Every electrical apprentice must spend at least 20% of their paid working hours on off-the-job training. This guide explains what that means, what activities count, how to record evidence, your employer's obligations, and how Elec-Mate's OJT Tracker makes the whole thing effortless.
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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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Off-the-job training (OTJ or OJT) is structured learning time that is separate from your normal day-to-day work duties. It is a mandatory component of every apprenticeship in England, enforced by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) as a condition of the apprenticeship funding your employer receives.
The purpose is simple: without a formal requirement for dedicated learning time, there would be a real risk that apprentices are used as cheap labour without receiving the structured training that distinguishes an apprenticeship from ordinary employment. The ESFA's 20% rule ensures every apprentice gets proper training time built into their paid working week.
For electrical apprentices on the Installation Electrician or Maintenance Electrician standard (ST0215), off-the-job training covers a wide range of activities. It is much broader than just college attendance. Understanding what counts — and what does not — is essential for meeting the requirement without stress and building a strong foundation for your End Point Assessment.
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The ESFA requires that at least 20% of an apprentice's paid working hours are spent on off-the-job training. This is calculated over the total duration of the apprenticeship, not on a strict week-by-week basis.
Over a typical 4-year apprenticeship on a 30-hour week (approximately 48 working weeks per year), the total off-the-job training requirement is around 1,152 hours. In practice, most training providers track a documented target of approximately 400 hours because college days are logged centrally by the provider. The 400 hours represent the evidence you personally need to provide for additional OTJ activities.
The 20% is an average over the full programme. Some weeks you may exceed it (block-release college weeks), other weeks you may fall short (busy project periods). As long as the overall total reaches 20% by the gateway stage, you are compliant. However, the ESFA expects OTJ training to be spread reasonably — do not leave it all to the final months.
The ESFA definition is: learning which is undertaken outside of the normal day-to-day working environment and leads towards the achievement of an apprenticeship. It can happen at the employer premises provided it is clearly distinct from normal work duties.
All time at college — lectures, workshops, practical sessions, tutorials, and assessments. This is the most straightforward OTJ activity and typically accounts for one day per week.
Studying courses on Elec-Mate, completing quizzes, using the flashcards tool, practising mock exams, and working through BS 7671 content. Self-directed study of textbooks and technical resources also counts.
Observing experienced electricians on work types you have not done before. Being taught new techniques, approaches, or methods. The test is whether you are learning something new, not repeating something you already know.
Attending manufacturer training days, trade shows, exhibitions, and industry events. Learning about new products, systems, and installation methods directly relevant to your apprenticeship.
Practising new skills in a supervised environment — safe isolation, testing techniques, two-way switching wiring. Using the Elec-Mate AM2 Simulator or EPA Simulator to rehearse assessment tasks.
Understanding what is excluded is equally important. The following do not count towards the 20% off-the-job training requirement:
Carrying out installation, testing, or maintenance tasks you already know how to do. Even if the work is directly relevant to the apprenticeship standard, repeating familiar tasks is on-the-job training, not off-the-job.
Time spent on Level 2 Functional Skills in English and maths does not count. These are tracked separately under the apprenticeship funding rules.
Training not directly relevant to the apprenticeship standard — general company induction, non-technical training, or activities outside the scope of ST0215.
A good rule of thumb: if you could not do this task before your apprenticeship started (or before this training session), and it is relevant to the standard, it counts. If you are repeating something you already know, it does not.
Recording off-the-job training hours is not just about keeping a running total. You need evidence that the training happened, what it covered, and how it links to the apprenticeship standard. This evidence is reviewed at progress meetings, checked at the gateway stage before the EPA, and may be inspected by Ofsted.
Ofsted inspectors look for evidence that OTJ training is planned, meaningful, and directly relevant to the standard — not just box-ticking. Apprentices who can articulate what they learned and how it links to their qualification make a strong impression.
Traditional paper logs and spreadsheets work but are tedious and easy to fall behind on. If you miss a few weeks, reconstructing your records from memory produces unreliable evidence. Digital tracking with a tool like Elec-Mate's OJT Tracker eliminates this problem entirely.
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Here are real examples of activities that electrical apprentices commonly log as off-the-job training:
Completed Module 4 of the 18th Edition course covering earthing arrangements (TN-S, TN-C-S, TT systems). Took the end-of-module quiz and scored 85%. Reviewed flashcards on earthing conductor sizing. Logged automatically by Elec-Mate.
Observed the qualified electrician connecting a three-phase distribution board for the first time. Learned about phase rotation, neutral sizing, and labelling requirements. This was a new type of work not previously encountered.
Practised the full safe isolation procedure on the training rig at college. Used a proving unit, voltage indicator, and lock-off kit. Supervisor signed off competence for the first time.
Completed a full EPA practice scenario on Elec-Mate covering fault finding and diagnostic testing. Reviewed feedback on areas for improvement. Time logged automatically.
Each of these activities teaches new knowledge, skills, or behaviours. Each can be recorded with a date, duration, description, and link to the apprenticeship standard. Over four years, these entries build a comprehensive picture of your training journey.
Your employer has specific legal obligations regarding off-the-job training. These are conditions of the apprenticeship funding agreement signed with the ESFA — they are not optional.
If your employer is not meeting these obligations — not releasing you for college, making you work through study time, or expecting all training to happen in your own unpaid hours — raise it with your training provider first. If they cannot resolve it, contact the ESFA apprenticeship helpline. Document every instance where OTJ time was denied.
Elec-Mate OJT Tracker logs your on-platform study time automatically and lets you add off-platform activities in seconds.
Try it free for 7 daysElec-Mate's OJT Tracker was built specifically for electrical apprentices. It takes the hassle out of recording off-the-job training hours and ensures you are always on top of the requirement.
Every minute you spend on Elec-Mate — the 46+ training courses, flashcards tool, mock exams, EPA Simulator, AM2 Simulator, study planner content — is automatically logged as off-the-job training. No manual entry needed for on-platform activities.
Add college days, toolbox talks, manufacturer training, shadowing sessions, and directed study in a few taps. Each entry captures date, duration, description, and activity category.
See your total hours, percentage against the 400-hour target, weekly average, and projected completion date. Traffic-light indicators show whether you are on track. Weekly reminders prompt you to log any unrecorded activities.
OTJ evidence feeds directly into your apprentice portfolio. Each entry links to apprenticeship standard criteria and can include evidence attachments — photographs, certificates, and notes.
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