Courses & Assessments

ACS Assessment & Training

What is ACS?

ACS or Accredited Certification Scheme is the means by which gas operatives are assessed to prove their competence in gas safety.

Subject to certain provisions, the law requires all persons working on gas to be competent to do so. Unless a person has been assessed through the above scheme they have not proved competence and are not legally able to carry out any work to a gas appliance or system. Upon successful completion of assessment a certificate valid for five years is issued as proof that competence has been demonstrated. Details of all operatives that are deemed competent are also kept by CORGI (The Council of Registered Gas Installers).

Assessment or Re-assessment?

Operatives that hold a current ACS certificate do not need to go through the full assessment procedure but are eligible to attend a shortened re-certification assessment which is both quicker and cheaper.

Areas of competence are broken down into work areas and a wide number of assessments are available to enable competency to be demonstrated in all areas of gas utilization.

Operatives who do not hold a current ACS certificate are not eligible to attend the shortened assessment and will need to be fully assessed for all work types that they intend to carry out.

What will I be issued with if I prove competence?

Upon receipt and verification of the Application for Certification and Assessment documents, the CITB will send you a certificate and record card. In all cases, the certificate and record card is issued for your personal use but remain the property of the CITB and may be withdrawn if the conditions of issue are not complied with.

Lost certificates and record cards can be replaced by applying to the CITB Gas Certification Scheme Office.

All CITB certificates and record cards issued (including replacements) are subject to a fee.

How will I know when my CITB certificate needs renewing?

The certificate category is valid for five years. The CITB will send you a reminder letter, indicating the date your certificate expires, together with a list of CITB approved assessment and training centres.

A completed category will not be valid if the expiry date has passed. Work-related categories will not be valid if the core certificate has expired.

Will I gain Corgi registration on completion of the assessment?

No.  Once you have proved competence and hold the appropriate certificates you are able to apply for CORGI registration.  Further details of the application procedure are available from CORGI who can be accessed from the links page on this site. 

Do I need to be CORGI registered?

Self employed engineers and employers need to be registered with CORGI by law before they can carry out gas work.  If you work for a company they should be CORGI registered and should provide a list of all operatives they employ to CORGI.

Who is eligible?


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