Digital IPAF card – how does it work?

If you’ve recently completed or are about to book your IPAF training, you might have heard about the digital PAL card, but aren’t sure how it works or what you need to do.

At 2 Start Training, we often get questions from students who expect a plastic card in the post after passing their IPAF course. However, since it’s introduction in 2021, the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) now issue your Powered Access Licence (PAL) card digitally through the ePAL app.

This isn’t a new change, but it can cause confusion, so here’s a simple guide to help you understand what it is, how it works, and what you need to do after passing your IPAF course.

What is the digital IPAF PAL card?

Your PAL Card (Powered Access Licence) is proof that you’ve completed accredited IPAF training to operate powered access equipment safely, such as cherry pickers, scissor lifts, and other MEWPs (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms).

In the past, this was a physical plastic card.
Now, it’s delivered digitally through IPAF’s ePAL app, which stores your licence securely on your smartphone.

It contains all the same information as the physical version:

• Your name and photo
• The IPAF categories you’re qualified for (e.g. 1b, 3a, 3b)
• Your operator number and expiry date
• QR codes for employers or site managers to verify your credentials

How to access your digital PAL card?

Once you’ve successfully passed your IPAF course with us, the process is simple:

1. Look out for an email from IPAF inviting you to download the ePAL app (available on Android and iOS).
2. Log in or create an account using the same email address you used when booking your course.
3. Your digital PAL Card will automatically appear in the app, along with your operator details.

You’ll usually receive access to your digital card within a few working days of your training being processed by our team. No waiting for the post, and no chance of misplacing it!

Why IPAF switched to digital cards?

The move to digital certification was made to make the process faster, more efficient, and more secure for operators and employers.
It also offers a few added benefits:

• Instant access: Your card appears in the app as soon as your training is processed by our team.
• Always available: You’ll never forget or lose your card, it’s stored on your phone.
• Environmentally friendly: No more plastic cards or postage.
• Easy renewals: When you complete a refresher or additional course, your digital record updates automatically.
• Built-in logbook: You can record your machine usage directly in the app.