What’s this page all about?

The objective is to provide information on the BHI examinations in as brief and succinct a manner as possible, combining data from different formal documents.  Interested readers should follow the links presented in this page which take them to full details of syllabus, information for candidates and specimen papers.

Please note that this page is currently under development, and some information and/or links are missing. We're sorry if this causes you any inconvenience - please contact us if you need details that are unavailable here.

 

Horological examinations and the BHI.
The BHI was founded principally to further horological education.  Soon after the BHI started in 1858 it was running courses and by 1862 was setting examinations in drawing.  These were extended to cover theory and then practical during the 1870s.  The objective was to establish good standards in horology. 

Examinations were once managed entirely by the BHI, but, to come into to line with today’s educational framework, the BHI organises, sets and marks exams and the whole process is moderated and accredited by the awarding body EMTA Awards Ltd, (EAL) in conjunction with the government regulatory body The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).

Why enter for an examination?
As in any subject, holding a formal qualification says a lot about the ability of a person.  Today there is a demand for skilled clockmakers to repair and restore clocks.  For the repair and servicing of watches there is a high demand for watchmakers from the service departments of major brands as more high-quality mechanical movements are entering the market.  Watch Technicians are required to service quartz watches.  Advertisements for clock and watch makers are now present each month in the Horological Journal because of the definite demand for skilled personnel; a distinct upturn in the past few years.

Gaining a qualification is the most important step to becoming a professional member of the BHI with its attendant benefit of using MBHI or FBHI after your name signifying to the public you have attained a high level of professional competence.

Who enters for examinations?
Quite a variety of students:  Some follow full-time courses run by Birmingham City University (BCU), previously called University of Central England - UCE.  Students who follow the BHI’s Distance Learning Course (DLC) also often enter.  Some students completing the Diploma course in clock conservation and restoration at West Dean College enter units that enable them, along with their Diploma, to apply to become a Fellow of the BHI.

The BHI offers short seminars at Upton Hall, many of which can usefully supplement other forms of learning and help students to prepare for the examinations.

What are the Exams organised by the BHI?
There are two accredited EAL/BHI awards which cover practical and theory; they are structured in separate units that may be taken when a student is ready.  In this way a part-time student can study at the rate that is convenient and accrue units in order to achieve a full award. 

The BHI also awards the Certificate in the Repair of Clocks and the Certificate in the Repair of Watches to candidates who gain selected units from the above awards.

Examinations are held each year in May / June for both of the awards and in November for the Certificate in Clock and Watch Servicing and many units for the Certificate in the Repair, Restoration and Conservation of Clocks / Watches.

Certificates are awarded to recognise the success in each unit as well as the full award.  Candidates whose marks total at least 40% in each unit are awarded a ‘Pass’; a ‘Pass with Merit’ (PWM) is awarded to those who achieve at least 66%.  For the full award candidates are required to pass the required units; a PWM is also available.

There are four awards that are listed below, following the links will give you full information on
            Syllabus
            Specimen papers
            Hints and Tips
            Examiner’s Report

1. Certificate in Clock and Watch Servicing 
   (An accredited award for basic clock and watch servicing)
   
2. Certificate in the Repair of Clocks   
   (A BHI award requiring the knowledge and skills to repair most clocks.)
   
3. Certificate in the Repair of Watches   
   (A BHI award requiring the knowledge and skills to repair most watches.)
   
4. Certificate in the Repair, Restoration and Conservation of Clocks / Watches
   (An accredited award which includes the skills and knowledge for the restoration and conservation of clocks / watches)
   

 

What you have to do to be awarded:-

The Certificate in Clock and Watch Servicing  (The Technician Grade)
This is normally sat by candidates after following a full time one-year program of study. Students who have completed the first grade of the Distance Learning Course programme or personal courses of study would enter the Certificate in Clock and Watch Servicing.

There are two mandatory units that candidates must enter:

Unit	Title	What the Candidate has to do	Time allotted	Location
1	Theory of Clock and Watch Servicing.	Sit a written exam.	2½ hours written exam	Examination Centre
2	Basic Practical Workshop Processes.	Make an assembly of clock parts from a drawing.	2 weeks	Candidate’s workshop

The candidate must also enter one of the two optional units:

Unit	Title	What the Candidate has to do	Time allotted	Location
3	Technical Drawing	Produce a specified horological drawing using CAD or conventional drawing board and T square.	3 hours	Examination Centre
4	Practical Clock / Watch Servicing	Produce a ‘Record of Repairs’ based on repairs carried out on clocks or watches. Each repair is checked by a qualified member of the BHI. Either 6 clocks or 10 watches (At least 5 quartz) or 4 Clocks and 5 quartz watches.	Candidate’s own time.	Candidate’s workshop.

 

What you have to do to be awarded:-

Certificate in the Repair, Restoration and Conservation of Clocks / Watches
 
This is normally entered by candidates after passing the Certificate in Clock and Watch Servicing and following a full time two-year program of study.  It may be sat by students who have followed the Distance Learning Course programme or personal courses of study.

For the convenience of a full time two year program of study, the Award units are structured as Final Grade Part I and Final Grade Part II.  In a full-time course, Final Grade Part I units are generally taken at the end of the first year and Final Grade Part II units at the end of the second year.

Students will select either the clock pathway or the watch pathway; there are three mandatory units that all candidates must enter whether they are following the clock or the watch pathway.

The three mandatory Units that candidates must enter:

Unit	Part	Title	What the Candidate is required to do	Time allotted	Location
1	I	Theory of Clocks and Watches and their Repair.	Sit a written exam.	2½ hour written exam	Examination Centre
2	I	Practical Clock and Watchmaking Techniques	Make an assembly of small clock parts from a drawing.	3 weeks	Candidate’s workshop
3	II	Theory of Clocks and Watches and their Repair	Sit a written exam.	2½ hour written exam	Examination Centre

 

The Clock Pathway
In addition to the mandatory units, there are five mandatory units that candidate must enter to achieve the Certificate in the Repair, Restoration and Conservation of Clocks / Watches:

Unit	Part	Title	What the Candidate is required to do	Time allotted	Location
4	I	Practical Repair of Clocks.	i)  Prepare ‘Record of Repairs’ for 8 clocks. ii)  Produce a large scale drawing of a recoil escapement. (This drawing is submitted with the Record of Repairs) ii)  Design and make pallets for a recoil escapement.	Candidate’s own time Candidate’s own time     8 hours	Candidate’s workshop Candidate’s workshop     Examination Centre
5	II	Practical Repair of Clocks.	i)  Prepare ‘Record of Repairs’ for 10 clocks. ii)  Produce a large scale drawing of a Graham dead-beat escapement (This drawing is submitted with the record of repairs.) iii) Identify faults on a carriage clock movement, correct them and service the clock.	Candidate’s own time Candidate’s own time     8 hours	Candidate’s workshop Candidate’s workshop.     Examination Centre
6	II	The Theory of Clocks and Clock Restoration and Conservation	Sit a written exam.	2½ hour written exam	Examination Centre
7	II	Practical Clockmaking Techniques	Produce an assembly of components for a working dead-beat escapement.	3 weeks	Candidate’s workshop
8	II	The Practical Restoration / Conservation of Clocks	Produce a ‘Portfolio’ detailing the restoration / conservation of five clocks.	Candidate’s own time	Candidate’s workshop

 

The Watch Pathway:
In addition to the mandatory units, there are five mandatory units that candidate must enter to achieve the Certificate in the Repair, Restoration and Conservation of Clocks / Watches:

Unit	Part	Title	What the Candidate is required to do	Time allotted	Location
9	I	Practical Repair of Watches.	i)  Prepare ‘Record of Repairs’ for 10 watches. ii)  Service and correct faults in a quartz watch and a mechanical watch movement.	Candidate’s own time 12 hours	Candidate’s workshop Examination Centre
10	II	Practical Repair of Watches.	i)  Prepare ‘Record of Repairs’ for 15 watches. ii)  Service and correct faults in an automatic watch and a stop watch / chronograph movement.	Candidate’s own time 12 hours	Candidate’s workshop Examination Centre
11	II	The Theory of Watches and Watch Restoration and Conservation	Sit a written exam.	2½ hour written exam	Examination Centre
12	II	Practical Watchmaking Techniques	i)  Make missing parts for a watch, including a winding stem. ii)  Make and fit a balance staff to a watch or platform escapement.	3 weeks	Candidate’s workshop
13	II	The Practical Restoration / Conservation of Watches	Produce a ‘Portfolio’ detailing the restoration / conservation of five watches.	Candidate’s own time	Candidate’s workshop

 

What you have to do to be awarded:-

Certificate in the Repair of Clocks

This award, a BHI award using units 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 from the Certificate in the Repair, Restoration and Conservation of Clocks / Watches, qualifies students for the Technical Competence criteria for professional Membership of the Institute.   Successful candidates may, if they wish, continue to gain further units for the Certificate in the Repair, Restoration and Conservation of Clocks / Watches.

 

What you have to do to be awarded:-

Certificate in the Repair of Watches

This award, a BHI award using units 1, 3, 9 & 10 from the Certificate in the Repair, Restoration and Conservation of Clocks / Watches, qualifies students for the Technical Competence criteria for professional Membership of the Institute.  Successful candidates may, if they wish, continue to gain further units for the Certificate in the Repair, Restoration and Conservation of Clocks / Watches.

                                               

 

How do the EAL/BHI exams fit into the National Qualifications Framework?
The exams are ‘Vocationally Related Qualifications’, these are related to employment but do not necessarily require work placement. This means that people can undertake training for a different job or a new career, or they may train to advance within their current occupation.

The Certificate in Clock and Watch Servicing is a qualification at Level 2 in the National Qualifications Framework.

The Certificate in the Repair, Restoration and Conservation of Clocks and Watches is at Level 3 in the National Qualifications Framework.

Download the QCA Guide to the National Qualifications Framework.