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- C&G 2919-01 Level 3 Award in Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation
- C&G 2391-52 Level 3 Award in Initial and Periodic Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations
- C&G 2382-18 18th Edition Wiring Regulations 2018:BS7671 Full Course
- C&G 2382-18 18th Edition Wiring Regulations Update
- C&G 2396-L4 Design and Veriffication
- C&G 2393-10 Level 3 Certificate in the Building Regulations for Electrical Installations in Dwellings
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What is changing?
With effect from 1st September 2021, 18th Edition and Domestic Electrical Installer qualifications will no longer be accepted as proof of competence. In order to be able to self-certificate electrical work undertaken in domestic dwellings, individuals need to register with a scheme provider (NICEIC or NAPIT) as a 'Competent Person'.
The document that sets out the criteria for individuals and businesses Competent Person Scheme (CPS) registration is the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) and was updates in 2020. In order to verify competence, scheme providers, such as NICEIC and NAPIT must act in accordance with Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) guidelines.
What is Competent Person Scheme (CPS)?
Competent Person Scheme (CPS) was introduced by the UK Government to allow individuals and enterprises to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations as an alternative to submitting a building notice or using an approved inspector. Competent Person Schemes help to tackle the problem of incompetent builders by raising standards in the industry and enabling consumers to identify competent installers. They also allow building control bodies to concentrate their resources on areas of higher risk.
CPS providers have now informed us of these upcoming changes, to make future scheme entrants aware of the new requirements for joining. We welcome these changes as we believe they will bring a positive change within the electrical sector, helping to push for a greater level of competency of contractors.
For more information on the CPS changes please contact us on 01622 962 455
What are the new requirements?
Some of the requirements are:
- Inclusion of the requirement for £250k professional indemnity insurance for businesses undertaking EICR’s
- Change to the applicant Qualified Supervisor qualification and experience requirements from September 2020 and September 2021 including
- a requirement for two years responsibility for electrotechnical work and
- from Sept 21 the requirement to hold a formal ‘craft’ qualification as well as BS7671 and inspection and testing qualifications for applicant QS’s, with recognition of previous experience of being a registered QS within the last 2 years
- Additional requirements documentation to support electrical work completed by the business.
- Greater focus on assessing staff supervision (employed persons*) and the records the business keeps in general, especially in respect of staff training records, competence and CPD evidence.
For a full guidance please refer to the EAS document here
What routes can you take?
The Electrical Academy never offered the Domestic Installer Course because we believe that a short route to becoming an electrician is not the right way. We offer a few routes towards becoming a fully-qualified electrician instead. At The Electrical Academy we pride ourselves on providing excellent training, but most importantly knowing that the qualifications our students gain will lead towards a better future for them and contribute to a safer electrical industry in the UK.
This is the preferred route into the electrical industry, and it also gives employers the flexibility of accessing funding for employees of all ages. Traditionally apprenticeships were only for young people, but now employers in England can receive funding for apprentices of any age, so they’re now an option for those looking to change or progress their career, as well as school leavers.
If for whatever reason apprenticeship is not an option, then this classroom-based route will provide you with technical knowledge and practical skills that you can gain at our training centre. You’d still be required to get practical experience in the workplace before you can become qualified.
If at any stage during your college education you become employed, you can transfer onto an apprenticeship programme (see Route 1) and your employer will fund the completion of your training, either through their apprenticeship levy funds or through government support. What you’ve learnt already will be recognised and will reduce the time it takes to complete your apprenticeship.
If Routes 1 and 2 are not accessible you’d need self-fund the training and consider your route very carefully. Please note that there are no shortcuts to becoming a qualified electrician. The qualifications that you can gain with us are fantastic, but on their own they do not mean you are a fully-qualified electrician.
For those who have been working in the industry for at least 5 years and want to get their skills and experience recognised to the industry Level 3 benchmark, the Electrotechnical Experienced Worker Assessment can help.
The Experienced Worker Assessment is based on the same content as the electrotechnical apprenticeship, so that both new entrants and existing workers are now being assessed and accredited against the same industry standard. The main benefit is that your existing qualifications, skills and experience can count towards the Experienced Worker qualification criteria, so you’ll only need to fill in any gaps.