ACS Training Courses - New Entrants

Becoming qualified in gas can be one of the biggest steps you will ever take in your career. We aim to make the process as simple as possible, even though the entry requirements for the courses may seem complex at first sight! Remember; if you are unsure please call us.

The essential gas qualifications are as follows:

CCN1

CCN1 is the core gas safety unit that everyone who wants to go on to work on natural gas in domestic situations must take. It is often referred to as "pipe-work" but incorporates legislation, safety, standards, testing etc.

Appliances (One or more will be needed)

The appliance units are added onto the core CCN1 unit and allow you to extend your scope of work in order to work on cookers, boilers, gas fires etc. You can take as many or a few appliance units as you need to.

For example, if you wanted to just install boilers you would take the CCN1 core and the CEN1 appliance unit – you wouldn’t take cookers or any other appliances because you wouldn’t use them!

You may also need to take the Energy Efficiency and CPA1 courses. The Energy Efficiency course will be needed to ensure you have the knowledge to comply with Part L of the Building Regulations. The CPA1 course (Combustion Performance Analysis) will be needed if you take CO/CO2 ratios when working on appliances.

The ACS gas courses have specific entry requirements that you need to meet before you can come on the course. What experience and/or qualifications you may have are very important in determining which course you will be able to come on. The following pages contain more details:

There are three categories of entrant for the courses. These and their entry requirements are as follows:

Category 1

A category 1 candidate is usually an experienced gas-fitting operative. For example, if you were qualified in commercial gas, you would be classed as a category 1 entrant if you applied to take your domestic assessments.

Category 2

 To be classed as a category 2 candidate, you must hold a relevant qualification and also have had an amount of gas fitting experience - supervised by a Gas Safe Registered person - that can be fully documented and verified. 

To check if any qualification you hold is suitable, please see the matrix of courses below. If you find your qualification and then follow the table across, it will either say “Suitable – Cat 2” or “Not Suitable”. If your qualification is not listed, then it is unlikely to be recognised for entry onto the gas training – you would then be classed as a category 3 candidate.

If your qualification is suitable for entry onto the course, the other part of the entry criteria is documented experience on gas work. You need to be able to gain some on site experience with a Gas Engineer who is willing to sign your training record. Usually recommended is a minimum of three months experience; however, this is flexible and can vary depending on the sorts of work you have been able to carry out. We must have sight of your on site record before you can start the course.

As a category 2 candidate we would be able to offer you combined initial CCN1 and 4 appliances over five days. Also included in the course is the CPA1 assessment and the Energy Efficiency course. This would include 3 ½ days training and 2 ½ days assessments. This shorter course isn’t available to category 3 candidates.

Please see sheet “Combined Initial Training – Category 2”

Category 3

If your qualification is not suitable for category 2, or you have some plumbing and / or gas experience but no qualification, then you would be classed as a category 3 entrant.

We are able to help you with a slightly different course – this is the Gas Foundation course that we run. This course is a slightly extended training course and takes the place of needing a formal qualification to meet the entry requirements.

The Gas Foundation course uses a system of accredited prior learning which is able to take into account your knowledge and skills that you have already.

Alongside the course, you need to be able to gain some on site experience with a Gas Engineer who is willing to sign your training record. Usually recommended is a minimum of three months experience; however, this is flexible and can vary depending on the sorts of work you have been able to carry out. Final assessments cannot be taken until this on site portfolio has been completed.

Please see sheet: “Gas Foundation – Category 3”

Whichever route you take, once you have gained your qualifications (CCN1 and appliances) you will then be able to apply to the Gas Safe Register for registration. There will be additional costs associated with this and it is worth speaking to the Gas Safe Register to find out their up to date charges.

Your qualifications are your “proof of competence” that is needed before the Gas Safe Register will consider you for registration. 

UK QUALIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATION SCHEMES AND THEIR SUITABILITY FOR ACCESSING ACS ASSESSMENTS