Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (CSCS Affiliated)

H.M. Government and Industry have emphasised the need for industry-wide certification schemes to confirm the levels of competence of properly skilled craftspeople. In the Building and Construction Industries, the Major Contractors Group has already specified that all trades are required to participate in skills certification schemes with all operatives on their sites holding appropriate cards.

As the first craft skills accreditation service in British Industry, independently developed and unique in its time (as the UK Register of Electricians), the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) is now fully recognised by industry as an equivalent to the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) for other building and construction trades. The ECS is administered by Joint Industry Board and the Scottish Joint Industry Board on behalf of Unite (Amicus section), the Electrical Contractors' Association and Select. To demonstrate this important advance, the ECS Card has been revised to incorporate holograms of the CSCS and ECS Assessment to show achievement in ECS Standards in Health and Safety.

When the UK Register of Electricians merged with the JIB Grading System in 1999, the resultant Electrotechnical Certification Scheme became available to everyone, regardless of whether they were working for a JIB Member Company or not.

The ECS offers all electrical craftspeople the opportunity to receive their own card, whether at Managerial/Supervisory, Skilled levels, Ancillary Operatives, Electrical Improvers, Apprentices, Adult Trainees or as Labourers.

The Scheme is administered in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the JIB. Applications and information throughout Scotland are administered by the Scottish Joint Industry Board.

Application Forms can be obtained from this web site, by using the ECS menu or by visiting the Publications page. Alternatively you can obtain one from the JIB Offices (see Contact JIB on the menu). Details of the JIB Grading System and how to qualify for a card are available from our Certification Department based at the JIB Offices.

The front of the card issued to a fully skilled craftsperson shows the holder's name, photograph and registration number, their main occupation and up to five additional occupations in which the holder is certified, together with the appropriate JIB Grade where this has been awarded by the JIB, or where a Grade has been agreed under the open-access facility of this Scheme.

Health and Safety Assessment became mandatory from February 2003 and after that time, ECS Cards have only been renewed for those whose NVQ, Assessment Test or other recognised exemption is valid.

The reverse of the card identifies the route by which the holder has achieved certification.

Where Apprentices can show that they are undertaking an Advanced Modern Apprenticeship of any electrical/electronic style (not necessarily JIB-registered), they can obtain a new-style card with a white background with a red stripe containing the definition "APPRENTICE" across the width of the card, below the photograph and personal details. ECS Cards for Apprenticeships registered with the JIB will carry the endorsement "JIB Registered".

All other Trainees who are not Advanced Modern Apprentices will be entitled to apply for and receive a similar white ECS Card depicting "TRAINEE" across the red stripe along the lower part of the card. These include holders of the JIB Grades: Adult Trainee, Senior Graded Electrical Trainee and Electrical Improver. All such cards carry the JIB Logo.

Where operatives do not meet the appropriate technical or vocational standards to qualify for a skilled ECS Card ( and are not Apprentices or Trainees) the Scheme provides a white card similar to those above, but with a brown stripe. Unskilled card holders may apply to be regraded to Adult Trainee by producing evidence of study towards fully skilled status and with their employer's support.

Cards are now offered to Electrical Site Managers and Contracts Managers. These distinctive cards can beobtained upon application by Site Managers who can show competence at NVQ/SVQ Level 4 and by Contracts Managers who can show competence at NVQ/SVQ Level 5. Until such Vocational Qualifications are established and available, Managers can qualify for their cards by Industry Accreditation and success in a relevant Health & Safety Assessment Test or evidence of approved equivalent training.

It is possible to hold both a Management card and a skilled craft card where the member is qualified under both criteria.

A number of specialised electrotechnical
occupations do not have industry NVQs and are
therefore unable to receive specific ECS
disciplines. To address this problem, the ECS has
introduced a card with the designation
“ECS Related Discipline”. A list of the occupations
covered by this designation is available from the
JIB.

The Data Communication industry now has its
own range of disciplines included within the ECS.
A full range of cards covering craftsperson,
apprentices, managers and trainees is available.

Both the British Security Industry Association
(BSIA) and the British Fire Protection and Security
Association (BFPSA) have produced a range of
disciplines specific to the Fire and Security
Industries for inclusion within the ECS.

The ECS has agreed with both the ECA and the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) a means of identifying “Qualified Supervisors” on ECS Cards. The cardholder must be employed by an organisation which is certified to the Electrotechnical Assessment Scheme (EAS) or enrolled on the NICEIC Approved Contractors Scheme and recorded as a Qualified Supervisor.

ECS Highway Electrical Cards, identified by the ASLEC logo on the front of the card, are available in three different sectors: Public Lighting, Permanent Traffic Control Equipment and Road Traffic Signs. Cards available include Trainee, Operative, NVQ L3 Craftsperson and Approved Person.

Any person employed by an electrically biased organisation, who is not eligible for any other ECS Card, but requires regular access to construction sites can apply for a Site Visitor Card. Before a Site Visitor Card can be issued, the holder will need to demonstrate they have the required level of Health and Safety awareness, either by providing evidence of a valid exemption or by successfully completing an ECS Health and Safety Assessment for visitors. The issue of a Site Visitor Card will not remove the holder's obligation to undergo site induction or the need to be accompanied as appropriate.

The scheme has been extended to cover Operatives who are employed in the Data Communications and Fire and Security industries. Applicants for a skilled card in either industry should be in possession of a NVQ Level 3 or have the support of their current employer when making an Industry Assessed application. They will also need to demonstrate the required level of Health and Safety awareness.

The fee for initial registration and first ECS Card is still £25. This includes the issue of a card valid for three years. Reminders are sent to cardholders when their cards are due for renewal. The fee for renewal or amended cards remains at £15. For replacement of a lost or destroyed card the fee is £5.

Initial applications and renewals by direct employees of JIB Member Companies should submit their requests through their employers for their fee to be paid by the Industry.

Passport-sized photographs must be countersigned by your employer or a community representative (not a relative) who should also endorse the application form. Cardholders are invited to send an up-to-date photograph of themselves each time they apply for a new/renewed card but only photos submitted with original application forms need to be countersigned.