professional experience. Ensure assessors are trained and competent in applying HiQual UK assessment requirements and standards. Appoint a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) responsible for monitoring assessment practice and decisions. Maintain records of staff qualifications, experience, training, and continuing professional development (CPD).

4. Assessment Practice and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)

Centres must operate robust internal quality assurance systems to ensure assessment integrity. Centres must: Ensure assessment is valid, fit for purpose, and conducted in line with HiQual UK requirements. Implement effective IQA procedures to monitor assessor performance and confirm the consistency of assessment decisions. Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable records of learner registration, assessment evidence, and outcomes. Carry out regular internal reviews and standardisation activities to support continuous improvement.

5. Integrity, Risk Management, and Malpractice

Centres must take appropriate measures to protect the integrity of assessment. Centres must: Maintain policies and procedures for the prevention, identification, and management of malpractice and maladministration. Ensure secure handling, storage, and retention of assessment materials and learner evidence. Report any suspected or confirmed malpractice to HiQual UK in accordance with published procedures.

6. Health, Safety, Safeguarding, and Learner Protection

Centres must provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. Centres must: Comply with applicable health and safety and safeguarding legislation. Conduct risk assessments for learning activities, particularly where practical or technical work is involved. Maintain procedures to safeguard learner welfare and wellbeing.

7. Learner Information, Support, and Fair Treatment

Centres must ensure learners are informed, supported, and treated fairly. Centres must: Provide clear and accurate information on programme requirements, assessment methods, and certification. Ensure learners receive timely and constructive feedback on assessment outcomes. Operate transparent complaints and appeals procedures aligned with HiQual UK requirements. Manage learner information securely in compliance with data protection legislation.

Successful learners who achieve the HiQual UK Level 3 Diploma in Construction Planning & Project Controls may progress to:

• HiQual UK Level 4 or Level 5 qualifications in Construction Management, Project Management, Planning and Project Controls, Quantity Surveying or Civil Engineering.

• Specialist training in Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, earned value management, delay analysis, cost engineering, construction risk management and advanced project controls, subject to the requirements of the relevant provider.

• Roles such as Planning Assistant, Junior Project Controls Assistant, Construction Planning Coordinator, Project Administrator and Junior Scheduler.

• Progression toward Planning Engineer, Project Controls Engineer, Senior Planner, Project Controls Manager or Construction Project Manager roles through further qualifications and professional experience.

• Continuing professional development in scheduling, cost control, project reporting, forecasting and construction-management systems.