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Quality control assistant

Alternative titles for this job include Quality control technician, quality assurance inspector

Quality control assistants check that a company's services or products meet necessary standards.

Average salary (a year)

£20,000 Starter

to

£30,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

41 to 43 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become Quality control assistant

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • specialist courses run by professional bodies

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree.

Subjects that cover quality control include:

  • production management
  • business and management
  • manufacturing engineering

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could take a Quality Practitioner Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship which usually takes a year and 2 months to complete.

With this apprenticeship, you could work in any industry or sector that has quality control processes.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

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Direct Application

You could apply directly for jobs if you have a a lot of experience in other areas, like engineering or health and safety.

Other Routes

You could take a quality control qualifications through the Chartered Quality Institute or the Chartered Management Institute.

More Information

Career tips

You may find it helps you apply for jobs in quality control if you have some knowledge of British quality standards and methods.

Further information

You can find out more about working in quality control through the Chartered Quality Institute.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to analyse quality or performance
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
  • active listening skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You could:

  • make sure required standards and regulations are met
  • inspect and test products or processes
  • identify faults or errors
  • record and tell other people about complaints and fixes
  • design, review and update quality control policies

Working environment

You could work in a laboratory, in a factory or in an office.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience and training you could become a manager or move into research jobs.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Quality Practitioner - Level 4 Apprenticeship in Birmingham

  • Wage: £19,000 a year Annually
  • Location: Birmingham Business Park, Birmingham

Higher Level Quality Assurance Apprenticeship

  • Wage: £20,809 a year Annually
  • Location: Devonport, Plymouth

Courses In England

CG L4 TAQA AWD INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCESSES AND PRACTICE

  • Provider: TEC PARTNERSHIP
  • Start date: 01 September 2025
  • Location: Beverley

CG AWARD IN THE INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE OF ASSESSMENT PROCESSES AND PRACTICE - LEVEL 4

  • Provider: EXETER COLLEGE
  • Start date: 24 April 2025
  • Location: EXETER

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