The following table is taken directly from the Amendment of the Waste Management Licensing Regulation (Northern Ireland) 2003 which came into force on 17 August 2015 and outlines the qualifications and unit clusters applicable to different site activities in Northern Ireland. Due to the recent revision to the CIWM (WAMITAB) Operator Competence Scheme, an additional column has been added to the table showing the new qualification codes.

Please note: if a learner chooses a 12-unit qualification to gain a CoTC, they will need to register to complete the 6- or 4-unit qualification applicable to their activity and then register for the additional units. For example, a learner who wants to complete 12 units for Open Windrow Composting (previously known as 4MBTNHO) would do MROC3 plus OCS06, OCS07, OCS08, OCS09, OCS10 and OCS65. This will be charged as RQF Level 4 + COTC on the fees list.

The current waste management arrangements in Scotland do not incorporate a risk tier table. Please refer to SEPA for detailed guidance on waste management licensing regulations.

To use the risk tier table, simply look up the level of risk and description of the waste facility you work at, before looking across to see which qualification you require. You can find out more by clicking on each qualification.

Please note: the risk tier table is primarily intended for new permit applications or to determine additional competence arrangements for existing permitted facilities. It is applicable to facilities in England and Wales operating in accordance with the Environmental Permitting Regulations. Operators are advised to check with their Environmental Regulator for confirmation that they will accept the qualification before registering with a Qualification Centre.

If an operator undertakes a qualification covering more than one activity and chooses to cover additional activities at a later date – for example, completed:

• MROC2 for end-of-life vehicles and are planning to cover a WEEE-ATF site.
• HROC1 for hazardous landfill and are planning to cover non-hazardous landfill, inert landfill, closed hazardous landfill, closed non-hazardous landfill, or closed inert landfill.
• HROC2 for non-hazardous landfill and are planning to cover inert landfill, closed hazardous landfill, closed non-hazardous landfill, or closed inert landfill.
• HROC6 hazardous waste treatment and are planning to cover MROC1 non-hazardous transfer.
• HROC6 hazardous waste treatment and are planning to cover MROC2 end of life vehicles or WEEE ATF.
• HROC4 hazardous transfer and are planning to cover MROC12 non-hazardous transfer.

The operator will need to maintain the appropriate Continuing Competence test for the original award and complete the appropriate Continuing Competence test for the new activity when their existing Continuing Competence becomes due.

Please be aware that, following publication of the Continuing Competence syllabi effective from 1st April 2023, the previous Continuing Competence test for Clinical Waste (CW) is now titled Healthcare Waste (HW).