Three Units, One Certificate: Earning Level 3 (Artisan) Through RPL
By Delight Technical College | School of Tailoring, Fashion & Design- RPL | 2026
Many tailors dream of the day they can finally say, “I am certified.” For people who have spent years sewing without paperwork, that day can feel far away. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) shortens the distance. In Delight Technical College’s Fashion Design Learning Guide, the first qualification on the pathway is Level 3 (Artisan), earned after the three units of Term One. If you already sew for a living, those three units may describe your daily work.
🪜 The Level 3 Pathway at a Glance
| Unit | What It Builds |
| Unit 1: Sewing Machine Operations | Setting up, operating and maintaining sewing machines safely |
| Unit 2: Basic Ladies’ Garments Construction | Measuring, cutting and constructing basic women’s and girls’ garments |
| Unit 3: Basic Gents’ Garments Construction | Measuring, cutting and constructing basic men’s and boys’ garments |
Together, these units form Module I, taught in Term One at Level 3. The learning guide lists the entry requirement for Level 3 as KCPE or equivalent, which makes it the natural starting point for people who left school early and learned their trade through work.
🎯 How RPL Can Help You Reach Level 3
RPL does not hand out certificates for free, and it does not ask you to repeat what you already know. It assesses your competence against what each unit requires. There are three common outcomes:
- Competent in all three units- you can be recognised for the full Level 3 qualification, subject to the awarding body’s arrangements
- Competent in some units- you receive recognition for those units and study only the remaining ones
- Competent in none yet- you receive clear feedback on the gaps and can train for them before being reassessed
🧭 Which Kind of Tailor Is Most Likely to Succeed?
- Someone who has operated machines daily for several years and handles routine faults without help
- Someone who makes both women’s and men’s garments, even simple ones, on a regular basis
- Someone who can take measurements, cut accurately and finish garments neatly
- Someone who can show evidence of this work and explain their methods
If you only make one kind of garment, you can still use RPL. You may be recognised for one unit and train for the other.
🗂️ Preparing for All Three Units at Once
Because the units overlap, one well-organised portfolio can serve all three:
- Photographs of a range of garments, including women’s, men’s and children’s wear
- Order books or receipts showing regular production
- Statements from employers, trainers or long-term clients
- A short written description of your machines, tools and working methods
🚀 What Level 3 Opens Up
- Entry to Level 4 (Certificate)- the learning guide states the entry requirement as KCSE or a Level 3 certificate
- Stronger credibility with employers, boutiques and garment factories
- The confidence to price your work properly and negotiate contracts
- A nationally recognised foundation for the rest of the Fashion Design pathway
⚠️ Mistakes to Avoid on the Way to Level 3
- Claiming skills you do not have- assessors will test them, and honesty builds trust
- Submitting thin evidence, such as a single photograph for a whole unit
- Waiting until the last minute to ask for statements from employers or clients
- Ignoring a weak area instead of planning to train for it
- Assuming that you must be ready for all three units before you begin
Starting with the units where you are strongest is a sensible strategy, and your adviser can help you plan the rest.
“Level 3 is not the end of a tailor’s story. It is the first line of a certificate that can eventually read ‘Diploma in Fashion Design’.”
💡 Wondering whether you could earn Level 3 through RPL? Ask the Delight Technical College admissions team- call +254 722 533 771 or visit Muindi Mbingu Street, Nairobi.
📍 Delight Technical College | Muindi Mbingu Street, Opposite Jevanjee Gardens, Nairobi | +254 722 533 771 | www.delight.ac.ke
