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ACS Gas Assessment Categories

Gas Safe Register have outlined guidance for applicants wishing to undertake ACS gas assessments. Applicants will fall into one of three categories.

Category 1

Applicants in this category are regarded as experienced gas fitting operatives; they will need to provide evidence to the Assessment Centre, prior to taking ACS assessments, that they possess a gas fitting qualification or certificate(s) of gas safety competence issued either within or outside of the UK. The date of issue of their qualification/gas safety certificate may be greater than the normal five year validity period.

Category 2

Applicants in this category are regarded as holding a nationally recognised qualification e.g. NVQ or City & Guilds craft certificate in a trade associated with gas work, e.g. plumbing.

Application conditions for this category requires that the applicant provides to the Assessment Centre evidence of their qualification and written evidence confirming that they have undertaken 'On the Job' gas installation and/or maintenance training and have experience of gas work that has been carried out under the direct supervision of a competent operative employed by a Gas Safe registered business.

The evidence must consist as a minimum of the following:

  • Name, address and the Gas Safe registration number of the business providing the training
  • The start and end dates of the ´Off´ the Job training programme.
  • The start and end dates of the ´On´ the Job training programme.
  • The types and sufficiency of gas work undertaken (not plumbing or other related work activities).
  • The names of the competent operatives of the business that have provided the ´On the Job´ training.

The Assessment Centre will evaluate the evidence presented and make a judgement on its content and suitability against the areas of assessment the candidate intends to undertake.

Category 3

Applicants in this category are regarded as new to the gas industry.

They do not hold a recognisable trade qualification and have no recognisable gas work experience.

The Category 3 applicant may as an alternative to achieving a relevant NVQ either:

  • Obtain employment with a Gas Safe registered business which is willing to provide an auditable extended 'in house' gas training programme incorporating both On and Off the Job components with organisational support prior to the applicant taking ACS assessment.
  • Undertake a training programme which is planned, managed and organised by a training provider. This training programme will incorporate both On and Off the Job training and experience with organisational support prior to the applicant taking ACS assessment. The On the Job training component will be carried out by a Gas Safe registered business in accordance with a training plan and programme designed by the training provider.

Evidence of the contents of a programme detailing the ´Off the Job´ training and ´On the Job´ experience must be presented to the Assessment Centre as described in Category 2.