Locations

• Birmingham (HVO)
• Bristol (HVO)
• Dundee
• Durham (HVO)
• Glasgow (HVO)
• Leeds
• Leicester
• Manchester (HVO)

PASMA Towers for Users Key Info

• Duration: 1 day (London course also available)
• Certification: PASMA Towers for Users - valid for 5 years
• Delivery: Classroom and practical - in-person at a Nationwide Platforms training centre
• Max delegates: 12 per session
• Accreditation: Fully accredited by PASMA

PASMA Towers for Users Course Programme

The course is split into classroom-based theory and a multiple choice assessment followed by practical training.

Legislation and Regulations

An overview of the key UK health and safety legislation that applies to working at height with mobile access towers, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, PUWER, and the Work at Height Regulations 2005. This section also covers the PASMA Code of Practice and PAS250 (Publicly Available Specification), as well as the legal responsibilities of employers, employees, and suppliers.

Standards and Best Practice

An understanding of the relevant British and European standards affecting the manufacture and use of mobile access towers, including BS EN 1004. This section covers safe working heights, safe working loads, manufacturer’s instruction manuals, and ground and site conditions that affect tower stability.

Assembly, Alteration, and Dismantling

Practical instruction on how to safely assemble, alter, and dismantle mobile access towers following the manufacturer’s instructions. This section incorporates current best practice for fall protection, including the use of Advanced Guard Rail (AGR) and 3T (through-the-trap) methods.

Inspection of Mobile Access Towers

How to carry out a thorough inspection of a mobile access tower before use, including completing Tower Inspection Records. This section covers identifying hazards affecting the use of towers and platforms, and understanding when a tower should not be used.

Safe Use and Hazard Awareness

Guidance on the safe use of mobile access towers in the workplace, including hazards such as overhead power lines, uneven ground, adverse weather conditions, and proximity to traffic or pedestrians. This section also covers correct positioning, tying requirements, and the use of outriggers and stabilisers.

Personal Protective Equipment

Practical guidance on the correct use and selection of PPE when working with mobile access towers, including hard hats with chin straps, safety footwear, gloves, and eye protection.

PASMA Towers for Users Course Assessment

Theory Assessment

The course includes a 30-question multiple choice written assessment based on the theory content. This is a closed book assessment with a pass mark of 80%. Delegates who pass the theory assessment will progress to the practical element.

Practical Assessment

The practical assessment requires delegates to demonstrate the safe assembly, inspection, and dismantling of a mobile access tower. The practical session takes approximately 3–4 hours depending on the experience of the delegates.

What if I don’t pass? If you do not achieve the required 80% pass mark in the theory, you will have to return another date to complete. If you fail the practical element, you can return on a different day to complete just the practical (within 90 days)

Certification and What You’ll Receive

On successful completion of both the theory and practical assessments, you will receive:

• PASMA Towers for Users qualification
• PASMA digital certification, accessible via the PASMA TowerSure app on iOS and Android
• PASMA Code of Practice and course notes

The PASMA Towers for Users qualification is valid for 5 years from the date of issue. To retain your certification, you will need to retake the course before your card expires.

As of March 2025, all PASMA certifications are issued digitally by default via the TowerSure app. If you require a physical PASMA PhotoCard, this can be arranged for an additional fee - please contact the training team before you attend the course.

What to Bring

For the practical session, candidates will need suitable Personal Protective Equipment:

• Hard hat with chin strap (preferable)
• Safety footwear
• Glove protection
• Eye protection

 

Please download the PASMA TowerSure app on your smartphone before attending, as this will be used during the course and to access your digital certification afterwards.

PASMA Towers for Users FAQs

What is the PASMA Towers for Users course?

The PASMA Towers for Users course is the flagship PASMA training programme, taken by more than 70,000 delegates each year. It is designed for anyone who needs to safely assemble, dismantle, move, alter, or inspect mobile access towers. The course covers legislation, standards, safe assembly methods, inspection procedures, hazard awareness, and the correct use of PPE. It includes both theory and practical elements.

Is PASMA training a legal requirement?

Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, employers have a legal responsibility to ensure that anyone who assembles or uses a mobile access tower is properly trained and competent. While there is no specific law requiring PASMA certification by name, it is widely recognised as the industry standard for demonstrating competence and is often a mandatory requirement on construction sites and for contractor approval.

How long does the PASMA Towers for Users course take?

The course is one full day. The theory element is completed online before you attend, and the in-person day consists of a written assessment (approximately 30 minutes) followed by a practical session (approximately 3–4 hours depending on delegate experience). Sessions are run in groups of 4, with morning and afternoon practical slots.

How long does PASMA certification last?

A PASMA Towers for Users qualification is valid for 5 years from the date of issue. To maintain your certification, you will need to retake the full course - including both the theory and practical assessments - before your card expires.

Do I need any experience or qualifications to take this course?

No formal qualifications or prior experience with mobile access towers are required. However, candidates must be physically fit and in good health, as the practical element involves assembling and dismantling towers. You will also need a good understanding of written and spoken English, as you will need to read safety notices and manufacturer’s instruction manuals throughout the course.

What is the difference between PASMA and IPAF?

PASMA training is specific to mobile access towers (scaffold towers), while IPAF training covers powered access equipment such as scissor lifts and cherry pickers (MEWPs). They are separate qualifications covering different types of equipment. If your work involves both mobile access towers and powered access platforms, you may need both qualifications.

What happens to my PASMA card now that cards are digital?

As of March 2025, all PASMA certifications are issued digitally via the TowerSure app. Your virtual card is always with you on your smartphone and cannot be lost, stolen, or forgotten. Physical PASMA PhotoCards are still available on request but now carry an additional fee. You will need to download the TowerSure app before attending the course.

How much does the PASMA Towers for Users course cost?

The PASMA Towers for Users course is priced from £170.00 per person when booked online. The fee includes all theory content, the written and practical assessment, and your digital PASMA certification via the TowerSure app. A physical PASMA PhotoCard can be arranged for an additional fee - please contact the training team for details.

Have more questions? Call our expert team on 01455 552800 or send us an email.

Related Courses

Looking to expand your qualifications or train your team further? These courses complement the PASMA Towers for Users course:

• PASMA Combined Course – Covers both mobile access towers and low-level access equipment in a single day. Ideal if you also work with podium steps or folding scaffold units. Get both PASMA qualifications in one course. From £215.00 per person.
• PASMA Towers for Managers — Virtual Classroom – Designed for anyone who supervises or manages operatives working with mobile access towers. This is a management-level theory course, not an operator course. Ideal as a complement to Towers for Users for those with site supervision responsibilities.
• IPAF 3A and 3B Operator Training Course – If your team also works with powered access equipment, this 1-day course covers the safe operation of scissor lifts and cherry pickers. From £245.00 per person.

Course Objectives

PASMA Towers for Users Course Overview

The PASMA Towers for Users Course is the industry-standard training for anyone who needs to assemble, dismantle, move, alter, or inspect mobile access towers.

Through a combination of theory and hands-on practical work, you will learn how to safely construct and deconstruct mobile access towers whilst gaining a wider awareness of the associated hazards. Delegates also receive practical guidance on the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and a grounding in the regulations and legislation applicable to aluminium towers.

Under UK health and safety legislation - specifically the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) - employers must ensure that anyone who assembles, uses, or works from a mobile access tower is properly trained and competent. The PASMA Towers for Users qualification is widely recognised across the construction industry as the definitive proof of that competence and is often a mandatory requirement for site access.

On the day, you will complete a classroom theory session and a multiple choice assessment followed by a practical session where you will build, inspect, and dismantle mobile access towers under the guidance of a PASMA-approved instructor.

If you also work with low-level access equipment such as podium steps or folding scaffold units, consider our PASMA Combined Course, which covers both mobile access towers and low-level access in a single day.

Nationwide Platforms is one of Europe’s largest providers of PASMA training, with training centres across the UK and award-winning instructors with extensive construction industry experience.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for anyone who needs to assemble, dismantle, move, alter, or inspect mobile access towers in the workplace. It is ideal for:

• Construction workers who erect and use mobile access towers on site
• Electricians, plumbers, and maintenance operatives who need a stable platform for installation, inspection, or repair work at height
• Facilities managers and building maintenance teams
• Delegates who have never used towers before and require formal certification
• Existing tower users who need to renew their PASMA card after the 5-year expiry
• Professionals working in construction, retail, airports, utilities, arboriculture, and other industries where mobile access towers are used

Candidates must be physically fit and in good health, as the course involves the hands-on assembly and dismantling of mobile access towers. A level of literacy that enables you to understand safety notices and manufacturer’s instruction manuals is also required. No formal qualifications or prior PASMA experience are needed.