PROQUAL • LEVEL 3 • KNOWLEDGE-BASED
Start your fire safety development with a knowledge-only Level 3 Award. Learn how fire develops and how fire risk is managed in low-risk buildings, with online workbooks and assessor feedback. No previous experience or workplace evidence is required.
A nationally recognised ProQual qualification aligned to the foundation fire risk assessment competencies in BS 8674:2025.
PLAN YOUR LEVEL 3 TO LEVEL 4 PATHWAY
Want to progress to Level 4 but do not yet have the experience for direct entry? Start with the knowledge-only Level 3 Award, then progress to the Level 4 Certificate when you are ready for its practical assessment requirements.
Bundle: £1,700 + VAT · £2,040 including UK VAT.
Save £190 before VAT against buying separately for £1,890 + VAT.
We review suitability and agree your progression plan before enrolment. Level 4 requires suitable practical assessment opportunities; completing Level 3 does not replace its practical evidence requirements.
Awarding body
Qualification
Assessment
Study commitment
START WITH STRONG FOUNDATIONS
The ProQual Level 3 Award in Fire Risk Assessment introduces the principles, procedures and legislation that underpin fire risk assessment. It is designed for people working in, or looking to enter, the fire safety sector and those with responsibilities for fire safety in their workplace.
You will develop your understanding of how fires start and spread, how buildings and fire protection measures affect safety, and how effective management helps control fire risk. The qualification focuses on foundation knowledge in the context of low-risk buildings.
With SHEC Learning®, you will work through learner guidance and knowledge answer workbooks, supported by an assessor, and submit your evidence through Quals Direct.
Download the ProQual qualification specification →ProQual Level 3 Award. Qualification number 610/7041/5.
Clear guidance, knowledge workbooks and assessor feedback.
CPD Fire Safety & Risk Management included with your course.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Complete all three mandatory knowledge units to achieve the award.
UNIT 1 · J/651/9280
Understand the fire risk assessment process and its application to low-risk buildings. Explore behaviour during a fire, evacuation needs for people especially at risk, relevant legislation, enforcing authorities and the role of the fire and rescue service.
UNIT 2 · K/651/9281
Learn about combustion, ignition sources and the ways fire spreads. Understand how hazardous situations, building structures, materials, external wall systems and attachments can influence fire growth and spread.
UNIT 3 · L/651/9282
Explore building design, active and passive fire protection, means of escape, fire safety signage and maintenance. Understand how housekeeping, security, human behaviour and management systems affect fire safety.
INCLUDED AT NO EXTRA COST
Your Level 3 course includes our CPD foundation e-learning course to help you build your understanding before and alongside your qualification studies.
This is a separate CPD course. You must still complete the ProQual knowledge assessments to achieve the Level 3 Award.
YOUR LEARNING JOURNEY
We review your starting knowledge and learning needs, then explain the knowledge workbooks, online submission process and assessor support. No access to a workplace or building is needed.
Use the course guidance, knowledge workbooks and included CPD e-learning to develop your understanding.
Complete written knowledge assessments through Quals Direct and respond to assessor feedback where needed.
All three units are knowledge-based. SHEC assesses your written answers against the qualification criteria. Your work is subject to internal quality assurance and ProQual external quality assurance.
You have six months to complete the course from enrolment. The qualification has 100 hours of Total Qualification Time, including 60 Guided Learning Hours. These are expected learning and assessment hours; plan your study around your starting knowledge and availability with assessor guidance.
IS THIS COURSE RIGHT FOR YOU?
There are no formal academic entry requirements. You must be aged 18 or over when registered with ProQual.
This is a knowledge-only qualification and is suitable for learners with no previous fire safety experience. You do not need a workplace, access to a building, or an existing fire risk assessment to review. Complete the three knowledge workbooks with guidance and assessor feedback through Quals Direct.
This course is suitable for people starting to develop fire risk assessment knowledge, health and safety practitioners broadening their understanding, and people with workplace fire safety responsibilities.
Choose by what you need to learn and the evidence you can demonstrate. A higher qualification number is not automatically a better fit.
The ProQual Level 3 Award suits new or developing learners and health and safety professionals adding fire-risk knowledge. Its three units use knowledge workbooks, with no workplace competence portfolio. The learning context is low-risk buildings.
SHEC provides supported online study through Quals Direct and six months from enrolment. The qualification specifies 100 TQT hours and 60 GLH; these are qualification-size measures, not a promise of completion time.
The ProQual Level 4 Certificate combines knowledge with assessed practical work for low- and moderate-risk buildings. Entry is through the ProQual Level 3 Award or at least three years of proven occupational fire risk assessment experience, plus initial assessment and suitable assessment opportunities.
Five units cover workbooks, reports, action plans, presentations and observation. It specifies 245 TQT hours and 160 GLH; agree your individual timetable with SHEC.
Both routes require candidates to be at least 18 at ProQual registration. Neither qualification alone proves competence for every building or awards a BS 8674 competence tier.
Compare Level 3 and Level 4 by role, evidence and progression · Understand BS 8674 and the limits of qualification-based competence
BUILD YOUR NEXT STEP
BS 8674:2025 sets out a framework for the competence of individual fire risk assessors. ProQual has developed this award in alignment with its foundation fire risk assessment competencies.
The Level 3 Award develops and assesses knowledge. Achieving it does not, on its own, demonstrate practical competence to undertake fire risk assessments independently or confer a competence tier under the British Standard. Appropriate experience, practical capability and recognition of your own limits remain essential.
For learners ready to develop and demonstrate practical competence, the ProQual Level 4 Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment offers a potential next step, subject to its entry requirements and initial assessment.
Discuss your fire safety development pathway →Planning both stages? Explore the Level 3 + Level 4 bundle — £1,700 + VAT, save 10% →
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
No. All three units assess knowledge and understanding. The award supports your development, but does not by itself establish competence to carry out fire risk assessments independently.
No formal academic qualifications or previous fire safety experience are required. You must be at least 18 when registered with ProQual. No workplace evidence, building access or review of an existing fire risk assessment is required for this knowledge-only award.
You complete knowledge answer workbooks and submit your written responses through Quals Direct. Your assessor checks your answers against the assessment criteria and provides feedback.
You have six months from enrolment to complete the award. Study online at your own pace and submit the three knowledge workbooks through Quals Direct. The qualification specifies 100 hours of Total Qualification Time, including 60 Guided Learning Hours.
You receive the Fire Safety & Risk Management foundation e-learning course at no extra cost. It supports your learning and is separate from the assessed ProQual qualification.
Start with Level 3 if you need foundation knowledge; no workplace or building access is required for this Award. Level 4 combines knowledge with practical assessment and has additional entry requirements. Compare the Level 4 Certificate or ask us to check your starting point.
Yes. Complete the three knowledge workbooks and submit your written answers through Quals Direct, with learner guidance and assessor feedback. You have six months from enrolment. This is a knowledge-only Award: no practical assessment, workplace evidence, building access or review of an existing fire risk assessment is required.
Compare Level 3 and Level 4 fire risk assessment qualifications →
TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP WITH SHEC
Speak to our team about the Level 3 Award and your learning pathway.
Ask about progression to Level 4