Everything you need to know about becoming a qualified electrician — from choosing your route (apprenticeship or adult retraining) to passing the AM2, joining a scheme, and building a career. Written by qualified electricians, not marketing writers.
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Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.
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There are two main routes to becoming a qualified electrician in the UK: the apprenticeship route and the adult retraining route. Both lead to the same qualifications and the same career opportunities — the difference is in how you get there.
The traditional route. You work for an employer full-time while attending college one day per week or on block release. Your employer pays your wages and funds your training. You gain extensive on-the-job experience across a wide range of installations. This is the route most electricians take if they enter the trade at 16-18 years old.
The fast-track route for career changers. You study at a college or private training provider, often self-funded or through Advanced Learner Loans. The qualifications are identical to the apprenticeship route. The main challenge is gaining sufficient practical experience outside of the classroom.
There is also a third, less common route: a full-time college course without an apprenticeship employer. Some colleges offer full-time Level 2 and Level 3 electrical programmes, but these generally take longer (2-3 years) and still require you to find work experience independently. The apprenticeship route is generally considered the gold standard because it combines formal education with real-world experience under supervision.
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An electrical apprenticeship is the most common and most respected route into the trade. You are employed by an electrical contractor from Day 1 and split your time between working on site and attending college or a training centre. The typical structure is 4 days on site and 1 day at college, or block release periods of several weeks at college followed by extended time on site.
Apprenticeships are typically 3-4 years in duration. During this time, you work through the Level 2 and Level 3 Diplomas in Electrical Installations, complete the 18th Edition qualification, gain extensive practical experience across domestic, commercial, and possibly industrial installations, and prepare for the AM2 practical assessment at the end.
Pay during an apprenticeship starts at around £14,000-£18,000 in Year 1 and rises each year. By Year 4, apprentices typically earn £22,000-£28,000. For a detailed pay breakdown, see our electrician salary guide.
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If you are over 18 and looking to change careers, the adult retraining route lets you qualify as an electrician without a traditional apprenticeship. This route has become increasingly popular, with thousands of career changers entering the trade each year from backgrounds as diverse as office work, retail, the military, and other trades.
The adult retraining route involves completing the same qualifications as the apprenticeship route — Level 2 and Level 3 Diplomas in Electrical Installations, the 18th Edition BS 7671, and the AM2 assessment — but you do so through a college or private training provider rather than through an employer. You typically self-fund the training, although government-backed Advanced Learner Loans are available for adults aged 19 and over.
The biggest challenge with the adult retraining route is gaining enough practical experience. Apprentices spend 3-4 years working on real installations under supervision — adult retrainees need to find their own way to build these skills. The most successful approach is to work as an electrical mate or labourer for a qualified electrician while studying, which gives you paid work experience alongside your training.
The UK electrical industry has a clear qualification pathway. While exact qualification names and numbers have changed over the years, the current structure (as of 2026) is well-defined. Here are the qualifications you need, in order.
Study for every qualification on the pathway — Level 2, Level 3, 18th Edition, C&G 2391 — with Elec-Mate's flashcard decks and timed mock exams.
Try it free for 7 daysThe AM2 (Achievement Measurement 2) is the practical assessment that separates qualified electricians from trainees. Run by NET (National Electrotechnical Training) at assessment centres across the UK, it is the final step to achieving JIB Approved Electrician status.
There are three versions of the AM2. The standard AM2 is for candidates who hold a Level 3 NVQ and involves approximately 8.5 hours of practical work. AM2S is the version for apprentices on the Installation and Maintenance apprenticeship standard — it includes additional containment tasks (steel and PVC conduit installation) and takes approximately 16.5 hours over 2.5 days. AM2E is for apprentices on the newer Electrotechnical apprenticeship standard (from September 2023 onwards). All three versions are carried out under exam conditions at a NET assessment centre. You are given a realistic installation scenario and must complete the work to a competent standard, including installation, testing, and certification.
A significant number of candidates do not pass on their first attempt. The most common reasons for failure are poor safe isolation procedure, inaccurate test results, incomplete certification, time management, and poor workmanship (loose connections, untidy cable runs, incorrect gland sizes). NET's own data shows that 54% of candidates who failed said they were less than fully prepared, with fault finding and inspection/testing being the most challenging areas. Practice is the key to passing — the more installations you complete before the assessment, the more confident and efficient you will be on the day.
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Start free trialOnce you are qualified, one of your first decisions will be whether to join a competent person scheme. These are government-authorised schemes that allow electricians to self-certify that their work complies with Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales.
Without competent person scheme membership, you must notify your local building control department before starting any notifiable electrical work and pay for their inspection (typically £200-£400 per job). For most self-employed electricians and small businesses, scheme membership pays for itself within the first few jobs of the year. The scheme also provides marketing benefits — many consumers specifically look for NICEIC or NAPIT registered electricians, and most insurers require scheme membership.
The time and money required to become a qualified electrician varies significantly depending on the route you choose. Here is a direct comparison.
Regardless of route, you will also need to budget for tools and test equipment. A basic professional toolkit costs £500-£1,500, and a calibrated multifunction tester (such as a Megger MFT1741 or Fluke 1664FC) costs £600-£1,200. You will also need a proving unit, a voltage indicator, and various accessories. Budget £1,000-£3,000 for a complete set of tools and test instruments to start your career.
Understanding what an electrician actually does on a daily basis helps you decide whether the trade is right for you. The work is varied, physical, and mentally challenging — no two days are the same.
The work is physical — you will crawl through loft spaces, work in tight cupboards, chase walls, lift floorboards, and spend time on ladders. It requires a good head for problem-solving, as fault-finding and working with existing installations often present puzzles that textbooks do not cover. You need attention to detail for testing and certification, and good communication skills for explaining work to clients. Most electricians work a standard 37.5-40 hour week, although self-employed electricians often choose to work longer hours to maximise earnings.
Once you are qualified, the electrical trade offers multiple career paths. Your qualification is a foundation — what you build on top of it determines your earning potential and career satisfaction.
Elec-Mate grows with you. As an apprentice: flashcards, mock exams, AM2 simulator. As a newly qualified sparky: 16 certificate types, 70+ calculators…
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