A straight wall can show mistakes faster than almost any other trade. One poor line, weak joint or bad level can spoil hours of work. That is why learning how to become a bricklayer takes more than picking up a trowel.

The best way to start becoming a bricklayer in the UK is through an apprenticeship, college course or practical site training. Each route gives you a different mix of training, pay and hands-on experience. Depending on the path, you may also need a Level 2 qualification and the right CSCS card for site work. Training can take from a few weeks to around two years or more. The route you choose now can shape how quickly you move from beginner to skilled site worker.

Now, let’s dive in and explore the training routes, qualifications, pay and practical steps that can lead you into bricklaying. 

What Does a Bricklayer Do Day to Day? 

Bricklayers build and repair walls, homes and other structures. They work with bricks, blocks, mortar and hand tools. However, the job needs more than physical strength. Good bricklayers also need accuracy, planning and careful site work.

A bricklayer’s daily duties often cover these key tasks:

  • Read plans and drawings: Follow measurements, layouts and building details correctly.
  • Set out brickwork: Mark walls, corners, openings and key building lines.
  • Lay bricks and blocks: Build strong walls using the right mortar and technique.
  • Check levels and alignment: Keep walls straight, level, upright and evenly spaced.
  • Cut and shape materials: Trim bricks and blocks to fit corners, openings and designs.
  • Repair and repoint brickwork: Replace damaged bricks and renew worn mortar joints.
  • Follow site and safety rules: Work to plans, Building Regulations and safe working methods.

Some bricklayers also build arches, chimneys and decorative features. Others move into heritage or restoration work. In practice, good brickwork needs both speed and a neat finish. It also depends on accuracy, safe working and attention to detail.

How to Become a Bricklayer: Which UK Route Should You Choose?

There are three main routes into bricklaying. You can train through an apprenticeship, study at college or start through site work. Each path offers a different balance of pay, training and experience. So, choose the route that best matches your situation.

Bricklayer Apprenticeship Route

A bricklaying apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn. You work for an employer while completing planned training. In England, the Level 2 Bricklayer apprenticeship usually takes about 24 months. A separate end-point assessment follows the main training.

Your paid working time also covers structured learning. This helps you build trade knowledge alongside real site experience. Once training ends, you complete a knowledge test, practical assessment and interview. These checks show whether you can meet the required trade standard.

England also offers an Onsite Trades Foundation Apprenticeship. It mainly supports people aged 16 to 21, with some 22-to-24-year-olds also eligible. The programme usually lasts about eight months. However, it is a starting route rather than a full bricklayer qualification, so further training is normally needed.

Bricklaying College Course Route

Bricklaying courses can help beginners build core skills before entering full-time site work. You can practise in a controlled setting and gain confidence with tools, materials and basic techniques.

A useful bricklaying course may cover:

  • Setting out walls, corners and openings
  • Building brick and block cavity walls
  • Mixing and using mortar correctly
  • Cutting bricks and blocks
  • Working around lintels, DPCs and insulation

However, a short college course does not always prove full workplace skill. You may still need a work-based qualification after completing it. For example, a Level 2 NVQ in Bricklaying uses real work evidence to prove your ability on site.

Training may also cover drawings, insulation, wall ties, fire stopping and Building Regulations. These areas matter because bricklaying involves more than simply laying bricks.

Older information may mention the Onsite Construction T Level. New students can no longer start that route in England. So, always check current course details before applying.

Labourer or Hod Carrier Route

Some people enter bricklaying by starting as a labourer or hod carrier. This route gives you direct contact with bricklayers and daily site work. You can learn how jobs run while building basic site experience.

It can suit adults who want to enter construction before taking formal training. However, progress depends heavily on the employer and the chances they provide.

That is the key risk. You could remain in labouring work without gaining enough bricklaying skills. Before accepting the role, ask who will train you and how you can gain a recognised qualification. A clear training path can help you move into skilled bricklaying work.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Bricklayer?

You do not need one fixed qualification to start learning bricklaying. Entry rules depend on the training route, employer and UK nation. A beginner course can have simple entry requirements while apprenticeships often follow employer rules.

The main points are:

  • Foundation route: Previous work experience or set grades are not always required.
  • Level 2 apprenticeship: The employer decides the entry requirements.
  • College course: The college sets its own entry rules.
  • Skilled site work: A relevant Level 2 NVQ or approved apprenticeship can prove your skills.

English and maths rules also depend on age in England. Learners aged 16 to 18 may need these qualifications before completing an apprenticeship. This applies when they do not already hold accepted results. Adults aged 19 or over have more flexibility.

For older apprentices, employers can add English or maths training to the training plan. Check GOV.UK before applying because the rules can change.

It also helps to understand the difference between each route. A college qualification shows that you completed formal learning. A work-based NVQ proves what you can do on a real site. An apprenticeship combines paid work, training and a final assessment.

Do Bricklayer Training Routes Differ Across the UK?

Yes, bricklaying qualifications and training routes differ across the UK. Each UK nation uses a different system for bricklaying training and qualifications. The trade stays similar but the route names can change. So, check the system where you plan to train.

Here is the simple picture:

  • England: Level 2 Bricklayer is a main apprenticeship route.
  • Scotland: Bricklaying forms part of a Modern Apprenticeship at SCQF Level 6.
  • Wales: New Level 2 bricklaying routes are being introduced.
  • Northern Ireland: Bricklayers need Level 3 progress for full skilled status.

Wales needs extra care because its system is changing in 2026. The new Level 2 handbook was still in draft form in late August. Final handbooks are expected in September 2026. So, check current local details before you apply.

Similarly, do not think the same English route works across the whole UK. Course and qualification names can change from one nation to another. So, check the local route before you pay for training. This can help you avoid problems later.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Bricklayer?

Yes, bricklaying qualifications and training routes vary across the UK. Bricklaying training follows a different system in each of the four UK nations. The work itself is similar but the route names and qualification levels can differ. So, always check the rules for the nation where you plan to train.

The key training routes by UK nation are: 

  • England: The Level 2 Bricklayer apprenticeship is a main training route.
  • Scotland: Bricklaying sits within a Modern Apprenticeship at SCQF Level 6.
  • Wales: New Level 2 bricklaying routes are being introduced.
  • Northern Ireland: Bricklayers need Level 3 progress for full skilled status.

Wales is changing its system during 2026, so current details need extra care. The new Level 2 handbook was still in draft form in late August, with final guidance expected later.

The key point is simple: do not assume one UK route works everywhere. Before you apply or pay for training, please check out the local qualification path. This can help you avoid the wrong course or card path.

Which CSCS Card Does a Bricklayer Need?

The right CSCS card for a bricklayer depends on your training and skill level. A CSCS card is not a bricklaying licence and UK law does not require one for every job. However, many construction sites ask workers to hold the correct card before they can enter.

Common CSCS cards for bricklaying routes are:

  • Green Labourer Card: Covers general labouring duties, not skilled bricklaying.
  • Red Apprentice Card: Suits people registered on a recognised construction apprenticeship.
  • Red Trainee Card: Supports trainees working towards an approved construction qualification.
  • Blue Skilled Worker Card: Applies to workers with an approved Level 2 qualification or apprenticeship.
  • Gold Skilled Worker Card: Applies to workers with an approved Level 3 qualification, apprenticeship or equivalent route.

The Red Apprentice card lasts four years and six months. It is not renewable, as apprentices should move to the correct skilled card after completing their training.

For the Blue Skilled Worker card, you also need the correct CITB health and safety test. Your qualification and test must match the type of work you carry out.

One point still matters: always apply for the card that matches your actual role. Using the wrong CSCS card can cause problems with site access.

How Much Do Bricklayers Earn in the UK?

Bricklayers in the UK typically earn around £25,000 to £45,000 a year as employees. Pay usually rises with experience, speed, location and responsibility. Self-employed bricklayers can earn more, although they also cover their own business costs.

Typical earnings by career stage are:

  • Apprentice: Pay starts from £8 per hour, with some current roles paying around £16,600 a year or more.
  • Newly qualified: Around £30,000 to £38,000 per year.
  • Experienced bricklayer: Around £38,000 to £45,000 per year as an employed worker.
  • Foreman or supervisor: Often £35,000 to £55,000+, depending on the role and location.

These are guide figures rather than fixed salaries. Overtime, specialist work and greater responsibility can raise earnings further. 

What Can Increase a Bricklayer’s Pay?

Several factors can push a bricklayer’s income above the usual salary range:

  • More experience: Skilled bricklayers often work faster and handle more complex jobs.
  • Specialist skills: Heritage work, decorative brickwork and detailed masonry can attract higher rates.
  • Higher responsibility: Foremen, supervisors and team leaders can earn more than standard site workers.
  • Strong local demand: Busy areas, especially London and the South East, often offer better pay.
  • Self-employment: A higher bricklayer day rate can increase gross income, although business costs come out of it.
  • Price work: Some bricklayers earn by the amount of brickwork completed rather than by the hour.
  • Overtime and extra hours: Longer shifts or weekend work can raise total yearly earnings.

Higher income usually comes from a mix of skill, speed, responsibility and demand. However, self-employed workers should compare gross earnings with costs such as tax, tools, travel and insurance.

How Can You Find Your First Bricklaying Job or Apprenticeship?

Finding your first bricklaying role usually takes more than one approach. Online vacancies can help but local builders and site contacts can be just as useful. A wider search gives you more chances to find suitable training or entry-level work.

Useful ways to find a role are:

  • Search apprenticeship websites: Look for Level 2 Bricklayer vacancies in your area.
  • Contact local bricklaying firms: Ask whether they take apprentices, trainees or labourers.
  • Speak to your college: Training providers often have links with local employers.
  • Check major housebuilders: Larger companies sometimes run their own apprenticeship programmes.
  • Use construction contacts: Labouring or hod carrying can help you meet bricklaying teams.
  • Prepare for employers: Show good timekeeping, basic maths, safe working habits and a willingness to learn.

Current Level 2 apprenticeships combine paid site work with formal training. Many routes take around two years, although the exact length can vary.

Before accepting a role, ask what tools you need and what training the employer provides. Required workplace PPE should be provided by the employer. Apprentices also do not normally pay the approved apprenticeship training fee themselves.

Where Can a Bricklaying Career Lead After You Qualify?

A bricklaying career can keep growing after Level 2. Some workers stay on the tools while others move into specialist, leadership or business roles. The best path depends on your skills, experience and long-term goals.

Common career routes are:

  • Experienced bricklayer: Take on more complex jobs and greater responsibility.
  • Craft Bricklayer Level 3: Build advanced brickwork and masonry skills.
  • Site supervisor: Help manage workers, quality and daily site tasks.
  • Specialist bricklayer: Move into heritage, restoration or detailed masonry work.
  • Estimator or inspector: Use site knowledge in planning, costing or quality checks.
  • Teaching and training: Support apprentices and new bricklayers.
  • Self-employment: Work independently or grow your own bricklaying business.

In England, the Craft Bricklayer Level 3 apprenticeship can support further progression. It usually takes around 18 months and develops higher craft and technical skills.

However, Level 3 does not automatically make you a supervisor. Leadership roles still depend on practical experience, site knowledge and the ability to manage people and work safely.

So, Which Bricklaying Route Should You Choose?

If you are exploring how to become a bricklayer, just start with the route that best fits your age, experience and career plans.

Basically, an apprenticeship is a strong choice if you want to earn while learning and gain regular site experience. A college or private course can suit you if you want to build basic skills before looking for work. Starting as a labourer or hod carrier can also work but only when there is a clear path into proper bricklaying training.

Just check three things before choosing: 

  1. The qualification you will gain
  2. Site experience you will receive and 
  3. The job or CSCS route that follows

The best option is the one that gives you a clear step from beginner to skilled bricklayer.

FAQs

How Quickly Can You Become a Bricklayer?

You can learn basic bricklaying in a few weeks. However, becoming a skilled site bricklayer usually takes much longer through training and regular work.

Do Bricklayers Get Paid Well?

Yes, experienced bricklayers can earn a solid income. Pay can rise further with specialist skills, overtime or self-employed work.

Is 35 Too Old to Become a Bricklayer?

No, 35 is not too old to start. Many adults retrain through college, apprenticeships or site-based work.

Can I Become a Bricklayer at 40?

Yes, you can become a bricklayer at 40. The right choice depends on your available time, fitness and need for regular income.

Is Bricklaying a Dead-End Job?

No, bricklaying can lead to supervision, heritage work, estimating or self-employment. Skilled workers can also move into training or advanced craft roles.

What Is the Easiest Career to Start at 40?

There is no single easiest career for everyone. Trades like bricklaying can suit adults who enjoy practical work and want a clear training path.