What Does an MTCS Workplace Trainer Actually Do? A Guide for Offshore Supervisors
If you supervise a team offshore, you already pass on your knowledge every trip. The MTCS Workplace Trainer course helps you do that in a planned, structured way that you can evidence.
This guide explains what a Workplace Trainer does, what the course covers, and how the role differs from a Skills Assessor. These two roles are often confused, so we set them side by side below.
What is a Workplace Trainer?
A Workplace Trainer is an experienced person who delivers training to colleagues in their own discipline. They plan learning, deliver it, and check that it has worked.
MTCS developed the Workplace Trainer online distance learning course to support personnel, team leaders and supervisors who deliver training modules in their specific discipline. The course follows the guidelines set out in IMO model course 6.09 and IMCA C 011 section 2.8. IMO is the International Maritime Organization, and IMCA is the International Marine Contractors Association.
Who is the Workplace Trainer course for?
The course is for people who are already occupationally competent in the subject they plan to teach. In plain terms, you must already be able to do the job well before you train others to do it.
Suitable candidates may include:
- Supervisors who coach personnel in the workplace
- Team leaders who train and coach their personnel
- Shore-based managers involved in a training and competence role
MTCS recommends that managers and candidates contact MTCS before registering. This lets you discuss and confirm that the course suits you.
What does the Workplace Trainer course cover?
The course asks you to study how people learn, how to communicate effectively, and how to assess learning. It includes five modules:
- Planning Learning
- Delivering Learning
- Communication Skills
- Assessing Learning
- Practical Implementation, Review and Self Evaluation
The course takes 16 hours, plus assessments and a practical exercise. You complete it by distance learning through MTCS Online.
How is the Workplace Trainer course assessed?
Each section includes short learning exercises. These ask you to reflect on practical activities you carry out during the course.
The final section is a Practical Implementation Exercise. You design and deliver a lesson to a group of candidates, then upload the video and supporting documents to your MTCS Online account. MTCS then carries out the final assessment and gives you feedback.
What certificate do you receive?
When you complete the course successfully, you receive an MTCS certificate as a Workplace Trainer. Course fees and certification are included in the price.
Your certificate confirming Successful Completion of Knowledge may also support your next assessment for an MTCS Certificate of Competence.
What is the difference between a Workplace Trainer and a Skills Assessor?
A Workplace Trainer helps people learn, while a Skills Assessor judges whether people are competent. Both roles are run through MTCS Online, but they have different purposes, standards and entry requirements.
| Workplace Trainer | Skills Assessor | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Plan, deliver and assess training in your discipline | Assess competence in the workplace |
| Guidance followed | IMO model course 6.09 and IMCA C 011 section 2.8 | IMCA guidance document C007 |
| Who it suits | Supervisors, team leaders and managers who train and coach their personnel | Experienced, competent personnel working offshore in supervisory roles |
| Final assessment | Design and deliver a lesson, then upload the video and documents | Carry out workplace assessments, then upload the evidence to your portfolio |
| Outcome | MTCS Workplace Trainer certificate | Eligibility for a formal qualification as a Skills Assessor |
| Duration | 16 hours plus assessments and practical exercise | 18 hours plus assessments |
The Skills Assessor course also has an extra link to formal qualifications. MTCS is approved as an assessment centre by EAL, the specialist awarding organisation for engineering and manufacturing.
Can the Workplace Trainer course be delivered to a whole team?
Yes. The course is also available as a corporate Workplace Trainer course for organisations.
Companies may also wish to progress to the MTCS Licensed Instructor Program. This lets a company deliver a specific MTCS course under licence, and terms and conditions apply. To discuss options for your team, visit our Corporate Training page.
Where can a Workplace Trainer go next?
Candidates may apply for further teaching qualifications. These include Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) or the Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (CTLLS).
Local Further Education colleges normally deliver these over 2 to 3 months. Candidates may also obtain a Certificate in Education, which Further Education colleges normally deliver over 12 months.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a supervisor to take the Workplace Trainer course?
Not necessarily. The course suits supervisors, team leaders and managers who train and coach their personnel, as well as shore-based managers in a training and competence role. You must be occupationally competent in the subject you plan to teach.
Is the Workplace Trainer course online?
Yes. It is a distance learning course delivered through MTCS Online. Once enrolled, you receive a confirmation email and can access the course, download the material and find guidance from your MTCS Online account.
How long does the Workplace Trainer course take?
The course takes 16 hours, plus assessments and the practical exercise.
How much does the Workplace Trainer course cost?
The course costs £516.92 ex. VAT (£620.30 inc. VAT). This includes all course fees and certification.
Is a Workplace Trainer the same as a Skills Assessor?
No. A Workplace Trainer plans and delivers training, while a Skills Assessor assesses competence in the workplace. Each role has its own MTCS course and outcome.
Ready to train your team with confidence?
Strong teams are built by people who share what they know, safely and consistently. The Workplace Trainer course gives you a clear structure for doing exactly that.
Explore the Workplace Trainer course at mtcsuk.com/mtcs-online/workplace-trainer/, or contact MTCS to check the course is right for you.