What is the PASMA card?

Key facts

• PASMA = Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association.
• The PASMA card records each PASMA course the operator has completed (Towers for Users, Towers for Stairs, Towers for Managers, Combined Low Level Access, Working at Height Essentials etc.).
• Valid for five years from the date of training.
• Renewal is by retraining at an accredited PASMA centre. No exam-only renewal.
• The headline course, Towers for Users, is one day. Most operatives doing tower work hold this as their core credential.
• The card is accepted on every Tier 1 main-contractor site, by housebuilders, regional contractors, plant hire firms, facilities-management and maintenance contractors across the UK.

What the PASMA card looks like and what it shows

The PASMA card is a credit-card-sized photo-ID card. It carries the operative’s name, photo, a PASMA reference number and the issue / expiry dates. The card lists each PASMA course the operative has completed and is valid for. Most operatives hold Towers for Users as their core credential, with one or more variants added depending on the work (Towers for Stairs for stairwell towers, Towers for Managers for personnel overseeing tower work without erecting it themselves). Site induction teams verify the card at the gate; PASMA also operates a central database for verification.

The PASMA Towers for Users course

Towers for Users is the headline PASMA course and the credential most tower operatives hold. It is a one-day course covering:

• The Work at Height Regulations 2005 applied to mobile aluminium towers.
• Pre-use inspection and assembly check.
• Safe erection sequence (3T or advance guard rail methods).
• Safe alteration, movement and dismantling.
• Tower stability, ties, outriggers, working surface loads.
• Defect spotting and faulty-component reporting.

Both theory and practical assessment are completed on the day. Pass rates are high for operatives attending an accredited centre. The PASMA card and the temporary certificate follow promptly.

PASMA course variants

PASMA runs a broader course catalogue beyond Towers for Users. The most-booked variants are:

• Towers for Stairs. A half-day specialist module covering the safe erection of stair-frame mobile towers in stairwells. Often taken alongside Towers for Users.
• Towers for Managers. One-day course for personnel who plan, oversee or specify tower work without erecting it themselves. Used by site managers, project managers and supervisors.
• Combined Low Level Access and Towers for Users. Adds low-level access platforms (podiums, mini-towers) to the standard Towers for Users course. Common in maintenance, facilities and shopfitting.

All variants carry their own endorsement on the PASMA card. The card is one card; the endorsements stack.

How to get a PASMA card

1. Pick the course that matches the work (Towers for Users for most operatives; add Towers for Stairs or Combined Low Level Access where relevant; Towers for Managers for supervisors).
2. Book the training at an accredited PASMA centre such as MPTT. Most courses are one day; Towers for Stairs is half a day.
3. Complete the theory and practical assessment on the course day. The instructor watches the operative erect, alter and dismantle the tower against the PASMA standard.
4. PASMA issues the card centrally; it arrives in the post within a few weeks. A temporary certificate is issued on the day so the operative can start work immediately.

If an operative needs Towers for Users and Towers for Stairs together, the two are usually booked back-to-back (1.5 days total).

PASMA card validity and renewal

The PASMA card is valid for five years from the date of training. Renewal is by retraining at an accredited PASMA centre. There is no exam-only renewal route; the full course is repeated. Course duration on renewal is the same as the original. Book the renewal 8–10 weeks before expiry so a retest failure can be cleared without a gap, particularly if your team works on Tier 1 sites where a current card is a contractual condition. Full detail in our card validity FAQ.

If the card is lost or stolen

PASMA can reissue a card from their central database. The operative contacts PASMA (or MPTT can do it on their behalf) and orders a replacement. The training record itself is held centrally and is not lost; only the physical card is being replaced.

Related questions

• What’s the difference between IPAF and PASMA?
• Do I need IPAF, PASMA, or both?
• How long are IPAF and PASMA cards valid?
• How long do IPAF and PASMA courses take?
• Can IPAF and PASMA training be delivered on-site?

Quick answers to related questions

Is Towers for Users the only PASMA course I need?

For most operatives, yes. Towers for Users covers the day-to-day erection, alteration and use of a mobile aluminium tower. Add Towers for Stairs for stairwell work, Combined Low Level Access for podium and mini-tower use, or Towers for Managers if the role is supervisory.

How long does it take to get a PASMA card?

Training is one day. A temporary certificate is issued on the day so the operative can start work immediately. PASMA posts the physical card within a few weeks of training.

Do site supervisors need a PASMA card?

If they erect, alter or dismantle towers, yes (Towers for Users). If they specify and oversee tower work without operating themselves, Towers for Managers is the route: one-day course, separate PASMA card endorsement.

Last updated: 2026-05-21. Reviewed by the MPTT work-at-height training team, IPAF- and PASMA-approved instructors.