Trades & Vocational

Artisan in Masonry

The Artisan in Masonry is a TVET-CDACC Level 4 competency-based programme that trains students in fundamental masonry skills for the construction sector. The course is examined by TVET-CDACC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn basic brick handling, mortar mixing, block laying, tool handling, site cleaning, and masonry assistance under supervision.

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 basic brick handling, simple mortar mixing, basic block laying, tool handling, site cleaning, material handling, and industrial attachment on a construction site.

Kenya's construction industry continues to expand with residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects creating sustained demand for masonry support personnel. Building projects across urban and rural areas require trained masonry assistants for wall construction, plastering, and general building work.

Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in workshop and construction site environments. Students practice mortar mixing, brick and block laying, tool use, material handling, 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 masonry helpers, brick carriers, mortar mixers, and site assistants for construction companies, building contractors, and individual builders. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Masonry Level 5 and Level 6 for specialised masonry and construction technology 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
Private, up to: Ksh 70,350
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 Brick Handling
Simple Mortar Mixing
Basic Block Laying
Tool Handling
Site Cleaning
Workplace Safety
Material Handling
Basic Masonry Assistance

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 for masonry work.
Basic Brick Handling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Handling, transporting, sorting, and storing bricks, blocks, and building stones safely and efficiently on construction sites for masonry operations.
Simple Mortar Mixing
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Basic mortar mixing including proportioning cement, sand, and water, and achieving correct consistency for bricklaying, blocklaying, and plastering work.
Basic Block Laying
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Assisting with basic block laying including mortar application, block placement, alignment checking, and wall construction support under mason supervision.
Tool Handling
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Identifying, selecting, and safely handling basic masonry tools including trowels, levels, plumb bobs, jointers, and measuring tapes for construction site work.
Site Cleaning
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Cleaning and maintaining construction sites including mortar removal, debris clearing, tool cleaning, and general site housekeeping during and after masonry work.
Material Handling
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Handling and organising masonry materials including cement, sand, blocks, bricks, and aggregates including proper storage and stock management on site.
Basic Masonry Assistance
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
General assistance to masons on site including mortar preparation, material supply, block carrying, and routine support tasks during masonry construction work.

Specialisations

Site Support
General site assistance for masonry including material preparation, mortar mixing, tool handling, and routine support tasks for masons during construction work.
Brick Handling
Focus on brick and block transport including sorting, carrying, stacking, and organising masonry materials on construction sites for efficient building operations.
General Masonry Support
General masonry assistance including block carrying, mortar preparation, site cleaning, and routine support tasks under mason supervision on construction sites.
Mortar Mixing
Specialisation in mortar preparation including cement-sand proportioning, water addition, consistency control, and mortar mixing for bricklaying and plastering work.

A day as a student

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

The trade offs

In its favour

Quick entry to construction workforce with basic skills.
Most affordable entry point to masonry.
Foundation for progression to craft, certificate, and NITA trade test.

Against it

Entry-level positions have modest salaries.
Physical work involving carrying bricks and working with cement.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 9 trades & vocational courses

Public67k to 67k

67k at Bondo TTI67k at Baringo Technical College

Private17k to 70k

17k at St. Paul's University TVET (Nakuru)70k at Uwezo College

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

Public TVET 67,189/yr. Private: St Paul's 17K, Uwezo 70K/yr (uwezocollege.ac.ke).

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

Funding options

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

Scholarships

4 recorded

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

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

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

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

Brick Carrier
High demandKsh 23,000 to Ksh 38,000
Transport and handle bricks and blocks on sites.
Site Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 22,000 to Ksh 36,000
General assistance on masonry construction sites.
Masonry Helper
High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 42,000
Assist masons with basic tasks on construction sites.
Mortar Mixer
Moderate demandKsh 24,000 to Ksh 40,000
Mix mortar for masonry operations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as masonry helpers and brick carriers 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.