Not Sure Which
Electrical Qualification
You Actually Need?

Yes — the 18th Edition (2382, BS 7671:2018 Amendment 4) is a legal requirement for anyone carrying out, supervising or designing electrical work in the UK. It must be renewed periodically as the regulations are updated. If you hold an older edition, you need to upgrade to Amendment 4.

The EWA is a portfolio-based NVQ Level 3 route designed for electricians who have been working in the industry for 5+ years but don’t hold a formal qualification. It assesses your existing skills and experience without requiring you to sit in a classroom. It’s the fastest route to your ECS Gold Card for experienced workers.

Foundation Courses (2365 Level 2 and 3) are the core electrical installation qualifications — the main academic route for becoming a qualified electrician. Essential Courses (18th Edition, 2391) are additional mandatory certifications that qualified electricians must hold to work legally in the UK. Most electricians will need both.

To get your ECS Gold Card you need: (1) a Level 2 or Level 3 in Electrical Installation (2365), (2) the 18th Edition qualification, (3) a 2391 Inspection & Testing qualification, and (4) an NVQ Level 3 in Electrical Installation (via the 2357 or Experienced Worker route). Use our free Pathway Tool to confirm exactly what you need for your situation.

Many courses offer both options. The 18th Edition and Part P can be studied online at home with an at-home exam. The 2391 is available as online learning followed by a centre exam, or as a 5-day classroom course. Some practical assessments must be done at one of our centres in London or Manchester.

The 2391-50 covers Initial Verification only. The 2391-51 covers Periodic Inspection and Testing only. The 2391-52 is the combined unit covering both — and is the most widely recognised by employers and for ECS Gold Card purposes. We recommend the 2391-52 for most students unless you have a specific reason to take a unit separately.

Yes. We offer a dedicated Overseas Electrician Transfer Package that maps your existing qualifications to the UK equivalents and identifies exactly what top-up courses you need. The 2365 Level 2 Recognition Route is often the starting point. Book a consultation with our team and we’ll walk you through the process.

Yes — 0% interest payment plans are available on all courses. You can spread the cost over several months at no extra charge. Full details are shown on each course page. Contact us on 0800 061 4400 if you’d like to discuss payment options before booking.

It varies by course. The 18th Edition online course typically takes 20–40 hours of self-study before the exam. The 2391 classroom course is 5 days. The Experienced Worker Assessment is portfolio-based and typically takes several weeks to compile. Foundation courses (2365 Level 2 and 3) are longer programmes — contact us for full timelines.

Use our free 2-minute Qualification Pathway Tool. Answer 6 short questions about your experience, current qualifications and goals, and we’ll tell you exactly which courses you need, in the right order, with no wasted spend. The results are emailed to you instantly — no sign-up needed.