Scheme update: ECITB announced ACE card upgrades on 5 October 2026, including a wider eligible-qualification list, digital cards through My CSCS and app-based renewals for existing cardholders.
Separate eligibility, renewal and site acceptance
The announcement adds specified apprenticeship standards when held alongside a current CCNSG Safety Passport. It distinguishes first applications, which use ECITB's online form, from renewals through the app. Cards remain free of charge.
The published extension does not establish that every ventilation or ductwork qualification is eligible. Check the current scheme criteria and the individual's actual qualification. Nor does a digital card remove the need to confirm the principal contractor's induction and site-access arrangements.
Mobilisation commentary: verify before the first shift
A team list with a card name is not enough to resolve an access issue at the gate. Before mobilisation, ask the project's access administrator which evidence is required, how it will be verified and when it needs to be submitted. Avoid leaving a renewal or account-access problem until the planned start date.
Keep the card check separate from the assessment of the proposed work. Credentials are one part of the appointment and mobilisation process. The supervisor still needs to understand the activities, issued information, method and project-specific requirements allocated to the team.
A practical credential review
- Confirm scheme relevance.Match the occupation and qualification to the scheme's current published criteria.
- Use the correct route.Distinguish a first application from a renewal and check the official instructions.
- Check access arrangements.Agree how the site accepts and verifies the relevant physical or digital credential.
- Resolve gaps early.Record an owner and required date for outstanding submissions before committing to mobilisation.
Keep the enquiry and the access process connected
If a tender requires a particular credential, state it clearly and identify whether the condition comes from the client, the site or a named scheme. Ask for clarification where generic wording could refer to different occupations or evidence. Do not assume that a card extension changes the scope of an installation appointment.
The prequalification checklist can support that review for a ductwork installation enquiry. The image illustrates smartphone use on a construction project; it is not a screenshot of My CSCS or an ACE verification demonstration.
Source and review
ECITB scheme announcement — 5 October 2026. Reviewed by Cliventa on 21 October 2026. Follow the source for later changes.
Editorial stock photograph: charlesdeluvio, used under the Unsplash licence. This is an illustration, not a Cliventa project or a photograph of the reported event.