Boilermaker Training School
Become a fully qualified semi-skilled boilermaker in just 1 month at Real Skills Technical FET.
Boilermaker training at Real Skills Technical FET is a 1-month intensive programme aligned to SAQA US 60783, quality-assured by MERSETA (Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA). Conducted entirely in our fully equipped workshop, the course develops the complete skill set required of a professional boilermaker — spanning marking off, template development, gas and plasma cutting, welding, plate and pipe fabrication, structural assembly, and the reading and interpretation of engineering drawings. Graduates leave with a Certificate of Competence aligned to SAQA US 60783, qualifying them as full semi-skilled boilermakers recognised across South Africa's fabrication, construction, mining, and heavy engineering industries.
Boilermaker Training — Course Overview
Our boilermaker course is built around intensive, hands-on workshop practice. Every day is spent in the workshop — not in a classroom. Theory is integrated directly into each practical task, giving you the understanding to read drawings and develop templates as well as the hands to cut, form, and weld metal to engineering standard. The course is structured across 4 progressive weeks that build from foundational marking-off and cutting skills through to full fabrication, assembly, and competency assessment.
Full Semi-Skilled Boilermaker Qualification
1-month intensive workshop programme — marking off, cutting, welding, fabrication, pipework & structural assembly
- Full 1-month workshop-based training programme
- Marking off: scribing, templates, datum lines
- Gas cutting, plasma cutting & grinding techniques
- Plate work: rolling, bending, pressing & forming
- Structural fabrication: beams, frames & vessels
- Pipe cutting, bending, fitting & flanging
- Welding practice: MIG, stick & gas welding basics
- Assembling and joining metal structures
- Reading and interpreting engineering drawings
- SAQA 60783 aligned · MERSETA quality-assured
- OHS Act compliance and workshop safety
- Certificate of Competence on successful assessment
SAQA US 60783 — Boilermaker Semi-Skilled Qualification
The SAQA Unit Standard 60783 is the nationally registered unit standard that underpins the boilermaker semi-skilled qualification in South Africa, registered on the National Qualifications Framework and quality-assured by MERSETA (Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA). A boilermaker is a skilled metal fabrication tradesperson responsible for marking off, cutting, forming, welding, assembling and repairing metal structures, pressure vessels, pipework and plate work.
The boilermaker trade is one of South Africa's most in-demand fabrication trades — working across construction, mining, petrochemical, power generation, steel fabrication, shipbuilding, and heavy engineering. Our training at Real Skills Technical FET covers every practical outcome required to qualify as a full semi-skilled boilermaker under SAQA 60783.
Workshop Modules — What You Master in 1 Month
Marking Off
Scribing, chalk lines, datum references, template layout and geometric development of shapes
Template Development
Developing and applying flat and curved templates for fabrication of components to specification
Gas Cutting
Oxy-acetylene cutting techniques — straight cuts, bevels, profiles and flame preparation of edges
Plasma Cutting
Plasma arc cutting on mild steel, stainless and aluminium plate — setup, technique and edge quality
Plate Forming
Rolling, bending, pressing and cold-forming of plate into structural shapes, cones and cylinders
Structural Fabrication
Fabricating steel frames, beams, brackets and pressure vessel sections to drawing specifications
Pipework
Pipe cutting, pipe bending, flange fitting, pipe assembly and basic pipework layout from isometric drawings
MIG & Stick Welding
Shielded metal arc (stick) and MIG welding for tacking and structural joining in fabrication tasks
Assembling & Joining
Bolted, riveted and welded assembly of boilermaker structures — squaring, levelling and aligning
Engineering Drawings
Reading orthographic and isometric views, drawing symbols, tolerances and fabrication notes
Quality & Inspection
Visual inspection of welds and fabricated components, dimensional checks and defect identification
OHS & Safety
OHS Act compliance, PPE requirements, hot-work permits, fire watch, and workshop safety standards
4-Week Training Structure — Week by Week
The boilermaker course follows a carefully sequenced progression — each week builds on the last, moving from foundational marking-off and cutting skills through to full fabrication, pipework, and final competency assessment. Every day is a workshop day.
Week 1 — Marking Off, Templates & Cutting
Week 1 Workshop Programme
- OHS Act & Workshop Safety: Occupational Health & Safety legislation applicable to boilermaker work — hot-work permits, fire watch duties, PPE requirements for grinding and gas cutting, and compressed gas cylinder safety
- Introduction to the boilermaker trade: Overview of the trade, industries that employ boilermakers, tools and equipment used in fabrication workshops, and the scope of work of a semi-skilled boilermaker
- Measuring and marking off: Steel rules, squares, protractors, scribers, dividers, and chalk lines — laying out fabrication components on plate and structural sections accurately to drawing dimensions
- Template development: Constructing flat pattern templates using geometric development methods for cones, cylinders, elbows and transition pieces — marking off from templates onto plate material
- Oxy-acetylene gas cutting: Setting up cutting equipment, regulator settings, torch and tip selection, straight-line cutting, bevel cutting, and profiling curved shapes on mild steel plate
- Plasma arc cutting: Plasma cutter setup, cutting parameters for different plate thicknesses, technique for straight and profile cuts, and edge quality assessment after cutting
- Grinding and edge preparation: Angle grinder safety, grinding discs selection, grinding weld bevels, removing slag, cleaning cut edges and preparing surfaces for welding
Week 2 — Plate Work & Structural Forming
Week 2 Workshop Programme
- Plate rolling: Three-roll and four-roll plate rolling — setup, pinch point adjustment, plate feeding technique, rolling cylinders and cones from flat plate, and checking roundness
- Press braking and bending: Folding and bending plate in a hydraulic press brake — bend allowance calculations, die selection, producing angle and channel profiles from flat plate
- Cold forming structural steel: Forming angle iron, flat bar, and structural channel — bending jigs, cold forming techniques and checking formed sections against drawing dimensions
- Boilermaker's drawings — applied: Reading and interpreting orthographic and isometric engineering drawings for fabricated structures — identifying views, dimensions, tolerances and weld symbols
- Layout and tack welding: Setting out fabricated components on a layout table — squaring, levelling, clamping and tacking structural assemblies in preparation for full welding
- Fabrication of pressure vessel sections: Constructing shell sections, end caps and nozzle openings from rolled plate — a core boilermaker fabrication task aligned to SAQA 60783 outcomes
- Structural frame fabrication: Fabricating steel frames and structural assemblies from angle, channel and flat bar — marking off, cutting, tacking and checking for squareness before welding
Week 3 — Welding Practice & Pipework
Week 3 Workshop Programme
- Shielded metal arc welding (stick/MMA): Electrode selection, machine setup, striking and maintaining an arc, welding in the flat, horizontal and vertical positions on plate joints — fillet and butt welds
- MIG welding for fabrication: Wire feed setup, shielding gas selection, MIG welding fillet joints, T-joints and butt welds in flat and horizontal positions on mild steel plate
- Weld quality and inspection: Visual weld inspection criteria — identifying undercut, porosity, overlap, lack of fusion and cracking. Weld sizing, leg length measurement and acceptance standards
- Pipe cutting and preparation: Cutting mild steel pipe using hand tools, angle grinder and pipe cutter — squaring cuts, preparing pipe ends for butt welding and flange fitting
- Pipe bending: Cold and hot bending of mild steel pipe — bending by hand, using a pipe bender, and mandrel bending. Checking bends against drawing dimensions and angles
- Flange fitting and pipe assembly: Fitting slip-on and weld-neck flanges to pipe, aligning bolt holes, and assembling pipe spools to isometric drawing layout
- Gas welding basics: Oxy-acetylene welding setup, neutral flame adjustment, and fusion welding of thin plate — a traditional boilermaker skill covering gas welding technique and applications
Week 4 — Assembly, Inspection & Assessment
Week 4 — Final Assessment Programme
- Full structural assembly task: Candidates independently mark off, cut, form and assemble a complete fabricated steel structure from engineering drawings — replicating a real boilermaker site fabrication task
- Pipe spool fabrication: Fabricating a complete pipe spool assembly from an isometric drawing — cutting, bending, flange fitting and tack welding to full dimensional specification
- Dimensional and visual inspection: Inspecting completed fabrications against drawing dimensions, checking squareness and alignment, and conducting visual weld inspections to identify defects
- Repair and rectification: Identifying and correcting fabrication defects — re-cutting, re-forming, re-welding and re-checking components that do not meet specification
- Practical trade assessment — SAQA 60783: Full practical assessment covering marking off, cutting, forming, welding and assembly — assessed as Competent or Not Yet Competent by a qualified MERSETA assessor
- Certificate of Competence issued: Successful candidates receive their Certificate of Competence aligned to SAQA US 60783, issued by Real Skills Technical FET and quality-assured by MERSETA — qualifying them as full semi-skilled boilermakers
Book Your Boilermaker Training
1 month. R8,500. SAQA 60783. Full workshop practice. Certificate of Competence. Free accommodation included.
Your Credential on Completion — Full Semi-Skilled Boilermaker
Candidates who achieve full competency across the practical assessment receive a formal credential from Real Skills Technical FET, aligned to SAQA US 60783 and quality-assured by MERSETA. This credential is recognised by fabrication companies, mines, construction companies, engineering contractors and plant operators across South Africa and the broader region.
Certificate of Competence
An official Certificate of Competence aligned to SAQA US 60783, issued by Real Skills Technical FET and quality-assured by MERSETA. The certificate specifies the scope of your boilermaker qualification — confirming competency across marking off, cutting, plate forming, welding, pipework, fabrication and structural assembly. This is the primary credential that engineering employers, fabrication shops, mines, and construction companies require when hiring qualified boilermakers for site and workshop positions. On successful completion of this course, you qualify as a full semi-skilled boilermaker.
Entry Requirements — Who Can Enrol
✅ Boilermaker Training Entry Requirements
No prior trade experience required — we build your fabrication skills from the foundations up over 1 month
Our admissions team will assess your background and advise you on readiness for the course. Candidates with some exposure to metalwork or welding typically progress faster in weeks 1 and 2, but the course is designed to take a motivated candidate with no prior trade background through to full semi-skilled boilermaker competency in 1 month.
Free Accommodation — Train From Anywhere
Why Boilermakers Are in High Demand Across Southern Africa
The boilermaker is one of South Africa's most essential engineering fabrication trades. Because boilermakers can mark off, cut, form, weld and assemble metal structures and pressure systems — and because every construction project, mine, chemical plant, and power station depends on fabricated steelwork — demand for qualified boilermakers consistently exceeds supply.
Strong Trade Salaries
A qualified boilermaker with a MERSETA-recognised credential earns between R15,000 and R35,000+ per month depending on industry, sector, and level of experience — with contract rates on mines and shutdowns even higher.
Mining Industry Demand
South Africa's gold, platinum, coal, chrome and iron ore mining operations continuously require boilermakers for structural steel fabrication, conveyor structure repair, pressure vessel maintenance and plant modifications.
Construction & Infrastructure
Every major infrastructure and construction project in South Africa requires fabricated steelwork — walkways, staircases, handrails, structural frames, and tanks — all done by boilermakers on site.
Africa-Wide Demand
Infrastructure and industrial development across sub-Saharan Africa — Zambia, DRC, Mozambique, Tanzania and beyond — creates a continent-wide shortage of qualified boilermakers that South African-trained tradespeople fill.
Scarce Skill = Job Security
Boilermaker is officially listed as a scarce skill in South Africa. Qualified boilermakers face minimal job insecurity — fabrication shops, construction companies and mines actively compete to retain experienced tradespeople.
Clear Career Progression
Start as a semi-skilled boilermaker, progress to artisan, then senior boilermaker, foreman fabricator, and ultimately fabrication supervisor or contracts manager. The boilermaker qualification opens the door to engineering management careers.
Career Paths After Boilermaker Training
Mining Boilermaker
Fabricate, repair and maintain structural steel, conveyors, chutes, vessels and plant structures in underground and surface mining operations.
Construction Fabricator
Fabricate and erect structural steelwork, tanks, staircases, handrails and walkways on construction and civil engineering projects.
Petrochemical & Refinery
Pressure vessel fabrication, pipe spool fabrication and structural steel maintenance on refineries, power stations and chemical plants.
Fabrication Workshop
Work in a steel fabrication workshop producing custom steel structures, tanks, bins, hoppers and mechanical assemblies from engineering drawings.
Africa Projects
Large mining and infrastructure projects across sub-Saharan Africa consistently recruit South African-trained boilermakers for site fabrication and structural steel work.
Fabrication Supervisor
Experienced boilermakers progress to supervising fabrication teams, managing drawings and materials, and overseeing quality on fabrication contracts.
Job Assistance Programme
Industry Connections
We work directly with mines, fabrication workshops, construction companies, engineering contractors, and plant maintenance operators who regularly hire our SAQA 60783 certified boilermaker graduates by name.
CV Preparation
Our team helps you present your Certificate of Competence correctly on your CV — maximising your impact with site managers, HR departments, and engineering recruiters actively looking for qualified boilermakers.
Vacancy Alerts
Registration in our graduate database means direct notification of boilermaker vacancies at partner companies — often before positions are advertised publicly. Boilermaker vacancies fill fast; our network gets you there first.
Graduate Network
Join a growing community of working Real Skills boilermakers across South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa — sharing job leads, shutdown contracts, and practical field knowledge from active fabrication sites.
Qualify as a Full Semi-Skilled Boilermaker — Start Next Month
1 month. R8,500. SAQA 60783. Certificate of Competence. Free accommodation for the full month. Job placement assistance — all in one course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about boilermaker training at Real Skills Technical FET
A boilermaker is a skilled metal fabrication tradesperson who marks off, cuts, forms, welds and assembles metal structures, pressure vessels, pipework and plate work. Boilermaker training at Real Skills is a 1-month intensive workshop course aligned to SAQA US 60783, MERSETA accredited — covering marking off, gas and plasma cutting, plate forming, MIG and stick welding, pipe fitting and structural assembly. Boilermakers work across mining, construction, fabrication, petrochemical and heavy engineering industries.
The boilermaker training course runs for 1 month (approximately 20 full working days), Monday to Friday. The 4 weeks cover: Week 1 — marking off, template development, gas cutting, plasma cutting; Week 2 — plate rolling, bending, pressing, structural fabrication; Week 3 — MIG and stick welding, pipework, pipe bending, flange fitting; Week 4 — full structural assembly, inspection, final practical assessment and certification.
You receive a Certificate of Competence aligned to SAQA US 60783, quality-assured by MERSETA — confirming full semi-skilled boilermaker trade competency across marking off, cutting, forming, welding, pipework and structural assembly. This credential qualifies you as a full semi-skilled boilermaker recognised by employers across South Africa and the region.
Boilermaker training costs R8,500 — all-inclusive. This covers the full 1-month course, all workshop tools and consumables, the formal MERSETA-aligned assessment, your Certificate of Competence, job placement assistance, and free accommodation for the full month next to the training facility. There are no hidden costs.
Prior trade or fabrication experience is not required. The minimum requirement is Grade 9 (NQF Level 1) education, basic numeracy, physical fitness for workshop work, and the ability to attend full-time for 1 month. Some background in metalwork, welding or construction is advantageous but not a barrier to enrolment. Our instructors build your skills systematically from week 1.
Yes. Real Skills Technical FET provides free student accommodation for the entire 1-month course for all boilermaker training students. The accommodation is located next to the training facility — no transport costs or commuting stress. Whether you're from KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, or travelling from another country, travel to Pretoria and your housing for the full month is covered at zero extra cost.
Industry Resources for Boilermakers
Key official links for boilermaker training, trade qualification, and the South African fabrication industry
MERSETA
Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA — the quality assurance body for boilermaker and engineering trade training in South Africa, accrediting providers and moderating assessments.
Visit MERSETASAQA — US 60783
Official SAQA registration for Unit Standard 60783 — the boilermaker semi-skilled unit standard. Access the qualification scope, outcomes and assessment criteria on the national qualifications register.
View on SAQADepartment of Labour
OHS Act regulations, hot-work permit requirements, pressure vessel regulations and machinery safety regulations applicable to boilermaker trade work in South Africa.
Visit WebsiteRelated Engineering & Trade Courses
Build a broader skills portfolio — add additional qualifications to expand your career opportunities
Qualify as a Full Semi-Skilled Boilermaker in 1 Month
Intensive workshop training. SAQA 60783, MERSETA accredited. R8,500 all-inclusive. Certificate of Competence. Free accommodation for the full month. Job placement assistance — all in one course.