Hi Ash,
Hope everything works out ok for you but to be honest this raises a few questions with the ACS system as a whole for me the current scheme has certain catergories of entry (for new entrants) as indicated below:
Category 1
Category 1 applicants are experienced gas fitting operatives from within or outside the United Kingdom who are
- Seeking to renew expiring or expired certificates of gas safety competence, i.e. ACOP, ACS or Gas Services N/SVQs
- Seeking assessment and certification to extend their range of gas work.
- Foreign nationals seeking to obtain certificates of gas safety competence enabling them to meet UK gas work requirements. Operatives in this category must present evidence of their gas fitting qualifications and experience to the Assessment Centre.
Category 1 Application Conditions
Applicants applying for Initial or Reassessment must present to the Assessment Centre original appropriate certificates of gas safety competence. The applicant must declare whether they:
- Are registered with the Gas Safe Register as a self employed operative or an employee of a Gas Safe Register employer
- Are not recognised or covered by Gas Safe Register registration scheme.
Category 2
Applicants must provide evidence that they hold qualifications relevant to the area of gas work they are seeking to obtain certification in. These qualifications must have enabled competence to be demonstrated in the generic work activities associated with fossil fuelled appliances/equipment and/or pipework installation, including any of the following work activities, flueing or ventilation or the installation, maintenance or commissioning of such appliances. Applicants must present evidence to the Assessment Centre prior to the commencement of assessment. Examples of appropriate qualifications include:
- Plumbing craft qualification or N/SVQ (oil and/or solid fuel options) suitable initially for domestic or commercial central, water-heating or pipework installation.
- Pipefitter/welder craft qualification or N/SVQ suitable initially for commercial pipework, pipework commissioning and meter installation.
- Heating and Ventilation craft qualification or N/SVQ suitable initially for commercial pipework and appliance installation.
- Refrigeration Engineer/Fitter craft qualification or N/SVQ suitable initially for commercial appliance and pipework installation.
Additionally applicants in this category must provide written evidence to the Assessment Centre 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(s) employed by a Gas Safe registered business that would support their application for the range of assessment to be undertaken.
This evidence must be in writing from the employer detailing precisely the areas of gas work previously carried out.
Applicants that do not satisfy the criteria of Categories 1 or 2 will be classified as a new entrant to the industry.
Category 2 Application Conditions
Applicants with relevant qualifications and experience must declare whether they have:
- Had a gas competency certificate or qualification withdrawn in the past.
- Been deemed incompetent in the past in matters of gas safety and if so provide details for review by the Certification Body. (The Certification Body will make a decision about the application after a full review of the circumstances and keep a record of the findings and the decision for six years.)
Category 3
Category 3 applicants are new entrants to the gas industry. As such, they are without a relevant related qualification and/or experience, entering employment for the first time or changing career direction.
Category 3 Application Conditions
An applicant in this category will not be able to provide acceptable evidence of relevant qualifications and gas work experience. Therefore the application is not acceptable.
Individuals in this category should be advised to seek training and experience which will result in attainment of National/Scottish Vocational Qualification (N/SVQ) in Gas Services, Installation and Maintenance at Level 2 or 3 to obtain employment with a Gas Safe registered business who are willing to provide an auditable extended period of company 'in house' gas training programme and organisational support to the operative prior to taking ACS assessment. The duration and content of the training programme will be determined by the scope of gas work to be undertaken. Evidence in the form of a portfolio of the completion of such a training programme must be presented to the Assessment Centre prior to the operative taking assessments.
Alternatively an N/SVQ within the Mechanical Engineering Sector with related on the job gas training and experience in the intended areas of gas work to be carried out will also support a future application.
These guidelines are rarely followed and many centres flout the rules to get "bum's on seats", I am by no means indicating that you would not be able to carry out work safely or of a good quailty but I see many new entrants into the gas industry who simply do not have the experience to deal with difficult situations and get themselves into hot water (no pun intended) remember the ACS scheme is a "minimum" standard required to be registered you should also seek manufacturers training courses and vitally work experiance with a time served engineer to fill in the gaps in your knowledge.
At the end of the day as already said you need to feel confident you can carry out the work safely, don't bluff it ask for help or walk away is the best advise I can give.
Good luck and be safe, John'o
