Acs and gas safe

[jeanssam]

hi i am currently near the end of my nvq2 apprenticeship and was wondering if anyone could give me advice on the best way to get my ACS and Gas safe qualification?

Many thanks

Sam

 

[andyg0507]

could you not continue onto the level 3 route? surely if youve done the nvq2 already you are aware of how to progress onto the gas side side of things?

 

[jeanssam]

yes i could go onto level 3 but iv been told by my tutor at college that it isnt compulsory to do so. therefore i was wondering if there was a way to get my ACS without level 3.

many thanks

 

[newbie1]

i would concentrate on building you plumbing skills as to get to gas safe you are going to need an engineer to work with and sign off your portfolio and due to downturn an enginner willing to do this is rarer than golden hens teeth

 

[quality]

With an NVQ level two you can enrol as a cat 2 candidate, sit your ACS (obviously Pass), apply for registration, Accept the probation period, be sucessfull then your fully registered

So long as your capable no probs. but experience does play its part and its not about time or what ever, you do have to show you are capable and a few bits of paper / nvq won`t do that

 

[jeanssam]

Ok thanks very much for your info!

 

[kirkgas]

i'm sure a level 2 requires a portfolio of evidence to allow candidate to sit ACS

 

[quality]

i'm sure a level 2 requires a portfolio of evidence to allow candidate to sit ACS

I agree on this although it contradicts my previous post. I was previously refering to the way I gained registration although I do not even have a NVQ2 but do have other qualifications which were accepted prior to enroling as acat 2 candidate

 

[fuzzy]

why do you want a short cut?

 

[jeanssam]

im currently just assessing all options available to me

 

[Aqua Mechanica]

I have NVQ Level 2 Plumbing which sticks me in Catorgory 2, this means I can do 10 days training and 3 day assessment and gain my CCN1. Not cheap though!!! £1650!!

Then I have to do the appliances and also registration which is £195 I believe with Gas Safe.

 

[kirkgas]

I have NVQ Level 2 Plumbing which sticks me in Catorgory 2, this means I can do 10 days training and 3 day assessment and gain my CCN1. Not cheap though!!! £1650!!

Then I have to do the appliances and also registration which is £195 I believe with Gas Safe.

double check with the provider as i'm sure a cat 2 needs a portfolio (proving you have hands on experience) to be allowed to sit ACS, how can you learn enough in 10 days in a training centre to be competant to do gas work, you can learn how to pass exams in that time but i wouldnt think you would be competant to go and service/repair an open flued back boiler unit

 

[newbie1]

you have to have proof of gas experience install/service etc what good is a nvq in bathroom fitting when it comes to gas and ten days training and then exams is a horror story

 

[Aqua Mechanica]

I'm fairly sure only catogory 3 applicants need do the portfolio?

 

[quality]

Regardless of cat 2 3 or cat 5 The probation still has to successfull this is when the the folk that are not competent will be ironed out

 

[macplumb]

Cat 2 has to do a portfolio.
The difference between cat 2 and 3 is how many days training you need do: cat 2=70 days cat 3=150 days

 

[kirkgas]

Regardless of cat 2 3 or cat 5 The probation still has to successfull this is when the the folk that are not competent will be ironed out

the words stable, bolted & horse springs to mind, we cant have some
one working for 3 months before they get checked and (possibly) bumped off the register, i have had a few CORGI inspections as engineer and then Gas Manager, TBH someone who has the certs could skhoosh their way through the inspection, it is all based on quoting/remembering/looking up safety regs etc and it is possible the work could be repairs to RS boilers, or kitchen fits with easy cookers or something straight forward that the inspector doesnt find fault with

 

[Aqua Mechanica]

Getting the training is nigh on impossible, no engineers would take on someone who doesn't know what they're doing. So even as a plumber, you're saying Gas training will forever be out of peoples reach unless they started life as a teenage apprentice. Just can't see how you'd get gas trained any other way?

 

[REDSAW]

to get on cat 2 status you need gas experience, then gas certs then portfolio of 'required amount' issued to you by the assesment center, nvq 2 minimum before the gas register will accept you on probation. nvq 3 which has gas element in it puts you onto cat 2 ,
otherwise, cat 3 require a c&g 5128? and 6 months center trining and some site work portfolio.
doing it now.
possible it could differ from center to center?.

 

[philtheflush]

redsaw ive been told by my college that if i go on a traning course i could possibly get my a.c.s by the way just passed my gola for my level 2 tech cert next step nvq2. is this true do you know or do you think they are just after my money

 

[REDSAW]

do you believe in 'from the horses mouth'?
if so, the best advice is pick up the phone in the morning and call gas safe and ask them what is the criteria they are looking for from a new enterant to gas. tell them what your planning and let them respond.
see what they say and post back.

 

[mutley racers]

Hi guys, this is all interesting stuff but also very confusing!!! I have just finished my NVQ2 in basic plumbing studies and and onto my level 3. I have been working with a gas engineer for the last 1 and a half years. When i applied to a college to do the ACS, they just sent me a piece of paper to write on what work i had done in the trade and get it signed off by THE BOSS.

Is this correct?

Am confused!!!

 

[kirkgas]

there are courses being run which allow college training to be aligned with wor placement to allow the candidate to complete ACS at the end of it, we run them at South Lanarkshire College through BPEC (their gas Foundation Course) it is 14 weeks gas theory/practical training in college, 10 weeks work placement, arranged by us, then 2 weeks in college for refresher training then ACS assessments, seems to work quite well, of the 20 odd who have completed the course more than half have a job, the last group having just completed their ACS 4 weeks ago so they are actively looking for work now

Hi guys, this is all interesting stuff but also very confusing!!! I have just finished my NVQ2 in basic plumbing studies and and onto my level 3. I have been working with a gas engineer for the last 1 and a half years. When i applied to a college to do the ACS, they just sent me a piece of paper to write on what work i had done in the trade and get it signed off by THE BOSS.

Is this correct?

Am confused!!!

to get on a BPEC course you have to have a portfolio of evidence, it is acceptable to have a summary sheet signed off by the GSR person who was in charge of you while on placement, this is a legal document to prove you have completed the relevant gas work, we have to rely on the honesty and integrity of those involved to only submit bona fide portfolios, cant see GSR being too chuffed with the firm who sign off a dodgy portfolio if someone blows a house up then after an investigation find their portfolio was false, cause lets be honest those who have taken ACS say it is too easy to pass without "real" gas knowledge, so someone who can learn the books can get through it without too much trouble.

 

[prs1]

It amazes me how many people come to the forum for advise having compleated an NVQ 2 and then Have no idea of where its leading or how there going to get there!
Oh we all know with the NVQ 2 done, there now going to do there gas and get GSReg but this highlights to me how bad these centers are,there taking money of people(considerable amounts) and leading them up the garden path.
My advise would be 1stly id go to trading standards because this is criminal.
But seriously if your going to carry on training find somewere reputable that gives u the facts,My center wont take u on unless u have work placement,some places will sort it out for u.
You dont get on a bus without knowing were its going do you?
People who choose A levels have a mind of what degree they are going to do! There is some serious miss selling going on.

 

[philtheflush]

i understand what your saying but i did my nvq in a college and wasnt told i wont get my nvq unless an accesor comes to look at my work on 4 visits at a cost of £1000 because the college has no accesors so if you cant trust a college who can you trust.