Level 2 Technical Certificate in Agriculture 2025-26

Looking to start your career in the agriculture and farming sector? The Level 2 certificate in agriculture is the perfect starting point!

Agriculture and food production is a thriving global industry that is essential to all our lives - without it, we wouldn't eat!

Farmers are a vital part of the agricultural industry - British farmers produce a massive 63% of the food we eat, supported by a large, varied industry that employs 3.5 million people right here in the UK.

There's no previous experience needed for the level 2 agriculture course, so whether you're brand new to agriculture or already got a little experience under your belt, this is the perfect starting point.

With this course, you could unlock the gateway to over 200 careers that are available in UK agriculture. Most jobs involve the outdoors in some way and it is a good match for people who like hands on practical work.

Whichever area of the industry you choose you are likely to operate machinery of some kind, many of which use cutting-edge technology, and this course provides real opportunities to specialise and develop your skills as time goes on.

This exciting and ever-changing industry needs talented, flexible people who are ready to take on a challenge. Every day is likely to be different and we need people that can problem solve and take on whatever Mother Nature throws
our way.

Growing or rearing food on an industrial scale takes a lot of skill and dedication, helped along by technology and science. In fact 70% of the jobs in the agricultural industry involve science, engineering or technology, everything from GPS, to drones and even robots. If you’re ambitious, there is real scope to progress in this industry.

During this course, you'll learn about a wide variety of topics related to agriculture. These include:

• Health & Safety
• Agricultural Machinery
• Crop Husbandry
• Farm Animal Production
• Farm Estate Maintenance
• Physiology of Plants and Animals
• Working in the Agricultural Industry

Following completion of this course, you could move on to employment in the land-based sector in roles such as a general farm worker, shepherd/shepherdess, farm machinery technician or herdsperson.

Further on in your career development you may consider being an agricultural engineer or an agricultural machinery driver.

Following successful completion of this course at Merit level, you could progress to Level 3 Technical Diploma in Agriculture.

4 x GCSEs at Grade 3 or above. Including a grade 4 in either GCSE English or Maths is required.

No previous agricultural experience is required.

Due to the physical nature of the assessments, you will need to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance.

Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.

Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.

East Durham College's Houghall Campus is committed to providing a supportive and welcoming environment for all our students. The campus, some of which is over 80 years old, has seen over £40m invested in new facilities over recent years. However, there are still some aspects of the site which are not fully accessible and would cause an issue for those with limited mobility or wheelchair users and due to the nature of the site, adjustments may not always be reasonable at this stage. The College is committed to further investment and improvements of the site, as we work towards ensuring the campus is as accessible as possible. If you have limited mobility or are a wheelchair user and wish to undertake a course at the Houghall Campus, please contact Student Services on 0191 375 4710 in the first instance to discuss your needs and options.

Multiple choice exam, followed by a practical synoptic assessment and coursework, alongside completion of 150 hours of industry placement.

September 2025

1 Year, full time.