18th Edition Course Online
BS 7671 Training

The 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations, officially titled BS 7671:2018, is the national standard for electrical installation in the United Kingdom. Published jointly by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the British Standards Institution (BSI), it sets out the rules that every electrical installation must follow to ensure safety, reliability, and compliance with UK law.

BS 7671 is often referred to as the "brown book" due to its distinctive cover. It replaced the 17th Edition (BS 7671:2008) on 1 January 2019 and has since been amended three times: Amendment 1 (2020), Amendment 2 (2022), and most recently Amendment 4 (2026). Every practising electrician, electrical engineer, and installation designer in the UK needs a thorough working knowledge of this standard.

The standard is divided into seven parts covering general rules, definitions, assessment of general characteristics, protection for safety, selection and erection of equipment, inspection and testing, and special installations or locations. Together, these parts form a comprehensive framework that governs everything from domestic rewires to large commercial installations. Once qualified, you can apply your knowledge directly in practice — generating compliant Electrical Installation Certificates and preparing for the City & Guilds 2391 Inspection & Testing qualification.

Every electrician working in the UK needs to hold the 18th Edition qualification, formally known as the City & Guilds 2382-22 (or equivalent awards from EAL and other awarding bodies). This qualification is a prerequisite for joining a competent person scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or BRE, and is required for Part P compliance when carrying out notifiable electrical work in domestic properties in England and Wales.

Beyond qualified electricians, the 18th Edition is also essential for electrical designers, consulting engineers, electrical contractors managing installation teams, building control officers, and anyone involved in the specification or approval of electrical installations. Apprentices working towards their Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation will study BS 7671 as a core part of their training.

If you hold a 17th Edition certificate, you must update to the 18th Edition to maintain your competent person scheme membership. Most schemes require the update within a set timeframe of a new edition being published. Studying online allows you to prepare at your own pace without losing days on site.

Traditional classroom-based 18th Edition courses typically run over three to five days and cost between £300 and £550 (plus VAT where applicable), plus travel and time off work. While classroom training offers face-to-face interaction with a tutor, it forces you into a fixed schedule and pace that may not suit everyone.

Studying online with Elec-Mate offers several distinct advantages. You study at your own pace, revisiting difficult sections as many times as needed. Our AI study assistant is available around the clock to answer questions instantly, something no classroom tutor can match. You can study on your phone during breaks on site, on a tablet at home, or on a desktop when you have a longer session. Your progress is tracked and synced across all devices.

The cost difference is substantial. At just £6.99 per month with a 7-day free trial, you get access to the full course plus all of Elec-Mate's other tools including EICR certification software, cable sizing calculators, and the electrician's AI assistant. Most users complete their 18th Edition preparation within one to two months, making the total cost a fraction of a classroom course.

Remember that whether you study online or in a classroom, you will still need to sit the formal exam (such as City & Guilds 2382-22) at an approved test centre. What matters is how well prepared you are when you walk into that exam room, and that is where Elec-Mate's targeted revision tools, spaced repetition system, and realistic mock exams give you a genuine edge.