Category 3.    Candidates for Assesssment

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.

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 are to be advised to seek training and experience which will result in attainment of a National / Scottish Vocational Qualification (NSVQ) in Gas Service, Installation and Maintenance at Level 2 or 3 or to obtain employment with a CORGI registered business who is willing to provide an audible extended period of company 'in house' or 'centre' based training programme and organisational support to the operative prior to taking ACS assessment.

A number of NIC Certification approved centres operate a Basic Gas Utilisation programme that may be suitable to support a Category 3 applicant. Please contact Technical Gas Training for details.

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 assessment.

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.

Individuals should contact Technical Gas Training for advice if they are unsure of their category, or the requirements relating to it.

All individuals should declare to the Assessment Centre any situation in the past where: they have been deemed incompetent in matters of gas safety; Where they have had a gas competency certificate or qualification or CORGI registration withdrawn; they have been dismissed from employment on the grounds of gas safety incompetence. A failure to declare any such issues may invalidate any Certification awarded.

The above is an extract from the NIC Certification Scheme Rules for the Nationally Accredited Certification Scheme for Individual Gas Fitting Operatives.