Engineering

Artisan in Building Technology

The Artisan in Building Technology is a TVET-CDACC Level 4 competency-based programme that trains students in fundamental building construction skills for the construction sector. The course is examined by TVET-CDACC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn basic building materials handling, site preparation, simple construction assistance, tool handling, and workplace safety practices.

The curriculum covers basic units including communication skills, numeracy skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurial skills, employability skills, environmental literacy, and occupational safety and health practices. Core units focus on building materials handling, site preparation, basic construction assistance, tool handling, site cleaning, and industrial attachment on a construction site.

Kenya's construction industry continues to grow with residential, commercial, and infrastructure development projects creating demand for building technology support personnel. Building contractors, construction companies, and individual developers require trained assistants for site operations and building projects.

Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in workshop and construction site environments. Students practice materials handling, site preparation, tool use, basic construction tasks, and site cleaning under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment on construction sites where students apply their skills in real building projects.

Graduates work as building assistants, site helpers, materials handlers, and construction assistants for building contractors, construction companies, and property developers. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Building Technology Level 5 and Level 6 for specialised construction and building management roles.

This programme is suitable for KCSE certificate holders with a mean grade of E or KCPE certificate who are interested in practical construction skills and seeking direct entry into the building and construction sector.

Duration: 1 year
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 1 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Artisan Certificate

What you study

8 subjects

Basic Material Handling
Simple Mixing
Basic Masonry Assistance
Tool Handling
Site Cleaning
Workplace Safety
Basic Construction Assistance
Site Preparation

Modules

8 in the programme

Workplace Safety
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Occupational safety and health practices on construction sites including safe lifting, scaffold awareness, personal protective equipment, and hazard identification.
Basic Material Handling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Handling, transporting, and storing construction materials including cement, sand, aggregates, blocks, and bricks safely and efficiently on construction sites.
Simple Mixing
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Basic mortar and concrete mixing including proportioning cement, sand, and water, and achieving correct consistency for bricklaying and plastering work.
Basic Masonry Assistance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Assisting masons with basic construction tasks including mortar preparation, brick carrying, wall support, and site preparation under tradesman supervision.
Tool Handling
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Identifying, selecting, and safely handling basic construction tools including trowels, levels, plumb bobs, and measuring tapes for building site work.
Site Cleaning
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Cleaning and maintaining construction sites including debris removal, material organisation, tool cleaning, and general site housekeeping during and after construction work.
Basic Construction Assistance
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
General assistance on construction sites including material mixing, surface preparation, basic bricklaying support, and helping tradesmen with routine building tasks.
Site Preparation
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Basic site preparation and clearance including vegetation removal, ground levelling, setting out assistance, and organising materials before construction begins.

Specialisations

Civil Engineering
Basic civil engineering and construction support including material handling, site clearance, surface preparation, and assistance with basic civil works on site.
Construction
Basic building construction support including material mixing, bricklaying assistance, site preparation, and general construction site help under tradesman supervision.
Site Preparation
Basic site preparation and cleanup including clearing, material handling, tool management, and general site support for building construction projects.
Materials Handling
Basic building materials handling including loading, offloading, storage, and distribution of construction materials on building sites for efficient site operations.

A day as a student

Students spend virtually all their time on construction sites handling materials, mixing mortar, assisting masons, carrying bricks, cleaning sites, and handing tools to construction workers.

The trade offs

In its favour

Quick entry to construction workforce with basic skills.
Most affordable entry point to construction.
Foundation for progression to craft, certificate, and diploma.

Against it

Entry-level positions have modest salaries.
Physical work involving carrying materials and working on sites.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses

Public67k to 67k

67k at Rift Valley Technical Training Institute67k at Public TVET institutions (standardized fee)

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

TVET 67,189/yr public (educationnews.co.ke). Private: unverified.

TVET government funding and HELB loans are available. Artisan programmes are the most affordable entry point to construction.

Funding options

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Funding
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) - TVET Loans

Scholarships

4 recorded

National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
BursaryKenyan
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
TVET Funding
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
HELB TVET Loans
LoanKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: KCSE Mean Grade D- (Minus) or below, or KCPE certificate
Alternative entry: KCPE certificate holders are also eligible. No specific subject requirements.

How you are assessed

3 components

Competency-Based Practical Assessment
Practicum60% of the mark
TVET-CDACC competency assessment of practical construction skills.
Practical Projects
Project25% of the mark
Completion of basic construction assistance tasks.
Theory Assessment
Test15% of the mark
Basic written assessment of supporting construction knowledge.

Accreditation

Accredited by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and certified by TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC) under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.

Accredited by

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.
TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council
NationalRequired
Examining and certifying body for competency-based programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Construction Helper
High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 42,000
Assist construction workers with basic tasks on sites.
Material Handler
High demandKsh 23,000 to Ksh 38,000
Handle and transport construction materials.
Masonry Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 26,000 to Ksh 44,000
Assist masons with basic construction tasks.
Site Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 24,000 to Ksh 40,000
General assistance on construction sites.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as construction helpers and material handlers in construction sites across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.