How to become a tiler in the UK

Tiling is one of the more straightforward trades to get into. You don't need any qualifications to start, the tools are affordable, and there's steady demand for bathrooms, kitchens and floors. What takes time is getting good: setting out, cutting, preparing surfaces properly and working quickly enough to make a living.

Do you need qualifications to be a tiler?

No. There are no specific entry requirements to become a tiler. But qualifications make a difference to the work you can get:

• Domestic work (homeowners' bathrooms and kitchens) doesn't need any qualification. Customers judge you on your reviews, photos and quotes.
• Building sites and contractors usually ask for a CSCS card, and for a skilled tiler that means the Level 2 NVQ.

The main routes into tiling

Apprenticeships

The Level 2 wall and floor tiler apprenticeship takes at least 24 months. At The Sheffield College, for example, apprentices work on site four days a week and go to college one day a week. You'll cover preparing surfaces, sand and cement screeds, tiling walls and floors, and health and safety, and finish with both a technical diploma and an NVQ.

Colleges usually ask for around four GCSEs at grade 3 (D) or above, or equivalent, and help you with English and maths along the way if you need it. You'll need an employer willing to take you on. Search the government's Find an Apprenticeship service, or ask local tiling and bathroom firms directly.

Starting as a tiler's mate

Plenty of tilers start by labouring for an experienced tiler: mixing adhesive, carrying tiles, cleaning up and gradually doing more of the tiling. It's how the trade has always passed on, and you learn the speed and tricks that a classroom can't teach. Pair it with the NVQ later to get qualified.

Short courses

Private training centres run short tiling courses, some lasting just a few days, aimed at people changing career. They're a quick way to get hands-on practice, but they're a starting point, not a substitute for time on real jobs. Check what's included, and whether the course leads to an NVQ, before you pay.

The Level 2 NVQ and CSCS card

The Level 2 NVQ in Wall and Floor Tiling is a work-based qualification: you're assessed doing the job, so you need to be working as a tiler. It covers tiling walls and floors, preparing backgrounds, moving and storing materials, working productively and health and safety, plus an optional unit in screeding or under-tile heating.

Once you have the NVQ and have passed the relevant CITB Health, Safety and Environment test within the last two years, you can apply for the Blue Skilled Worker CSCS card. That's the card most sites ask a qualified tiler to show.

How much do tilers earn?

Most employed tilers work 37–40 hours a week. Self-employed tilers are paid by the job or the day instead, so what you earn depends on your rates and how much work you book. See what UK tilers charge per m² and per day.

Skills you'll need

• Careful, accurate work with your hands, and an eye for straight lines.
• Comfort with numbers: measuring rooms and working out tiles, adhesive and grout.
• Patience with preparation, which decides how the finished job looks and lasts.
• Reliability and good communication with customers.
• Being able to work alone and use your own judgement.

Going self-employed

Many tilers work for themselves once they have the experience. The main steps:

• Register with HMRC as a sole trader. GOV.UK explains when you need to and how.
• Get public liability insurance. It isn't a legal requirement for a sole trader, but most customers and contractors expect it. See what insurance a tiler needs.
• Work out your day rate from what you need to earn and the days you can actually bill. Our day rate guide and day rate calculator take you through it.
• Quote properly. Itemise labour, materials and preparation so customers can compare. See how to quote a bathroom.
• Find work through reviews, photos of your jobs and word of mouth. See getting tiling work without paying for leads.