Rail Career Pathway

Use our Rail Career Pathway to find out which pre-requisites are required for each course

What type of competency are you interested in?
Select a competency to view the relevant pre-requisites
Select a competency to view the relevant pre-requisites
Select a competency to view the relevant pre-requisites
Select a sub category to view the relevant pre-requisites
Select a Machine Operator Competency to view the relevant pre-requisites
Select a Machine Operator Attachment Competency to view the relevant pre-requisites
Select a Crane Operator Competency to view the relevant pre-requisites
Select a rail plant Competency to view the relevant pre-requisites
Select a Machine Controller Competency to view the relevant pre-requisites
Select a Crane Controller Competency to view the relevant pre-requisites

Pre-requisites of your chosen competency:

Personal Track Safety

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 16
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Competence Specific Fitness Medical Requirements
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/00120: Drugs & Alcohol
  • Sufficient command of English Language as detailed in Network Rail Company Specification NR/S/CTM021 Competence and Training in Track Safety
  • Successfully completed E-Learning Training & Assessment Prior to Attendance
  • Industry Only: A drugs and alcohol test must have been carried out no more than 3 months prior to attending a PTS initial learning event

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 16
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Competence Specific Fitness Medical Requirements
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/00120: Drugs & Alcohol
  • Sufficient command of English Language as detailed in Network Rail Company Specification NR/S/CTM021 Competence and Training in Track Safety

AND

Working Near or Adjacent to the DC Conductor Rail (PTS DCCR)

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: You must hold the COSS initial competence to continue to Conductor Rail Permit and Overhead Line Permit

Pre-requisites of your chosen competency:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 16
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Competence Specific Fitness Medical Requirements
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/00120: Drugs & Alcohol
  • Sufficient command of English Language as detailed in Network Rail Company Specification NR/S/CTM021 Competence and Training in Track Safety
  • Successfully completed E-Learning Training & Assessment Prior to Attendance
  • Industry Only: A drugs and alcohol test must have been carried out no more than 3 months prior to attending a PTS initial learning event

Pre-requisites of your chosen competency:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 16
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Competence Specific Fitness Medical Requirements
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/00120: Drugs & Alcohol
  • Sufficient command of English Language as detailed in Network Rail Company Specification NR/S/CTM021 Competence and Training in Track Safety

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Lift Planning Single Lift

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 4
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy
  • A Good Understanding of Mathematical Skill (Equivalent to Basic GCSE Level)
  • Good Working Knowledge of Excel and Word
  • For OTP Lift Planning Single Lift: Successfully completed Pre-Course Assessment

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • Meet the British Standard of Literacy and Numeracy

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Note: For the 2-day course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Note: For the 2-day course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Note: You must also hold a full driving licence appropriate to the host machine

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Note: You must hold a working at height competence

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Note: You must hold a full driving licence appropriate to the host machine

Note: You must also hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Operator - Excavator

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Operator - Excavator

AND

Crane Operator - Excavator Crane

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: You must hold a compatible Host Machine/Crane Operator Competence. The above pathway is specific to Crane Operator - Excavator Crane. Other Host Machine/Crane Operator Competencies may require a different pathway.

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

And a compatible Host Machine/Crane Operator Competence, for example;

Machine Operator - Excavator

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

And a compatible Host Machine/Crane Operator Competence, for example;

Machine Operator - Excavator

Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Note: For Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle, you must hold a full driving licence appropriate to the host machine

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

And a compatible Host Machine/Crane Operator Competence, for example;

Machine Operator - Excavator

Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle

Machine Operator - Motorised Trolley

Machine Operator - Self Propelled MEWP

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course and the 2-day Machine Operator Highway Permissible Vehicle course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Note: For Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle and Machine Operator - Self Propelled MEWP, you must hold a full driving licence appropriate to the host machine

Note: For Machine Operator - Self Propelled MEWP, you must also hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

And a compatible Host Machine/Crane Operator Competence pathway, for example;

Machine Operator - Excavator

AND

Crane Operator - Excavator Crane

OR

Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle

AND

Crane Operator - Lorry Loader

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Note: For Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle, you must hold a full driving licence appropriate to the host machine

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Operator - Excavator

AND

Crane Operator - Excavator Crane

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the 2-day Machine Operator Excavator course, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

And a valid Machine Operator Competence, for example;

Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 1
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: For the Machine Operator - Highway Permissible Vehicle Competence, you must hold the base machine competence from a nationally recognised accreditation scheme. You must also hold a full driving licence appropriate to the host machine.

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Note: Upon completing the Machine Controller Material Handler competency; Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle is awarded by the training provider without attending further training. Individuals only attending Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle and/or Machine Controller Demountable Machine cannot progress onto Crane Controller without attending Machine Controller Material Handler.

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Controller - Material Handler

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: Upon completing the Machine Controller Material Handler competency; Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle is awarded by the training provider without attending further training. Individuals only attending Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle and/or Machine Controller Demountable Machine cannot progress onto Crane Controller without attending Machine Controller Material Handler.

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING;

Machine Controller - Material Handler

Machine Controller - Highway Permissible Vehicle

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Note: Upon completing the Machine Controller Material Handler competency; Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle is awarded by the training provider without attending further training. Individuals only attending Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle and/or Machine Controller Demountable Machine cannot progress onto Crane Controller without attending Machine Controller Material Handler.

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING;

Machine Controller - Material Handler

Machine Controller - Highway Permissible Vehicle

Machine Controller - Demountable Machine

Machine Controller - MEWP

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Note: Upon completing the Machine Controller Material Handler competency; Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle is awarded by the training provider without attending further training. Individuals only attending Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle and/or Machine Controller Demountable Machine cannot progress onto Crane Controller without attending Machine Controller Material Handler.

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

And a relevant host machine Machine Controller Competence, for example;

Machine Controller - Material Handler

Machine Controller - Highway Permissible Vehicle

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Must meet medical requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124 Medical Fitness Level 2
  • Meet requiremtne of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051 (Drugs & Alcohol)
  • Good Level of Literacy

Note: Upon completing the Machine Controller Material Handler competency; Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle is awarded by the training provider without attending further training. Individuals only attending Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle and/or Machine Controller Demountable Machine cannot progress onto Crane Controller without attending Machine Controller Material Handler.

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Controller - Material Handler

AND

Slinger

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: Upon completing the Machine Controller Material Handler competency; Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle is awarded by the training provider without attending further training. Individuals only attending Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle and/or Machine Controller Demountable Machine cannot progress onto Crane Controller without attending Machine Controller Material Handler.

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Controller - Material Handler

AND

Slinger

AND

Crane Controller - Excavator Crane

You also need to be able to demonstrate 120 hours of Crane Controller Excavator Crane Experience

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: Upon completing the Machine Controller Material Handler competency; Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle is awarded by the training provider without attending further training. Individuals only attending Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle and/or Machine Controller Demountable Machine cannot progress onto Crane Controller without attending Machine Controller Material Handler.

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING PATHS;

Machine Controller - Material Handler

AND

Slinger

AND

Crane Controller - Excavator Crane

OR

Machine Controller - Highway Permissible Vehicle

AND

Slinger

AND

Crane Controller - Lorry Loader

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: Upon completing the Machine Controller Material Handler competency; Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle is awarded by the training provider without attending further training. Individuals only attending Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle and/or Machine Controller Demountable Machine cannot progress onto Crane Controller without attending Machine Controller Material Handler.

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Controller - Material Handler

AND

Slinger

AND

Crane Controller - Excavator Crane

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol

Note: Upon completing the Machine Controller Material Handler competency; Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle is awarded by the training provider without attending further training. Individuals only attending Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle and/or Machine Controller Demountable Machine cannot progress onto Crane Controller without attending Machine Controller Material Handler.

Pre-requisites of your chosen competence:

Personal Track Safety

AND

OTP Core E-Learning

AND

Machine Controller - Highway Permissible Vehicle

AND

Slinger

Other Requirements Include:

  • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
  • Medical Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124: Medical Fitness Level 2
  • Requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051: Drugs & Alcohol
  • A Good Level of Literacy

Note: Upon completing the Machine Controller Material Handler competency; Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle is awarded by the training provider without attending further training. Individuals only attending Machine Controller Highway Permissible Vehicle and/or Machine Controller Demountable Machine cannot progress onto Crane Controller without attending Machine Controller Material Handler.