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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.

Duration
1 year
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 67,189
Ksh 67,189 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 67,189 for the whole course.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of KCSE Mean Grade D- (Minus) or below, or KCPE certificate or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 1 year, full-time, with 1 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 79 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Auto Diagnostics Technician, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

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.

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 favourAgainst it
Quick entry to construction workforce with basic skills.Entry-level positions have modest salaries.
Most affordable entry point to construction.Physical work involving carrying materials and working on sites.
Foundation for progression to craft, certificate, and diploma.—

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.

Scholarships you could apply for

6 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

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 certificateminimum entry
Alternative entry

KCPE certificate holders are also eligible. No specific subject requirements.

When it next starts

Taught at 79 institutions
January 202779 institutions

Including Pioneer International University, Lukenya University, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.

May 202779 institutions

Including Pioneer International University, Lukenya University, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.

September 202779 institutions

Including Pioneer International University, Lukenya University, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.

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

  • 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).

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.

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

Common misconceptions

  • Artisan building is not a real qualification

    It is a TVET-CDACC certified qualification providing entry to the construction profession.

  • Construction assistance doesn't need training

    Even basic construction tasks require safety knowledge and proper tool handling.

  • Artisan graduates are stuck in low-level roles

    Artisan graduates can progress to craft, certificate, and diploma in construction.

  • This programme has limited career opportunities.

    Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.

Further reading

Read next