If you’re responsible for industrial boiler plant – as an operator, plant manager, or engineering lead – BOAS accreditation is the recognised industry benchmark for demonstrating competence in the safe and efficient operation of industrial boiler plant. Not all providers are the same. Below is a look at some of the best currently delivering BOAS training in the UK.
1. Dunphy Combustion
Dunphy Combustion is an independent UK manufacturer of industrial burners and combustion equipment, with over 60 years of experience in the sector. Their engineering team works directly with industrial boiler systems, burners, fuel trains, combustion controls, and safety devices – and that operational depth carries through into the BOAS training they deliver.
Courses run regularly throughout 2026 at their Rochdale facility, with on-site and alternative date options available by request.
- Categories: Cat 1 (hot water), Cat 2 (steam), Cat 5 (coil steam generators)
- Format: Five-day course including written assessments and independent CEA assessor interview
- Location: Rochdale, with on-site delivery available
- Upcoming 2026 dates: Weeks commencing 8 June · 6 July · 7 September · 12 October · 2 November · 7 December
- Distinctive: Instruction delivered by practising combustion engineers with direct industrial boiler and burner experience
2. Spirax Sarco
Spirax Sarco is one of the UK’s most established steam technology companies and has been an approved BOAS training provider since the scheme’s inception. Their UK Steam Technology Centre (UKSTC) in Cheltenham operates a live working boiler on site, giving delegates practical context that goes beyond classroom theory. Their trainers, Mike Maslanka and Tom Suwart, have personally undertaken the BOAS assessment, giving them direct experience of the process from the delegate’s perspective.
- Categories: Cat 2 (steam) – Cert.IBO and Dip.BOM dual award available
- Format: Classroom-based at UKSTC; on-site delivery also offered
- Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
- Distinctive: Live working boiler on site; trainers with personal BOAS assessment experience; one of the longest-running approved providers in the UK
3. Cochran
Cochran is a Scottish boiler manufacturer with an established training programme covering BOAS and a broader suite of boiler engineering courses. Small class sizes and close instructor attention are central to their approach, and they work with Eastwood Park – a dedicated residential training facility in South Gloucestershire – as a delivery partner.
- Categories: Cat 1 (hot water), Cat 2 (steam); BOAS renewal (BOASR) for both
- Format: Classroom-based; residential option via Eastwood Park
- Additional courses: Boilerhouse Risk Assessment Training, Practical Operation of a Steam Boiler, I-GAS levels 1–3
- Distinctive: Manufacturer background; broad associated training portfolio for teams building wider boilerhouse competence
4. IBHTEC
IBHTEC is a specialist provider founded in 2019 and approved by the CEA to deliver BOAS training across all categories. Their lead, Dave Chapman, has personally sat the BOAS assessment as a candidate, giving him direct insight into the process from the delegate’s perspective – a background the company considers central to how they design and deliver their courses.
- Categories: All CEA categories
- Format: Primarily on-site at the candidate’s own premises using their own boiler plant; open courses for Cat 2 also available
- Distinctive: On-site delivery on the candidate’s own equipment; suited to shift-based teams and organisations with multiple candidates on the same site
5. M&M Training
M&M Training is a specialist steam and boiler training provider with BOAS delivery across a wider category range than many competitors. Their course content is framed firmly around HSE and regulatory expectations, emphasising the legal context for boiler operator competence under PUWER 1998.
- Categories: Cat 1 (hot water), Cat 2 (steam), Cat 3 (water tube), Cat 5 (coil steam generators)
- Format: CEA-approved course and assessment
- Distinctive: Cat 3 and Cat 5 provision for organisations operating less common boiler plant
How to choose
The BOAS qualification is standardised across all approved providers – the same CEA syllabus, the same independent assessor interview. What varies is the practical depth of instruction, the engineering background of the trainers, the categories available, and scheduling flexibility.
For operators and managers working with conventional shell-type steam or hot water plant, a key question is whether the training environment reflects the kind of industrial plant they actually work on. Providers with active backgrounds in combustion, boiler manufacture, or steam engineering tend to bring operational context that a more generalist training environment cannot replicate as readily.
What is BOAS training and what does it involve?
BOAS – the Boiler Operation Accreditation Scheme – is the nationally recognised accreditation for industrial boiler operators and plant managers in the UK. It was developed by the Combustion Engineering Association (CEA) in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the insurance industry, and industry employers to fill the gap left by the former City & Guilds boiler operative qualification.
Who is it for?
BOAS training is designed for experienced personnel who are responsible for the day-to-day operation, management, or supervision of industrial steam or hot water boiler plant. Typical candidates include boiler house operators, plant managers, maintenance engineers, and site managers overseeing combustion plant. Entry requirements are consistent across all approved providers: a minimum of six months’ practical boilerhouse experience and at least 100 hours of verified operation, supported by a completed evidence pack.
Why does it matter?
While BOAS is not a statutory legal requirement, it is widely expected by insurers and HSE auditors as evidence of operator competence. Under PUWER 1998, employers are required to demonstrate that staff operating equipment are competent to do so – and in the event of a serious boiler incident, BOAS accreditation is one of the clearest ways to demonstrate that standard has been met. Many insurers now require it as a condition of cover.
What does the course cover?
The BOAS course covers all key aspects of boiler house operation and management, including combustion theory, boiler operation fundamentals, water treatment and quality management, safety systems and emergency procedures, legislative compliance (including HSE guidance INDG436 and BG01), and boiler house management practice. Courses typically run over five days and conclude with written examination papers and a formal interview with an independent CEA assessor. Successful candidates are awarded either Cert.IBO (Certified Industrial Boiler Operator) or Dip.BOM (Diploma in Boiler Plant Operation Management), depending on role. Both qualifications are valid for five years, after which renewal is required.
BOAS categories
The scheme covers several categories of plant, and candidates must select the category that matches the equipment they operate:
- Cat 1 – Hot water boilers
- Cat 2 – Shell-type industrial steam boilers
- Cat 3 – Water tube boilers
- Cat 5 – Coil steam generators
Not all training providers offer every category, so it’s worth confirming coverage before booking.
BOAS training is administered by the Combustion Engineering Association (CEA). All approved training centres deliver to the CEA syllabus, with independent CEA assessors conducting the formal interview.
