Been Asked for CHAS Accreditation? Real Costs, Documents and Timeline

A main contractor has told you to "get CHAS accreditation" before you can quote on a job. You've got a deadline, a quote to price, and no compliance officer — just you and the laptop at the kitchen table. This guide cuts to the three decisions that actually matter: which CHAS tier you really need, what it costs all-in, and how long it takes to get the certificate in your hand. No history lesson on what CHAS stands for.

The single most expensive mistake at this stage is buying the wrong tier. Plenty of subbies panic-buy Elite because it sounds the most impressive, when the contractor in front of them only asked for SSIP-level health and safety. Work out the tier first, then the cost falls out of it.

Which CHAS accreditation tier do you actually need?

CHAS sells three contractor packages, and the difference between them is how many areas of risk they assess. According to CHAS's own products page, the three tiers are Standard, Advanced and Elite (chas.co.uk).

• CHAS Standard is the entry-level package. It covers a health-and-safety assessment plus a self-certified insurance module and carries SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) recognition. CHAS describes it as meeting stage-1 health-and-safety prequalification under CDM 2015 (chas.co.uk).
• CHAS Advanced builds on the SSIP health-and-safety assessment and adds further modules aligned to the former PAS 91 standard — things like environmental, quality and modern slavery.
• CHAS Elite is the full Common Assessment Standard, covering 13 areas of risk management in a single annual assessment (chas.co.uk).

Here's the part nobody spells out on site: when a private commercial main contractor says "we need you CHAS'd," they almost always mean SSIP-level health and safety — which is CHAS Standard. The pricier tiers are aimed at broader prequalification, and the Common Assessment Standard (Elite) is really the public-sector play.

What does CHAS accreditation really cost?

CHAS accreditation is priced as an annual subscription, and the fee scales with the total number of employees in your business. The published "from" prices — CHAS Standard from £429 a year plus VAT, Advanced from £659, and Elite from £909 — are the lowest band, which applies to a single-employee firm (chas.co.uk).

The headcount that sets your band is not just your payroll. CHAS counts total employees — permanent, temporary, part-time and labour-only subcontractors — because under UK law a labour-only subcontractor is treated as an employee. Bona-fide subcontractors (their own tools, their own insurance, their own company) are not counted (chas.co.uk FAQ).

Worked example — Mick's 12-engineer firm. Say you run a mechanical and electrical outfit with 12 engineers on the books. You've been asked for CHAS to quote a £12k commercial maintenance contract for a private main contractor. Twelve people puts you in a mid headcount band, so your CHAS Standard fee will sit above the £429 "from" figure — but you almost certainly do not need Advanced or Elite for a private maintenance job. The realistic decision is: pay for Standard at your band, not the £909 Elite headline. For the full banded pricing table and the renewal picture, see our dedicated CHAS cost breakdown.

The cost that catches people out is not the joining fee — it's that CHAS accreditation renews every year. CHAS separates "membership expiry" (your annual payment date) from "compliance expiry" (your annual assessment renewal), so the assessment work comes round again 12 months later (chas.co.uk FAQ). If you hold more than one scheme, each has its own clock — which is exactly the kind of duplicated renewal admin we cover in our guide to accreditation renewal deadlines.

What documents do you need for CHAS accreditation?

The CHAS Standard assessment is a document review carried out by NEBOSH-qualified assessors, so the paperwork is the whole game. Based on what CHAS says it reviews, expect to upload evidence covering (chas.co.uk):

• A written health & safety policy (legally required once you have five or more employees).
• Risk assessments and method statements (RAMS) for your typical work.
• Your COSHH arrangements for hazardous substances.
• Training records — cards, tickets and competencies for your team.
• Insurance evidence (employers' and public liability), with policy number, limit and expiry.
• Maintenance records and, where relevant, construction phase plan arrangements.

Most first-time failures are wording and evidence problems — a health & safety policy that doesn't quite match CHAS's expected format, or a RAMS that's generic rather than specific to your trade — not the firm being unsafe. It's worth getting the paperwork lined up before you submit. Our CHAS documents checklist walks through each item in the order the portal asks for it.

How long does CHAS accreditation take?

Once you submit a complete CHAS Standard application, CHAS says assessments are usually approved within 10 working days, with a fast-track (CHAS Assist) route bringing the review down to as little as 2 working days (chas.co.uk; chas.co.uk FAQ). If the assessor needs more information, you're typically given a two-week window to respond. When you pass, the electronic certificate is issued straight away.

So the honest answer to "how long does CHAS take?" is: the review is quick — the slow bit is you getting the documents right. Here's a realistic 14-day run for that £12k maintenance job.

1. 1
   Days 1–2: pick the tier and register. Confirm in writing that the buyer wants SSIP-level (CHAS Standard). Register on the portal — company details take minutes.
2. 2
   Days 3–7: gather and upload evidence. Health & safety policy, RAMS, COSHH, training records, insurance certificates. This is where the time goes — budget an evening or two.
3. 3
   Day 7: submit. Standard review is usually within 10 working days; a fast-track can be 2 working days if you're up against the clock.
4. 4
   Days 8–12: answer any assessor queries. Most first submissions get at least one "please clarify" request. Respond promptly — you generally have a two-week deadline.
5. 5
   Day 12–14: certificate issued. Pass and your electronic certificate lands, ready to send to the main contractor so you can quote.

If your deadline is tighter than that, the fast-track review exists — but it doesn't speed up your paperwork, only the assessor's turnaround.

Is CHAS the right scheme, or should you look elsewhere?

CHAS is one of several SSIP-recognised bodies, and because its fee scales with headcount it isn't always the cheapest route to the same SSIP stamp. If your buyer will accept "any SSIP" rather than CHAS specifically, it's worth comparing. See how the big three stack up in our CHAS vs SafeContractor vs Constructionline comparison, and check whether you're being asked for something you can satisfy through a scheme you already hold before paying twice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which CHAS tier do I need if a main contractor just asks for "CHAS"?

In most private commercial work, an ask for "CHAS" means SSIP-level health and safety, which is CHAS Standard — the entry-level tier from £429 a year plus VAT. Advanced and Elite add PAS-91 modules and the Common Assessment Standard, which you mainly need for higher-value or public-sector contracts. Always confirm the exact requirement with your buyer in writing before paying for a higher tier.

How much does CHAS accreditation cost?

CHAS accreditation is an annual subscription banded by your total employee headcount. The published "from" prices are CHAS Standard from £429, Advanced from £659 and Elite from £909 a year plus VAT — figures that apply to the smallest (one-employee) band and rise with headcount (chas.co.uk). Remember it renews every year, not once.

How long does it take to get CHAS accredited?

A complete CHAS Standard application is usually reviewed within 10 working days, or as little as 2 working days on the fast-track (CHAS Assist) service (chas.co.uk). The certificate is issued as soon as you pass. In practice, expect roughly two weeks from sign-up because gathering and correcting your documents takes longer than the assessor's review.

Do I have to renew CHAS every year?

Yes. CHAS accreditation is an annual subscription with an annual assessment renewal — CHAS distinguishes your payment date ("membership expiry") from your assessment date ("compliance expiry") (chas.co.uk FAQ). If you hold more than one accreditation scheme, each carries its own renewal deadline and its own evidence upload.

Can I use an existing SSIP certificate to get CHAS?

If you already hold an SSIP certificate from another recognised assessment body, CHAS offers a Deem to Satisfy route to join at Standard level without repeating the full health-and-safety assessment (chas.co.uk). This mutual recognition covers the SSIP health-and-safety element only — it doesn't automatically hand you the Common Assessment Standard or the extra Advanced/Elite modules.

TradeComply is an independent, informational site — we don't sell CHAS applications or fill in forms for a fee. Figures and rules change; always confirm the current fee and your buyer's exact requirement before acting. Last reviewed 15/07/2026.