What units does NRSWA training cover?

Key facts

• NRSWA training is structured around 12 numbered units on the Operative side.
• Each unit has an equivalent S-prefix Supervisor version (S1, S2, S3–S9, S10), plus Supervisor-only Units 11 and 12.
• Operatives typically hold Units 1, 2 and one or more reinstatement units (3–9) depending on the work.
• Supervisors typically hold S1, S2 and the S-equivalents of the reinstatement units they oversee, plus S10 and S11.
• Each unit is tested and certified independently. Cards record the units passed.

How the unit system works

An NRSWA Streetworks card is not a single qualification. It is a record of which units the operator has passed. The numbered unit system means an employer can train operatives to exactly the scope of work they do, without paying for irrelevant content. A gas operative doing supply connections to housing typically needs Unit 1 (Cat & Genny), Unit 2 (Signing, Lighting and Guarding) and Unit 6 (Reinstatement in Bituminous Materials) plus one or two other reinstatement units. A motorway maintenance supervisor needs a different mix, with S-prefix units across the same numbers plus Supervisor-only Unit 12.

The 12 Operative units in detail

Unit 1 — Location and Avoidance of Underground Apparatus (Cat & Genny)

Trains the operative to locate buried services (gas, water, electricity, telecoms, fibre) before digging using a cable avoidance tool (CAT) and a signal generator (Genny). Mandatory for any operative excavating in or near a public highway. Underpinned by HSE guidance HSG47 (“Avoiding danger from underground services”). Typically a 1-day course. Full detail in our Unit 1 FAQ. The NPORS-route equivalent is the N304 Cable Avoidance Tool course.

Unit 2 — Signing, Lighting and Guarding (SLG)

Trains the operative to sign, light and guard the streetworks site to the published standard (Chapter 8 of the Department for Transport’s Traffic Signs Manual). Mandatory for any operative whose work involves traffic management around the opening. Typically 1 day. Available as a standalone course: NRSWA Signing, Lighting and Guarding (unit only).

Unit 3 — Excavation in the Highway

Trains the operative to excavate compliantly in the highway: trench safety, shoring, edge protection, working near services, working near pedestrians and traffic.

Unit 4 — Reinstatement and Compaction of Backfill Materials

Covers the backfill stage: which materials are acceptable to the SROH, the layer depths, the compaction equipment and the pass counts required to achieve the specification. This is where most failed reinstatements go wrong, because compaction is invisible from the surface but is the single biggest determinant of reinstatement longevity.

Unit 5 — Reinstatement of Sub-Base and Roadbase in Non-Bituminous Materials

Covers the structural sub-base and roadbase layers in non-bituminous (granular) materials. Sets out the material standards and the placement and compaction methods.

Unit 6 — Reinstatement in Bituminous Materials

The most-held reinstatement unit. Covers reinstatement in hot-lay bituminous materials (asphalt, hot rolled asphalt, dense bitumen macadam) for surface and binder courses. Required by anyone reinstating a tarmac carriageway or footway opening.

Unit 7 — Reinstatement of Concrete Slabs

Covers reinstatement in unreinforced and reinforced concrete carriageway slabs. Less commonly held than Unit 6 but mandatory for operatives working on concrete carriageways.

Unit 8 — Reinstatement of Modular Surfaces and Concrete Footways

Covers reinstatement in modular paving (blocks, setts, flags) and concrete footways. Required for footway openings in historic or conservation areas where the original surface is paved rather than tarmac.

Unit 9 — Reinstatement of Cold-Lay Bituminous Materials

Covers reinstatement in cold-lay bituminous materials, often used for emergency or out-of-hours reinstatement and as a temporary measure before a permanent hot-lay reinstatement. Tightly governed by the SROH on what counts as a permanent versus interim reinstatement.

Unit 10 — Site Inspection

Covers the inspection of completed reinstatements, identifying defects, and the corrective action that brings a sub-standard reinstatement back into compliance. Held by senior operatives and as a pre-Supervisor stepping-stone.

Unit 11 — Monitoring Reinstatements (Supervisor only)

Supervisor-level training in monitoring reinstatements against the SROH. Required for the supervisor signing the works off as compliant. Not available on the Operative side. Covered in our combined Supervisor Monitoring + SLG 1-day course.

Unit 12 — Operations in High-Speed Roads (Supervisor only)

Supervisor-level training in managing streetworks on motorways and trunk roads, where National Highways requirements sit on top of the standard NRSWA framework. Not available on the Operative side.

Typical unit combinations by role

• Utility operative, mixed-material reinstatement: Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 6.
• Utility operative, footway only: Units 1, 2, 8 (and 6 if also doing tarmac footway).
• Reinstatement sub-contractor: Units 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (the full reinstatement set, plus Units 1 and 2 if also doing excavation/signing).
• NRSWA Supervisor (general): S1, S2, S6, S10, S11.
• NRSWA Supervisor (motorway/trunk roads): S1, S2, S6, S10, S11, plus Unit 12.

Single-unit and full-Operative courses

Most employers book the full Operative training course (covering Units 1, 2, 3 and at least one reinstatement unit) for new starters, and use single-unit courses for top-up training and renewals. MPTT delivers both, including the full NRSWA Streetworks for Operatives course, single-unit SLG, the Supervisor course, and refreshers. See pricing in our cost FAQ.

Related questions

• What is Unit 1 (Cat & Genny)?
• NRSWA Operative vs Supervisor?
• What is SROH?
• What is the NRSWA Monitoring / SLG course?
• How long does NRSWA training take?

Quick answers to related questions

How many NRSWA units are there in total?

Twelve numbered Operative units (1–10, plus Supervisor-only 11 and 12). Each has an S-prefix Supervisor equivalent for units 1–10. Operatives hold a subset matching the work they do; supervisors hold the S-equivalents plus Supervisor-only units.

Which NRSWA units do I need as a utility operative?

Most utility operatives hold Unit 1 (Cat & Genny), Unit 2 (SLG) and one or more of Units 3 to 9 covering the specific excavation and reinstatement types they handle on site.

Can I take NRSWA units one at a time?

Yes. Single-unit courses are widely available (SLG and Cat & Genny are the two most commonly booked stand-alone). Most employers also run a full Operative course for new starters covering several units in one block.

Last updated: 2026-05-21. Reviewed by the MPTT NRSWA training team, SQA-registered instructors and assessors.