How to become an ACP

Applying to become an ACP

To become an Accredited Certificate Provider (ACP), you will need to apply to IPART. 

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The time it takes to get accredited depends on:
  • the quality of your application and documentation
  • how quickly you resolve issues (if any) identified with your application
  • the complexity of the method, and
  • whether you are already an ACP with existing accreditations. 

The process will usually take longer if you are a new business. The requirements may mean you have to develop or enhance your business systems and documentation. This can mean the application process sometimes takes more than 4 months.

Application steps

Follow the steps below to apply for accreditation.

Note that we start assessing an application after receiving payment for the application fee in Step 3. We may contact you throughout the process with requests for more information. Your timely response helps the speed of this process. Note that we typically take 4 months to assess an application.

  1. Preparing your application

    Update or develop the business systems and processes for your proposed energy-saving or peak demand-reduction activities. 

    Next, prepare your documentation and complete the 2-part application form.

    More about preparing and completing your application is available in Preparing your application.

  2. Submit your application to IPART

    See Submitting your application for details on submitting your application.

    We will check that you have:

    • completed all sections of the application forms, and
    • included all attachments.

    If your application is incomplete, we will request the missing information. You need to provide this to us before we can consider your application complete.

  3. Pay application fee (on request of payment)

    Remember your application must be complete before you can pay the application fee. We'll let you know when it is complete by requesting payment of the application fee through TESSA.

    Following your payment, we will assess your application. We do this in accordance with Energy Saving Scheme (ESS) or Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) requirements. (See Preparing your application.) We may ask you for further information to support our assessment.

    We typically issue no more than 2 requests for information.

    Once we complete our assessment of your application, the Scheme Administrator will decide whether to approve or refuse your application.

Notice of approval or refusal to become an ACP 

We will inform you in writing on whether we have decided to approve or refuse your application. 

  • If we approve your application and accredit you as an ACP, you will have risk-based audit and reporting requirements. These are set out in your Accreditation Notice.
  • If we refuse your application, you have the right to request an internal review of the Scheme Administrator’s decision.

More information