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You can apply for ACS approval using聽one聽of聽our聽accredited passport schemes. This is called the passport route to approval.听聽

The passport route聽differs from the standard route.听Read about how to apply for ACS approval using the different routes.听

About passport schemes聽

Passport schemes:聽

• are delivered by UKAS-accredited certification bodies聽
• recognise other certifications聽(such as ISO 9001, British Standards聽codes of practice,聽or industry codes of practice)聽
• combine multiple standards with the ACS framework聽
• must be consistent with the ACS framework, including our sanctions and the self-assessment workbook聽聽
• must actively support and promote the ACS聽

Some of the benefits of using a passport scheme are聽that you can:聽聽

• gain multiple certifications through one assessment聽
• reduce聽your聽costs if you want聽to gain multiple聽certifications聽
• raise your聽performance,聽because聽passport schemes often apply standards that聽support your business鈥檚 continual improvement聽
• still聽have access to聽all standard route benefits聽

If your passport certificate expires or is withdrawn, we will withdraw your ACS approval.听

How聽the passport聽route differs from the聽standard route聽

There are 2 routes to ACS approval: the standard route and the passport route. Both assess how well you meet the ACS standard.听聽

You can choose the route that best suits your business.听This聽will depend on your current certifications, business needs, and goals.听

We have outlined some of the key differences between the standard route and the passport route below.听聽

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In the standard route, an聽ACS assessing body聽manages the assessment.听Your assessment is specific to the ACS standard. You聽submit聽your ACS application form before your assessment.听

In the passport route, a UKAS-accredited certification body manages the assessment.听Your assessment will cover聽additional聽standards to the ACS standard. You聽submit聽your ACS application form after your assessment.听聽

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In the standard route, your assessor must be trained and approved by us. You must change assessors every 4 years.听

In the passport route, your assessor may be allowed to remain the same after 4 years. They only need to be endorsed by us.听

Assessment fees聽

The fee you pay for your assessment will聽probably be聽lower for the standard route than the passport route. This is because the standard route assessment only covers the ACS standard, while the passport route covers multiple standards.听But the passport route may be better value if you want to get multiple certifications.听

Each聽assessing聽body sets its own fees.听聽

We charge the same fees for both routes.听See the fees you must pay us.听

Improvement needs聽

In the standard route, your assessor may raise improvement needs either during or after your assessment. These could relate to any aspect of the ACS standard.听

If we confirm you are eligible for approval, you will have 6 months to have your assessment and address any improvement needs in your assessment report.听After聽you聽are approved, you will have 6 weeks to address any improvement needs from your annual assessment reports.听

In the passport route, any improvement needs raised will be limited to the ACS terms and conditions.听The time you聽have to聽address them will vary depending on the scheme.听

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In the standard route, you must fill out an ACS self-assessment workbook as part of your application. In the passport route, this is optional but recommended.听

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If you are approved using the standard route, you will become an SIA approved contractor.听

If you are approved using the passport route, you will become an SIA approved contractor and you will also get other certifications.