Orgma guides · Training records
How long do IPAF and PASMA cards last?
A practical reference for planning and record keeping. Confirm current scheme and employer requirements before booking training or authorising work.
Both last five years. An IPAF PAL Card (for mobile elevating work platforms) and a PASMA qualification (for mobile access towers) are each valid for five years in the UK. Both have to be renewed before they expire. If either one lapses, you're back on the full course.
At a glance
| IPAF PAL Card | PASMA | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it lasts | 5 years from the first day of the training course | 5 years |
| How to renew | IPAF Operator Renewal course (half a day) or PAL+, before expiry | Attend a PASMA course again before the expiry date, with a written and a practical test |
| Extra requirement | Logbook evidence: at least 60 entries over 5 years from 2026 | None stated |
| If it expires | Can't be renewed: full operator course | Re-take the course |
| Digital card | ePAL app (UK & Ireland PAL Cards have been digital since June 2021) | TowerSure app |
| How to check it | IPAF's online Verify PAL Card tool, or scan the QR code in the holder's ePAL app. UK PAL Cards that carry the CSCS logo also show on CSCS Smart Check | PASMA Check a Card, plus seeing the card itself |
IPAF: how renewal works
The PAL Card is valid for five years from the first day of the training course, not the last. Keep that in mind when you're working out expiry dates from certificates.
To renew, operators can take the shorter IPAF Operator Renewal course or the PAL+ Advanced Operator course. PAL+ is a one-day add-on that's also valid for five years. If you renew PAL+, you don't need to renew your basic PAL operator qualification separately.
The logbook rule
IPAF only lets operators onto the shorter renewal if they've kept a logbook of their MEWP use. The logbook can be a printed one or the digital logbook in the ePAL app. IPAF's renewal guidance says that from 1 January 2026 operators need at least 60 logbook entries over five years. Without that evidence, it's the full operator course. The minimum has been rising for a few years, and it was 40 in 2025.
If you manage MEWP operators, check their logbooks well before renewal, not the week before.
The ePAL app
UK and Ireland PAL Cards are digital and live in IPAF's free ePAL app, though a printed card is still available. ePAL also holds the digital logbook. Since February 2026, ePAL can export licences and logs as a spreadsheet, which is handy for keeping your own records up to date.
PASMA: how renewal works
PASMA qualifications last five years. To renew, you attend a course with a PASMA Approved Training Centre before the expiry date on your certificate. It includes a written test and a practical test, and you get a new certificate when you pass. PASMA doesn't list a separate refresher course. You renew by taking a PASMA course again, and the same courses are used by people re-qualifying after their card has expired.
Virtual PASMA cards
PASMA has moved to virtual cards in its free TowerSure app, which update automatically when someone renews. Plastic cards can still be ordered through the training centre, usually at extra cost. Certificates can also be downloaded as PDFs from PASMA's website.
Checking a PASMA card
PASMA's Check a Card tool confirms whether a qualification is valid. PASMA says it shouldn't replace seeing the actual card, so look at the virtual or photo card as well. Most PASMA cards don't carry the CSCS logo (only the Access Tower Specialist card does), so they won't show on CSCS Smart Check.
What this means for your training matrix
- IPAF: record the PAL Card number, the categories it covers, the course start date and the expiry date. Set a reminder three months before expiry, and check the logbook at the same time.
- PASMA: record the certificate number, the course, and the expiry date. Set a reminder three months before.
- For both, keep a copy of the card or certificate as evidence, so you can show an auditor or principal contractor without chasing anyone.
Prefer a spreadsheet for now? Get our free training matrix template.
Common questions
Can you renew an expired IPAF card? No. IPAF says an expired PAL Card can't be renewed. The operator needs full retraining and testing.
How long does IPAF last? Five years from the first day of the training course.
Is there a PASMA refresher course? PASMA doesn't list a separate refresher. You renew by attending a PASMA course again before your expiry date.
How long does PASMA last? Five years. PASMA notes this can vary in some regions.
Do I need a logbook to renew IPAF? Yes, for the shorter renewal course. From 2026, IPAF's guidance asks for at least 60 entries over five years. Without a logbook you'll need the full course.
Last checked against official sources: October 2026. Always confirm current requirements with IPAF or PASMA.