PDA Painting and Decorating (Level 6)
- Location
- Anniesland Campus
- Start Date
- 24 Aug 2026
- Qualification Type
- PDA
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 1 year (August to June)
Fancy a career in the construction industry? This full-time, pre-apprenticeship painting and decorating course will give you the practical skills, industry knowledge and understanding of workplace behaviour you need before you start work.
It's perfect if you're interested in going on to gain a Modern Apprenticeship in painting and decorating or employment. Studying full time over one year, you'll work towards the same PDA qualification as the first two years of a Modern Apprenticeship, but you'll get there in half the time.
What will I learn?
During the PDA Painting and Decorating you'll learn:
- How to prepare surfaces and apply professional paint finishes to timber, metal and masonry surfaces to industry standards.
- How to apply water-borne and solvent-borne coatings to help you understand the products and techniques used throughout the industry.
- Paperhanging skills, including foundation, ceiling and patterned paperhanging, to help you develop the practical skills required by employers.
- Decorative finishing techniques and colour schemes to help you create high-quality decorative finishes.
- Spray painting techniques using HVLP and airless spraying equipment to help you develop skills used in modern painting and decorating environments.
- How to select and use access equipment safely to help you work effectively at height.
- Health and safety, planning and workplace communication skills to help you work safely and professionally within the construction industry.
You'll have the opportunity to gain a CSCS card and participate in work experience opportunities to help develop your employability and industry awareness.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- A pass in National 4 English and Mathematics, plus a practical subject, or equivalent qualifications; OR
- NPA Construction (Level 4) or another relevant equivalent qualification; OR
- Relevant life, work or practical experience which you should demonstrate in the application form.
As this programme is designed to prepare students for apprenticeship opportunities, you should demonstrate a strong interest in carpentry and joinery, have excellent attendance and timekeeping, and a willingness to commit to a full-time programme (4 days per week).
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications (SCQF) Framework can help you to check if you're choosing the right level of study. Take a look at the SCQF Interactive Framework here.
Employer and industry links
You’ll have the opportunity to engage with employers throughout the programme through activities such as guest speakers, site visits, employer engagement events, mock interviews and work experience opportunities.
Jobs and further study
The programme has been designed to support progression into employment or to a Modern Apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery or to SVQ Level 3 Carpentry and Joinery.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Invited to book an interview session
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in July/August.