Building Controls ECS Cards
The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme
The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) is the sole ID and competence card scheme for electrotechnical operatives in the UK.
The following ECS cards are currently available for people working within the building controls industry.
You can find out more about ECS cards at ecscard.org.uk
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The Building Controls apprentice card recognises that a level 3 or above apprenticeship in Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) is being completed.
The apprentice must be completing an apprenticeship standard or framework that leads to the award of the ECS Building Controls Engineer card. This includes apprenticeships across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Apprentices are supervised through their training programme and complete underpinning knowledge and performance assessments prior to their final assessment.
A JIB Registered or Preferred Training provider can apply for this card on your behalf.
Eligibility and requirements
To be eligible for this card, applicants must:
Provide evidence of the apprenticeship programme being undertaken for Building Controls, such as the Level 4 Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) Controls Engineer apprenticeship
Hold a current ECS Health, Safety and Environmental Assessment (there are no exemptions that can be used when applying for this card).
For details about the ECS Health, Safety and Environmental Assessment visit the HS&E Assessment page.
Evidence needed to show the individual is on the relevant apprenticeship is usually a training agreement or learning plan showing who the apprentice is, it is signed by their employer, and confirms the programme of study by the college or training provider
This card is available for applications via the ECS website
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The Building Controls Associate will typically be supporting a team of Building Controls Engineers and/or Technicians or Installers on large projects, assisting with pre-commissioning and commissioning tasks for example. Generally working under supervision or deploying engineered elements and defined tasks and activities.
This Building Controls Related Discipline card is to provide a progression route for people working in the Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) sector.
The Building Controls Associate does not undertake installation works, instead relies on qualified electricians for these works when needed.
Post occupancy the Building Controls Associate may also be involved in servicing & maintenance, assisting with energy performance reviews and the deployment of system improvements.
Eligibility and requirements
To be eligible for an ECS Building Controls Associate card, applicants must hold the following three requirements:
1. The Building Controls qualification:
BCIA BCM00 Introduction to Building Controls and HVAC, or
BCIA BCM01 – Fundamentals of HVAC and Building Technology, or
CIBSE Practical Controls for HVAC Systems
2. Hold the ECS Electrical Safety Unit Assessment.
3. Hold a current ECS Health, Safety and Environmental Assessment. For details visit the ECS HSE Assessment page.
This card is available for applications via the ECS website.
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The Building Controls Installer’s role is to support the commissioning process of a Building Energy Management System (BEMS), including setting up, programming and end user training in the operation of the installed systems.
This card is suitable for technical staff that need to support the installation of building control systems but are not likely to require the full scope of the industry apprenticeship to carry out their role.
The Building Controls Installer will have an appreciation of BEMS, and knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems, how they operate and are installed.
Eligibility and requirements
To be eligible for an ECS Building Controls Installer card, applicants must hold the following:
1. Completion of the three technical training modules undertaken in invigilated conditions:
Fundamentals of HVAC & Building Technology (BCM01)
Measuring & Control Technology (BCM02)
Hydraulics in Building Services (BCM03)
2. A formal BS7671 qualification in the current edition of the wiring regulations (currently BS7671: 2018, 18th edition)
3. Hold a current ECS Health, Safety and Environmental Assessment. For details visit the ECS H&S Assessment page.
This card is available for applications via the ECS website.
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A Building Controls Technician may be involved initially alongside an Engineer with the design of a Building Energy Management System (BEMS) that controls the building services (e.g., heating, air conditioning, renewables etc).
This card is suitable for technical staff that need to support the installation of building control systems but are not likely to require the full scope of the industry apprenticeship to carry out their role.
They may write related software and graphics and commission systems, fault finding as appropriate. It is a requirement to liaise with various trades and disciplines and have a sound understanding of mechanical and electrical systems and their application.
The Building Controls Technician does not undertake installation works, and instead relies on qualified electricians for these works when needed.
Post occupancy, the Building Controls Technician may also be involved in servicing and maintenance, fault finding if there are problems with the system and energy performance reviews, recommending and implementing improvements.
Eligibility and requirements
To be eligible for an ECS Building Controls Technician (Commissioning) card, applicants must hold the following:
1. Completion of the three technical training modules undertaken in invigilated conditions:
Fundamentals of HVAC & Building Technology (BCM01)
Measuring & Control Technology (BCM02)
Hydraulics in Building Services (BCM03)
2. Approved electrical safe isolation course completed within the last 3 years (approved routes by City & Guilds, EAL or BPEC)
3. Hold a current ECS Health, Safety and Environmental Assessment. For details visit the ECS H&S Assessment page.
This card is available for applications via the ECS website.
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The Experienced Worker card is for applicants that have enrolled onto the Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA) route. This route is for people who do not yet have a full industry qualification such as a completed apprenticeship.
Entry onto this EWA will require you to have completed the BEMS EWA knowledge assessment (as a prerequisite),
This card will only be valid for 18 months and cannot be renewed. This is to reflect the fact that the card is only issued to people who need to complete the formal industry assessment to meet the requirements of an ECS gold card and plan to do this within the next 18 months.
You will need to qualify to the Level 4 BEMS standard during the life of this card if you wish to upgrade to a gold card.
Eligibility and requirements
To be eligible for an ECS Building Controls Experienced Worker card, applicants must hold the following:
1. BEMS EWA knowledge assessment, and
2. Hold a current ECS Health, Safety and Environmental Assessment. For details visit the ECS H&S Assessment page
Further information is available via the ECS website
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This card is for operatives who work unsupervised to install and maintain integrated building controls that manage the environmental services within a building, for the comfort of its users.
Typical work covered by this card includes the installation, commissioning, repair and maintenance of electromechanical, electronic or pneumatic measurement, control and regulation devices used in the building controls industry.
Qualifications that are needed for this card range from the industry NVQ level 3, to specialist courses managed and run by the BCIA.
Eligibility and requirements
To be eligible for an ECS Building Controls Engineer card, applicants must meet the following criteria:
1. Have successfully completed ONE of the following:
Successful completion of the Level 4 Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) Apprenticeship Standard, or
Level 3 NVQ in Building Management Systems, or
Level 3 NVQ in electrical installation and has successfully completed the Building Controls Professional Assessment (BCPA), or
BEMS Experienced Worker Assessment
2. Hold a current ECS Health, Safety and Environmental Assessment. For details visit the ECS H&S Assessment page.
This card is available for applications via the ECS website.
BCIA Course Accreditation for ECS Card Applications
To apply for an ECS Card, delegates who completed a BCM00, BCM01, BCM02 or BCM03 course before 01 March 2020 should submit their course certificates to ECS. Duplicate certificates are available on request from the BCIA Training Centre.
Delegates who completed a BCM00, BCM01, BCM02 or BCM03 online course between 01 March 2020 and 31 December 2024 will be required to sit a separate exam via the ECS Remote Invigilation Service. There is no additional cost for the exam and it is administered by the BCIA Training Centre. On completion of a BCM00, BCM01, BCM02 or BCM03 course all delegates will receive an email which includes further information about the exams and how to apply.
Delegates who complete a BCM00, BCM01, BCM02, or BCM03 online course from 01 January 2025 will automatically sit an ECS Remote Invigilation Service Exam at the end of the course.
The BCIA Training Centre can also offer the ECS Health, Safety and Environmental Assessment and the ECS Electrical Safety Unit Assessment at a cost of £47.50+VAT per exam.
For further information and to book an exam or assessment please contact the BCIA Training Centre Team.
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Training Courses
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BEMS Controls Engineer Apprenticeship
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Experienced Worker Assessment