ProQual Accredited • UK Construction Training

ProQual Setting Out
Engineer Course

Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying

Go from site worker or graduate to qualified Site Engineer. Master the Leica TS16 Robotic Total Station and GNSS surveying, earn your ProQual Level 3 Diploma, and qualify for the CSCS Gold Card.

View Course Options Contact Us
£350
Avg. day rate
Gold
CSCS Card eligible
10
Max class size
Accredited by ProQual
CSCS Gold Card pathway
Flexible evening & weekend classes
Max 10 students per class
Slade Green, London DA8 2HT
Why Alex D&D Training

We build site-ready engineers

Alex D&D Training is an independent construction training provider delivering ProQual-accredited qualifications. Our programmes combine hands-on fieldwork with structured theory on real Leica equipment in real site conditions. Class sizes are capped at 10 students for personalised attention.

Alex D&D Training delivers the ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying and Setting Out directly, rather than through an agency or intermediary. Every student trains with active, experienced site engineers on real Leica equipment, not from a textbook. Based in Slade Green, Kent, we deliver training across London and the South East, with flexible evening, weekend, and intensive daytime formats built around working schedules. Whether you are a construction graduate, an experienced worker without formal accreditation, or changing careers into site engineering, our three qualification routes are structured around where you already are, not where a generic course assumes you should start.

CSCS Gold Card

Fast-track your Gold Card application after completing the Level 3 Diploma.

Leica TS16 & GNSS

Train on the latest Leica TS16 Robotic Total Stations and GS18 T GPS equipment.

Flexible schedule

Evening, weekend, and daytime intensive options designed around your working life.

ProQual accredited

Nationally and internationally recognised qualifications from a trusted awarding body.

Students training with surveying equipment at Alex D&D Training
£350
average day rate
as a site engineer
Curriculum overview

Skills employers demand

Our curriculum is built around what UK construction employers require on site — practical competency, not textbook theory alone.

Site control

Total station

GNSS & GPS

As-built surveys

AutoCAD

Levelling

Setting out

Site documents

Instrument checks

Data transfer

Student using GNSS GPS equipment during setting out training
Student operating Leica TS15 robotic total station
Learners taking levels in the field during setting out course
Setting out training team working together on site
Student using Leica TS16 total station during training
Learner using Leica TS06 during setting out course
Choose your route

Pathways to qualification

Select the route that matches your current experience and career goals.

Option 1

Experienced Route

For graduates and professionals with construction qualifications but no practical setting out experience

£1,300
inc. VAT
10 working days

Who is this for?

  • Junior engineers and new graduates in Civil Engineering, Surveying, or Construction and Built Environment
  • International professionals adapting qualifications to UK site standards and regulations
  • Career advancers seeking higher day rates

No formal certification is awarded on this route.

What you will learn

  • Surveying mathematics
  • Principles of levelling
  • Using automatic, laser, and digital levels
  • Two peg tests for instrument calibration
  • Level surveys and establishing site datums
  • Traversing, establishing primary and secondary site controls
  • Understanding basic principles of BIM, laser scanning and detecting underground utilities
  • Understanding errors in setting out
  • Factors affecting choice of setting out instruments
  • GNSS training, including setting out and surveying
  • Use of total station in setting out and survey
  • Setting out techniques: stake to point, stake to line, measure to line, measure set, COGO
  • Calculation of volume and area, calculation of centre
  • Export and import of working data between instrument and laptop
  • Processing of data using AutoCAD and Excel
Evening Zoom classes Weekend fieldwork Daytime intensive
Book this route

Option 2 Most complete

New Learner Route

Full ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying — no prior experience required

£2,500
inc. VAT
NVQ Level 3 Diploma

Who is this for?

  • Chainmen and site assistants moving up to lead the setting out process
  • Unqualified engineers who need formal credentials for the CSCS Gold Card
  • Career changers — no prior engineering experience required
  • Those needing proficiency in Robotic Total Stations and GPS/GNSS technology

Assessment is conducted on our site. All written assignments are managed through our online learning assistance platform.

Note: To receive your CITB physical Gold Card, you must also pass the MAP Health, Safety and Welfare touchscreen test.

Full curriculum

  • Surveying mathematics
  • Principles of levelling
  • Using automatic, laser, and digital levels
  • Two peg tests for instrument calibration
  • Level surveys and establishing site datums
  • Traversing, establishing primary and secondary site controls
  • Understanding basic principles of BIM, laser scanning and detecting underground utilities
  • Understanding errors in setting out
  • Factors affecting choice of setting out instruments
  • GNSS training, including setting out and surveying
  • Use of total station in setting out and survey
  • Setting out techniques: stake to point, stake to line, measure to line, measure set, COGO
  • Calculation of volume and area, calculation of centre
  • Export and import of working data between instrument and laptop
  • Processing of data using AutoCAD and Excel
Evening Zoom classes Weekend fieldwork Daytime intensive On-site assessment
Enrol now

Option 3

Experienced Assessment Route

Formal recognition for your existing skills — assessed in your workplace or on our site

£1200
inc. VAT
NVQ Level 3 Diploma

Is this route for you?

  • You already have practical setting out skills and site knowledge
  • You lack a formal qualification limiting career progression between companies
  • You want ProQual Level 3 recognition without retraining from scratch

Not for beginners. If you are new to setting out, please see Option 2 or contact us for guidance.

Delivery and assessment method

  • Delivery: OSAT — on your site using your equipment.
  • Assessed directly at your workplace or our Slade Green site
  • Use your own or hire our equipment during assessment
  • Provide evidence of experience and answer knowledge questions
  • CSCS Gold Card eligible after CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test
ProQual certified Knowledge questions No retraining required
Read more
Students being introduced to Leica iCON technology at Alex D&D Training Students taking AutoCAD training during the setting out engineer course
Career potential

Qualify. Work.
Earn more.

Qualified Site Engineers in the UK command strong day rates — with significant upside if you also supply your own equipment. A Gold CSCS Card is the standard requirement on major infrastructure and housing projects.

Start your career
£350
Avg. UK day rate
Gold
CSCS Card level
L3
ProQual diploma
+
Extra for own kit
Advanced qualification

ProQual Level 6 Diploma in Civil Engineering and Setting Out

For professionals involved in the planning, design, and delivery of civil engineering projects. Covers advanced surveying, structural analysis, Revit, BIM, AutoCAD, and project management — nationally and internationally recognised.

£2,800
inc. VAT
Read more
From our blog

Engineering surveying & setting out insights

Real project workflows, equipment updates, and practical guidance from the Alex D&D Training and Forefront Civil & Building teams.

Robotic total station beginner's guide

Beginner's Guide

How to Use a Robotic Total Station: A Beginner's Guide

Step-by-step guidance on setting up and operating a robotic total station, written for those new to modern setting out equipment.

Read More →
Forefront Civil and Building team at BBC Television Centre Phase 2

Case Study

How Forefront Civil & Building Delivered 2mm Accuracy at BBC TVC Phase 2

A real-world breakdown of the exact workflow used to achieve millimetre-level accuracy setting out a complex arc structure on a live London site.

Read More →
Leica TS20 Robotic Total Station at the Leica Geosystems Roadshow 2025

Industry Update

Exploring Innovation at the Leica Geosystems Roadshow 2025

What the latest Leica Geosystems technology means for surveying and setting out training, and how we keep our courses aligned with it.

Read More →
Read all Engineering Surveying & Setting Out articles
Frequently asked questions

Common questions

Do I need prior experience to enrol?

No. Option 2 (New Learner Route) is designed for complete beginners. Option 1 requires a construction qualification but no setting out experience. Option 3 is for those already working as engineers.

How long does the course take?

Option 1 runs over 9 weekends or 14 consecutive days. Option 2 duration depends on your assessment schedule. Option 3 is an assessment-only route completed at your own pace.

Can I study while working full-time?

Yes. We offer evening classes via Zoom (Mon–Fri, 7–9pm) and weekend sessions (Sat and Sun), so you can continue working while you train.

What equipment will I train on?

You will use the Leica TS16 Robotic Total Station, Leica GS18 T GNSS receiver, digital and laser levels, and software including AutoCAD and Excel for data processing.

Does this qualify me for the CSCS Gold Card?

Yes. Completing the Level 3 Diploma (Options 1, 2, or 3) makes you eligible to apply for the CSCS Gold Card. You must also pass the CITB MAP Health, Safety and Welfare touchscreen test.

What payment options are available?

We accept Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Klarna for flexible instalment payments. Secure checkout is available on the booking page.

Get started today

Ready to become a
site engineer?

Choose your pathway or get in touch and we will help you find the right route for your background and goals.

View all course options Contact us
0330 113 6691 07721 796 756 (WhatsApp) info@alexdd.co.uk Slade Green, DA8 2HT
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