thanks all. and yes indeed it is a licence
I've read CAP 417 so I have an understanding of the process of obtaining the Licence and validation, just interested to see what other peoples opinions are of the way I want to go about it. good to see some people have also gone about it the same way. I don't expect it to give me any actual advantage or preference with NATS, just to give me practical experience which might help me in the testing and interview phases.