What is an electrician? David Thomas, Strategic Development Manager for The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS), explains what an electrician is.
The electrical industry has formal qualifications that provide a clear route for an electrician. Obtaining the right qualifications has never been more important for today’s electrician in order to demonstrate their ability to install and maintain electrotechnical systems. Standards for electrotechnical systems.
Standards for electrotechnical qualifications have been defined through industry consultation for many years. The electrical industry expects all operatives that are working unsupervised in the electrotechnical sector to be qualified to the industry-recognised Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical systems and equipment (building structures and the environment) through a fully completed apprenticeship.
“The electrical industry expects all operatives that are working unsupervised in the electrotechnical sector to be qualified to the industry-recognised Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical systems and equipment (building structures and the environment) through a fully completed apprenticeship.”
The Joint Industry Board (JIB), the organisation that sets the standards for employment, welfare, grading and apprentice training in the electrical contracting industry (in, England, Wales and Northern Ireland), recognises these standards in the form of the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme. This is better known by the initials – ECS, and qualified electricians can apply for and carry an ECS Card. This card not only proves that a person is qualified to work on site as an electrician, it also confirms their identity and shows that they have been health and safety assessed.
Other qualification options
Alternatively, it may be possible to meet the ECS card requirements with the Level 3 NVQ in Electrotechnical Services (Electrical Installation – Buildings & Structures) or the JIB Mature Candidate Assessment with the necessary underpinning knowledge qualification (or technical certificate) at Level 3 and the AM2 assessment – a three-day industry recognised practical trade test. If their assessment meets the required standard then there will be no need to go back to college to train in the classroom.
This is in line with the normal industry qualification requirements, and only focuses on the compulsory part of the assessment. The value of this is that the competence the individual has already achieved is credited toward achieving the full industry qualification.
Qualifications such as the standalone 17th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations, the Certificate in Fundamental Inspection and the Certificate in the Certification of Electrical Installations (inspection, testing and certification of electrical installations) are designed as professional development for qualified electricians, and, as such, are unsuitable for unqualified personnel or new entrants into the industry. On their own they do not demonstrate the industry-required qualification and competence needed to be recognised as an electrician.
Part P
Any reference to Part P of the building regulations is for a company to comply with the legislative requirement (in England) and is not a general requirement for individually qualified electricians employed within the industry.
Short Part P training programmes are only for individuals who have been working within the industry for at least two years and wish to be registered as a Qualified Supervisor for their company. These courses do not qualify individuals as electricians because the training is focused on the requirements of the Building Regulations. Operatives who are already formally qualified to the NVQ Level 3 do not need to re-qualify if they are the proposed Qualified Supervisor for their company, but will need to demonstrate their knowledge of the Building Regulations during their company’s Part P assessment visit by the relevant Competent Persons Scheme provider.
The future training requirements of the industry remain much the same 
as they were when the electrical apprenticeship was first introduced. In order to retain and justify the “qualified electrician” status all practicing electricians should keep their qualifications current with the requirements of the industry.
Qualified electricians still need a good grounding in electrical theory, which will provide the basis of integrating new and emerging technologies into electrical installations. Electricians also continue to need a full working knowledge of the wiring regulations in order to ensure that their work meets the required British Standards and is safe in its operation.
The best way to train new entrants into the electrical industry is through a formal industry apprenticeship, but there are also opportunities for people to prove their competence through site assessment.
The JIB has a long history of accrediting the formal qualifications held by professional electricians through the ECS card. Anyone who holds an ECS can easily demonstrate that they have met the requirements to truly be called an electrician.
