The Complete UK Route for
Overseas Electricians

No. We work with electricians from all countries. The first step is checking whether your qualification can be assessed through ECCTIS — the UK’s official qualification comparison body. If it can be matched to a UK Level 2 Electrical Installation certificate, you move straight on. If not, we put you through our Level 2 Recognition Route to formally establish your skills here in the UK. Either way, we’ve got you covered.

ECCTIS is the UK government-recognised body for comparing overseas qualifications against UK standards. If your overseas electrical qualification is a recognised trade certificate, ECCTIS may be able to confirm it is equivalent to a UK Level 2 — which would allow you to skip the Level 2 Recognition Route entirely. However, if you hold a degree or academic qualification, or if your qualification doesn’t map directly, ECCTIS won’t be the right route and you’ll complete our Level 2 Recognition Route instead. We’ll advise you on which applies during your free assessment. You can find out more at ecctis.com/industry-skill-statements.

The NVQ Level 3 EWA route requires a minimum of 5 years’ electrical experience — but not having 5 years doesn’t mean you can’t get your Gold Card. It simply means your pathway looks slightly different. In most cases, the right starting point is the Level 2 Recognition Route, which formally establishes your existing skills here in the UK and sets the foundation for your onward journey to Level 3 and Gold Card. Every electrician’s background is different and we deal with a wide range of circumstances — get in touch and talk to us. We can definitely help.

The NVQ portfolio requires documenting your electrical work experience in a specific structured format. For many candidates — especially those for whom English isn’t their first language — this is the hardest part. With the Premium package, our team conducts recorded Microsoft Teams interviews with you, asking about your work history and experience. We then write and structure your entire portfolio on your behalf from those recordings. You just need to answer our questions — we do the rest.

The programme typically takes 3 to 6 months from start to Gold Card, depending on how quickly you progress through each step and whether you need the Level 2 Recognition Route. Steps 3 and 4 (18th Edition and 2391-52) can run concurrently, which saves time. We’ll give you a realistic timeline estimate during your initial assessment.

It depends entirely on your existing qualifications. Step 1 may be handled through ECCTIS rather than the Level 2 Recognition Route — or in some cases the recognition element is already satisfied. If you already hold a valid 18th Edition certificate or an existing 2391 qualification, those steps may also be waived. We assess each candidate individually — the free initial consultation is specifically designed to identify exactly which steps apply to you and which don’t.

The ECS (Electrotechnical Certification Scheme) Gold Card is the standard proof of qualification for electricians working on UK construction sites. The vast majority of employers and principal contractors require site workers to carry a valid ECS card. Without it, you will not be admitted to most commercial and industrial sites in the UK. The Gold Card confirms you hold the highest level of electrical qualification and are fully competent to work unsupervised.

Our main centres are in London (Isleworth) and Manchester (Hyde). However, many elements of the programme — including the NVQ portfolio work, 18th Edition study, and some assessments — can be delivered remotely or arranged at third-party venues UK-wide. We’ll confirm centre requirements for each step when you enrol.

Yes. We offer a range of payment options including payment in full, stage payments (per step), and monthly payment plans. Full details and pricing are confirmed during your initial consultation once we’ve assessed exactly which steps apply to you and provided your personalised quote.