ACS Training

[Pedro1803]

Hello all,

I'm after some help / knowledge. I'm thinking of doing the ACS Gas Course – Core Domestic Natural Gas Safety and Appliances (CCN1), currently I hold no qualifications within plumbing & heating but have been doing plumbing, central heating & bathroom installations on & off for around 16 years now. So I have basic knowledge of plumbing, valves & fault finding.

However, In order for me to do the ACS Gas Course – Core Domestic Natural Gas Safety and Appliances (CCN1) with no qualifications, I have to do the Approved Prior Learning new entrants gas training programme.

I understand that it would be better doing an NVQ Level 2 & 3 but my current situation won’t allow this, I have a mortgage, wife & 3 kids. My current job is based on a shift rota which involves me working different days of the week, some early starts & late starts which would make it near on impossible for me to commit to a 2+ year collage course. Working for a Plumbing company without qualifications wouldn’t pay enough money for me to live off, hence the need to do the courses above.

I believe these courses will cost around 6K to complete but they allow me to do this in a short period of time and will work around my current situation.

However I am told that it is a waste of time & money as employers just laugh at the qualification and that I will find it hard to get a job, British Gas do seem to accept the qualification as well as a few other jobs I have seen advertised, so I’m trying to find out if this statement is correct.

So my question is, is there any employers on here that could tell me if this is the case and I would also be interested in hearing from any other people that have done the ACS courses and found it difficult to get a job?

Any help is must appreciated

 

[Stenna]

I did my gas training during weekends at college it was fine but it's allot to learn in a short period the hard bit is getting your portfolio completed unless you know a gas engineer you can work for free for very few engineers take trainees on part time as it takes them longer per installation to take pictures and teach you so basically you cost them money plus you need to work exactly to the book at the beginning so you don't pic up bad habits for your a.c.s

 

[SteveWannadoGas]

Hello all,

I'm after some help / knowledge. I'm thinking of doing the ACS Gas Course – Core Domestic Natural Gas Safety and Appliances (CCN1), currently I hold no qualifications within plumbing & heating but have been doing plumbing, central heating & bathroom installations on & off for around 16 years now. So I have basic knowledge of plumbing, valves & fault finding.

However, In order for me to do the ACS Gas Course – Core Domestic Natural Gas Safety and Appliances (CCN1) with no qualifications, I have to do the Approved Prior Learning new entrants gas training programme.

I understand that it would be better doing an NVQ Level 2 & 3 but my current situation won’t allow this, I have a mortgage, wife & 3 kids. My current job is based on a shift rota which involves me working different days of the week, some early starts & late starts which would make it near on impossible for me to commit to a 2+ year collage course. Working for a Plumbing company without qualifications wouldn’t pay enough money for me to live off, hence the need to do the courses above.

I believe these courses will cost around 6K to complete but they allow me to do this in a short period of time and will work around my current situation.

However I am told that it is a waste of time & money as employers just laugh at the qualification and that I will find it hard to get a job, British Gas do seem to accept the qualification as well as a few other jobs I have seen advertised, so I’m trying to find out if this statement is correct.

So my question is, is there any employers on here that could tell me if this is the case and I would also be interested in hearing from any other people that have done the ACS courses and found it difficult to get a job?

Any help is must appreciated

Trouble is, there are so many people joining these courses that gas engineers are 10 a penny. So yes you can join it, spend the money but it doesnt guarantee you a job, even if you pass. Think hard about it. I think its a very good job if you become competent, but along the way there is a lot of spending out, even post registration. The companies providing these courses do properly milk you, but potentially with skill, experience and training, there is a good living to be made.

A lot of employers however want several years experience before they will take you on but that goes for whatever training scheme (accelerated or otherwise) you join.

 

[Pitty]

I've been in your shoes yes it can seem daunting and a lot of work.
I done the weekend course, worked my bum off gaining experience and completing my portfolio etc then took my acs ( all at my own cost and time)
Then I was offered a job with a large award wining local authority that employs over 20 gas engineers do yes it can be done you have to work hard for it tho
Mark

 

[cr0ft]

With 16 years of plumbing experience you should be very credible once you get qualified.

I wouldn't train someone outside of my business though unless they were paying me to compensate me for the increased time it would take to take photos/explain things/document things whilst doing installs and services. You have to see that there's nothing in it for the person training you really and offer them something.

You can get that course a lot cheaper at local fast track training centres and then offer gas engineer a few £K to help you with the experience you need. Money talks unfortunately and I'm sure if you do that you will have engineers happy to train you up. Should all come in under £6k!

 

[Pitty]

Thankfully where I worked in my previous job they had a full gas team so gaining the experience came free but my time tho (a lot of it) was at my own expense. I know the college I done my acs with had local engineers that would help

 

[Deleted member 25704]

ACS for gas is dangerous and corrupt http://www.installeronline.co.uk/are-dangerous-gas-qualifications-putting-the-public-at-risk/

 

[GH77]

Unfortunately you are competing with teenagers who have no outgoings and can be paid a lower minimum wage, there is no real substitute for experience so i give a prospective apprentice a week on trial, if they show the correct aptitude and most importantly the right attitude I then train them for 3-5 years... as Pitty says, yes it can be done from your situation, but it's stacked against you. But good luck and I hope you succeed

 

[cr0ft]

ACS for gas is dangerous and corrupt Are dangerous plumbing and gas qualifications putting the public at risk? - Installer Online

I'd actually agree with this but it's the system we have to work with for now unfortunately. In my humble opinion the testing should be more closed book and less multiple choice (sorry multiple guess). I don't think it's hard enough and from what I see of gas engineers there are too many bad/unknowledgeable ones getting through the system (present company excluded).