Ethan Roberts
Curriculum Lead
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The Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA) provides a valuable route for experienced fire, emergency, and security systems technicians to gain formal recognition for the skills, knowledge, and experience they have developed throughout their career.
Designed for professionals who can demonstrate occupational competence within the Fire, Emergency & Security Systems (FESS) sector, the EWA enables individuals to achieve a nationally recognised qualification and apply for full technician status without completing a traditional apprenticeship.
Delegates can choose whether they wish to undertake one pathway in either Fire OR Security OR they can opt for both.
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The assessment recognises expertise across the full scope of a FESS technician’s role, including installation, testing and commissioning, servicing, maintenance, fault diagnosis, and repair. Candidates are assessed against industry standards, ensuring they can confidently demonstrate their ability to work safely, effectively, and professionally in real-world environments.
For individuals, the EWA offers a practical pathway to professional recognition, helping to validate existing skills, enhance career prospects, and demonstrate competence to employers and customers. For employers, it provides an opportunity to formally accredit experienced technicians, strengthen workforce capability, support compliance requirements, and demonstrate a commitment to maintaining the highest industry standards.
By recognising the expertise already present within your workforce, the EWA helps build a more skilled, qualified, and future-ready team capable of delivering high-quality fire, emergency, and security systems services.
This assessment is assured by BPEC and is supported by industry and recognised by the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme.
The BPEC FESS Experienced Worker Route (EWA) is mapped directly into the Fire Emergency and Security Systems Apprenticeship Standard and therefore holders of the BPEC FESS EWA Certificate are entitled to apply for a full JIB/ECS technician gold card.
There will be an induction at Access outlining course expectations. This induction will include some refresher training on safe isolation procedures.
The Engineer will then need to demonstrate competence by compiling a portfolio of evidence. Evidence can be collected over 2 or 3 different jobs.
Full support will be provided to guide candidates through the portfolio, and there will be a mock assessment prior to sitting the multi-choice questions to enable candidates to prepare fully.
There will be regular (remote) catch-ups with the assessor to check that the portfolio is on track, and to be able to answer any questions.
Candidates are expected to attend all support sessions.
To achieve EWA, in addition to producing a portfolio of evidence, candidates will be required to undertake and pass:
Please note the practical assessment applies to each pathway – so one full day will be required per pathway, and will take place at our Gateshead training centre.
Prior to completing the assessment candidates must hold a valid / current ECS Operative card.
£1,200 + VAT for one pathway (Assessed in either Fire or Security)
£1,600 + VAT for two pathways (Assessed on both Fire and Security)
Payment terms: 50% of the course fee to be paid on commencement and then the remainder to be paid prior to booking the assessments.
Your journey doesn’t stop here. Through our partnership with the University of Sunderland, you can progress onto further study, deepen your expertise, and unlock new career opportunities.
FESS Training 
Ethan Roberts
Curriculum Lead
FESS Training 
Paul Shepherd
Trainer
FESS Training 
Richard Collingwood
Trainer
FESS Training 
Evan Willis
Workshop Assistant
