ECS Card Scheme
ISCVE is an accredited Partner of the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) and is authorised to assess and issue ECS cards for both Sound Engineers and AV Engineers. ISCVE has also been accredited as an ECS Health & Safety assessment centre.
This agreement authorises ISCVE to issue and renew ISCVE Sound Engineer and ISCVE AV Engineer ECS cards, to existing and newly accredited members.
Administered by the Joint Industry Board (JIB) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, ECS is the sole ID and competence card scheme for electrotechnical related occupations which is recognised and endorsed by the industry. ECS is a partner of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), and ISCVE ECS cards will allow Sound and AV Engineers to prove their identity, qualified status and occupation when working in venues and on-site.
The ECS card is fully compliant with all of the requirements of the CSCS scheme, including the centralised database and is designed to prevent accidents and promote safety and quality of work. It is often a requirement at venues and on building sites for all site workers to hold an appropriate ECS card and is compulsory for those working around electricity.
ISCVE is extremely pleased to be recognised by the Joint Industry Board for this accreditation. ISCVE members are already regularly working in venues and on building sites, inspecting or installing equipment and this agreement allows ISCVE members to apply for an ISCVE Sound Engineer or ISCVE AV Engineer ECS card, prior to working on site.
STEP 1 - You need to be an ISCVE member if you are not a member already
If you are not currently a member you will need to become a member of ISCVE before you can take advantage of the ECS Card Scheme.
Find your membership level by clicking the button below.
STEP 2 - You will need a valid HS&E Assessment to apply
You will need to have a valid HS&E Assessment before you can apply for an ECS card. These need to be taken at approved centres or online using our new ECS HS&E Assessment Remote Invigilation Service. Find out more clicking the button below.
STEP 3 - You will need a valid ECS Electrical Safety Unit Certificate to apply
You will need to have a valid Electrical Safety Assessment before you can apply for an ECS card. These need to be taken at approved centres or online using our new ECS Electrical Safety Assessment Remote Invigilation Service. It is strongly advised that all delegates undertake suitable training prior to undertaking the ECS Electrical Safety Unit assessment.
Which ISCVE ECS Card should you have?
ISCVE Sound Engineer ECS Card
If you work in Pro Audio Live Sound Engineering, which might include Sound Systems, PA/VA, Hearing Loop Systems etc, you will want to order this card.
If you are already a member of the ISCVE you can start your application for an ECS Card by clicking the button below and we will guide you through the simple process.
ISCVE AV Engineer ECS Card
If you work in audio and visual installations, including projection systems, digital signage and smart automations you will want to order this card.
If you are already a member of the ISCVE you can start your application for an ECS Card by clicking the button below and we will guide you through the simple process.
How much does an ISCVE ECS Card Cost?
Please note: ECS card and assessment prices have increased from 1st March 2024
Application Fees
Initial Card £46.50 plus VAT
Renewal/Replacement
£37.50 plus VAT
ECS Health, Safety & Environmental Assessment
£46.50 plus VAT
ECS Electrical Safety Unit Assessment
£46.50 plus VAT
Why should you have an ECS card?
Over 99,000 electrical professionals are proud to hold an ECS card to show their hard-earned credentials at work and on site.
The ISCVE ECS cards display your qualifications as an ISCVE Sound Engineer or ISCVE AV Engineer with your grade of membership printed on the reverse of the card. This proves that you have been HS&E assessed, are competent and meet the requirements on employers or site owners for all workers to hold an up-to-date Health & Safety qualification.
Without an ECS card, it is increasingly difficult to get employment at venues and on building sites because many UK employers specify that holding an appropriate ECS card is compulsory for those working around electricity on their sites. From January 2021, all ECS card holders will be required to complete an Electrical Safety Unit assessment as well as the HS&E assessment and ISCVE provides approved training in preparation for the assessment.
Members with a current ECS card or a CSCS card, should consider holding an ISCVE ECS card upon expiry, to raise awareness of our industry which is of course beneficial to everyone.
Please note, ISCVE ECS cards will be withdrawn upon lapsed ISCVE membership, even if the card is still valid.
All applications are cross-referenced with the National Insurance database for authenticity. Furthermore, large sites will refer to this database to check card validity too.
ECS Card Scheme FAQ's
I do not reside in the UK, but I do carry out work in the UK. Can I still have an ECS card?
The ECS is the occupational card scheme for UK Electrotechnical Workers and is restricted to UK Nationals. If you do not have a National Insurance number, it will not be able to link you to the NI database.
I already have an ISCVE Sound Engineer ECS card and it is due for renewal. Can I renew with an ISCVE AV ECS Engineer card?
Yes, you can. If you now feel an ISCVE AV Engineer ECS card better reflects your role, you can place an order for a “renewal” card within the AV Engineer application section of the website.
Can I use an existing Electrical Safety qualification as an exemption?
You may already hold an Electrical Safety qualification from another organisation, but the agreement between the JIB and the ISCVE is that ALL applications made electronically via ISCVE, must have a valid Electrical Safety Unit certificate in order to obtain an ISCVE ECS card.
An ECS Electrical Safety Unit certificate is valid for two years.
What if I have recently upgraded my ISCVE membership?
Your grade of membership is printed on the reverse of the ECS card at the time of ordering. If you have upgraded your ISCVE membership during the card’s validation period, you can order a new card, but it is not essential. You might choose to wait until your card becomes due for renewal and at that time, you will need to order an ‘initial’ card. Otherwise, a replacement or renewal order, will print the same details as before.
If I have an ISCVE ECS Card, can I work on site in another capacity i.e. a non-sound or non-AV role, or will I require a separate ECS card?
This is usually decided by the site owner / operator granting access.
Some site operators will only grant permission for you to work on the discipline which your ECS card states. As an example a general labourer would not normally be allowed to carry out electrical works without an ECS card for electrical or related tasks.
Can I have both an ISCVE Sound Engineer card and an ISCVE AV Engineer card?
Yes you can, you just need to place two separate orders. However, it is important to note that even though you will receive two separate cards in the post, the ecs electronic system will only show your most recent order if a site manager should check online.
How long is the card valid for?
An ISCVE Sound Engineer or AV Engineer ECS Card is valid for 3 Years.
When an ECS card has less than 3 months to run it can be renewed. The holder will need to sit a HS&E assessment in order to obtain a new card.
ISCVE Sound Engineer or AV Engineer ECS cards will be withdrawn and therefore struck off the national database upon lapse of ISCVE membership. Withdrawn, invalid cards must be returned to the ISCVE upon receipt of formal termination of membership, to be destroyed as per the members declaration upon joining.
What if I lose or damage my card?
If an ISCVE ECS card is lost or damaged it can be re-issued using our replacement service. An exact copy of the last card issued will be provided on application and payment of the replacement card fee. The application for a replacement card is available up to three months before the original ECS card is due to expire. If there is less than three months left on the card an application to renew the ECS card will need to be made in the normal way.
Can I use my existing Health, Safety & Environmental certificate as an exemption?
You may already hold a Health and Safety certificate from another organisation, but the agreement between the JIB and the ISCVE is that ALL applications made electronically via ISCVE, must have a valid ECS Health, Safety and Environmental certificate in order to obtain an ISCVE Sound Engineer ECS or AV Engineer ECS card.
An ECS HS&E certificate is valid for two years.
If a person is working in the electrotechnical industry and would like to use an H&S exemption that is recognised for an application for an ECS craft card, they can apply directly to the JIB for a card and present their exemption as part of that application.
Can I book my ECS HS&E Assessment at alternative testing centres?
The ECS HS&E assessment is available directly from the JIB and several other organisations.
The JIB – To book an assessment through the JIB please call the bookings team on 01322 661 633.
The ECA – To book an assessment please call the ECA Administration team on 01582 531 047 or visit their website
Unite – To book an assessment with Unite please visit their website
ISCVE also runs its own own public HS&E Assessments from time to time and details are listed on the www.myiscve.org.uk events portal. For a large number of delegates from the same company, ISCVE will consider running in-house assessments for you.
If I already have a CSCS card, at renewal can I automatically apply for an ISCVE ECS Card?
Having a CSCS card, does not allow automatic renewal for an ECS card. The two schemes run separately.
CSCS are withdrawing the Construction Related Occupation (CRO) cards, so anyone who has a CRO card will need to apply for an ECS card.
