ACS gas for service technicians

How to access ACS training for the first time

Before you can begin ACS training, you must be able to demonstrate a minimum of 12 months on-the-job experience working with gas and hold a valid pre-learning gas qualification.

As a caravan service technician, you are able to work within the scope of an STGW (formally ACoPs) certificate for the majority of service work. Therefore, you can easily build a portfolio of works to demonstrate your gas experience. Your STGW certificate counts as a pre-learning qualification; however, there must be a six-month gap between completing your STGW assessment and beginning ACS training.

An ACS gas qualification is made up of a number of mandatory core and optional appliance units. The minimum number an operative can take is one core unit and four appliances. The majority of service technicians will need a core unit in LPG gas for leisure accommodation vehicles and supplemented by 4-6 appliance units depending upon the type of work they intend to do; however, an extensive catalogue of units is available where required.

Cost and duration for first time assessment

The ACS programme is tailored to each learner; therefore, the duration and cost is reflective of their individual requirements and their chosen centre.

The standard package of training and assessment in mandatory and optional units takes approximately 5-8 days (not including weekends). The typical charge is between £1200-1600+VAT. We will advise you upon the units you require for the scope of gas work you intend to do and your final quote will be specific to the package designed for you. So that we can best advise you, it is important to have a good idea of the work you want to carry out. 
Please note the above charge includes your training, assessment, handbooks and certificate; however, it does not include your Gas Safe registration which you must apply for individually. We will give you a specific quote based upon your requirements for your ACS but we strongly advise getting a quote from Gas Safe for registration before undertaking this programme

Upon successfully completing the programme you will be issued with an ACS certificate and ID card with which you can apply to Gas Safe to become a registered gas operative. Your ACS certificate will be valid for 5 years, after which time, you will need to re-assess.

ACS gas re-assessment

ACS qualifications are valid for five years; after which time, gas operatives will need to be attend a re-assessment programme.

Like the initial ACS gas training, the re-assessment is tailored to the individual technician’s requirements. A technician can choose to re-assess on their existing units with or without training (depending upon how confident they feel in the re-assessment), add additional units if their scope of work has increased (training is mandatory on additional/new units) or reduce the number of units if the scope of their work has decreased (a minimum number of core and appliance units is still required).

Cost and duration of reassessment 

The cost and duration of reassessment will depend upon the units the technician requires. Re-assessment typically takes between 3-5 days with prices starting at £800+VAT.
Technicians can begin their re-assessment up to six months prior to their existing certificate’s expiry, with the new validity being extended from the original expiry date. This therefore allows the engineer to be re-assessed in plenty of time without losing any of their certificates validity.

Course and assessment locations

We use 5 training centres across the UK who deliver the appropriate LPG units for ACS training and assessment for the caravan industry.

• Birmingham, West Midlands
• Edinburgh, Mid Lothian   
• Langport, Somerset
• Leeds, West Yorkshire
• Newcastle upon Tyne 

Each training centre has different training schedules, therefore, the exact duration of your training and or assessment will be affected by where you chose to go.

Requesting a quote and availability

As a technician’s training package is tailored specifically for their requirements we are not able to list specific training dates. In the first instance we will discuss your requirements with you, when you want/need to do the programme and which of our training centres you would like to attend.

Initial ACS training and new gas operatives

If you have no existing pre-learning qualification you will need to take undertake an STGW course first. However, please contact us before booking on a course so that we can ensure the programme is suitable for you and that you are building your portfolio of experience correctly.

If you already have a current ACoP or STGW certificate or other pre-learning qualification, please contact us so that we can ascertain your needs and advise you on your ACS units accordingly.

Existing ACS gas operatives

If you are looking to reassess on all or part of your existing ACS qualification, please contact us to discuss your requirements and provide a copy of your current certificate with your enquiry so that we can advise you accordingly. We are unable to provide guidance without seeing your existing certificate. 

Accepting your quote 

Once we have discussed your requirements, we will issue you with a training proposal confirming the recommended ACS units, dates and cost. If you are happy and accept the proposal, a £100+VAT non-refundable deposit is required to secure the booking. Please note that our standard terms, conditions and cancellation fees will still be applicable.