Training and Study

Electrical Training for Apprentices and Electricians

Find the right Elec-Mate training route for apprentice study, exam preparation, CPD, and skills refreshers. Everything here is designed to help you learn faster and keep progressing in the trade.

All 18th Edition content on Elec-Mate is aligned to BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 — the current edition of the wiring regulations — including arc fault detection devices under Regulation 421.1.7 and the expanded RCD requirements introduced by Amendment 4.

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Which electrical training course do I need?

UK electricians usually progress Level 2 → Level 3 → AM2, then sit end-point assessment (EPA) to qualify. Once working, you keep current with 18th Edition (BS 7671:2018+A4:2026) and can specialise through City & Guilds 2391 inspection and testing. Apprentices also log a fixed number of off-the-job training hours. Use the routes below to jump straight to the stage you are at.

Training for every stage

Whether you are starting out or topping up your knowledge, this hub ties together pages like 18th Edition, AM2 preparation, 2391, and the Study Centre so you can find the right learning path quickly.

Apprentice entry points

A clear starting point for Level 2, Level 3, AM2, EPA, portfolio support, and early-career electrician content.

Qualified electrician CPD

Training pages also support inspection and testing, 18th Edition, 2391, and refreshers for experienced users.

Learn and apply

Study the topic, then apply it through calculators, certificates, and practical site workflows.

Study Centre support

The training hub should reinforce the Study Centre as a public-facing learning destination, not a hidden feature.

Employers and teams

Training content can support apprentices, supervisors, and employers who want visibility into progress and standards.

Exam-intent traffic

AM2, 18th Edition, and 2391 searches are high-value because users often need ongoing support after the first visit.

The apprenticeship pathway

A typical Installation and Maintenance Electrician route runs through four stages. Exact qualifications depend on whether you study with City & Guilds or EAL — these are separate awarding organisations, so check which your employer or college uses.

1Level 2

Electrical installation foundations

Core principles, basic installation, health & safety. Classroom plus early site work.

2Level 3

Advanced installation & design

Inspection & testing, fault diagnosis, design principles and BS 7671 application.

3AM2 / AM2S

Practical competence assessment

Independent practical test of safe isolation, installation, testing and fault finding.

4EPA

End-point assessment

Gateway sign-off, AM2(S), and professional discussion against the apprenticeship standard.

Off-the-job training hours

Off-the-job (OTJ) training is learning that takes place within an apprentice's paid working hours but away from their normal day-to-day duties.

Current rule (from 1 August 2025)

1,066 hours

A fixed minimum set by the Installation and Maintenance Electrician standard (ST0152), logged and evidenced across the apprenticeship.

Historic rule (pre-August 2025 starts)

20% of hours

Older apprenticeships used a percentage of paid hours. This has been replaced by the fixed-hours model and should not be used for new starts.

Track and evidence these hours in the apprentice portfolio so the record is ready for your tutor, assessor and EPA gateway.

Training collections

Learn it, then use it

Training works best when it connects back to real jobs. If you are revising inspection and testing, you can move straight into the certificate workflow.

Why stay current?

Regulation 16 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAWR) requires persons to be competent to prevent danger. For qualified electricians, that means structured CPD is not optional — it keeps you working safely and lawfully as regulations evolve. Elec-Mate's CPD and 18th Edition content is built around that obligation, giving employers and their teams a clear, documented path to ongoing compliance.

Key BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 changes to revise

Amendment 4 brought several changes that come up in exams, CPD and on the job. These are the headline updates worth knowing.

Reference	What changed
Regulation 421.1.7	AFDDs now required on socket-outlet final circuits rated ≤32 A in higher-risk premises; recommended elsewhere.
Regulation 411.3.4	Additional protection by 30 mA RCD now required for final circuits supplying luminaires in domestic (household) premises.
Part 6 (Chapters 64 & 65)	Inspection and testing fully restructured and renumbered — initial verification (Ch 64) and periodic inspection and testing (Ch 65).
Section 722	Electric vehicle charging installation requirements maintained as a dedicated special-installation section.

Go deeper on the Amendment 4:2026 changes guide and arc fault detection (AFDDs).

Where are AFDDs required? (Regulation 421.1.7)

Under Amendment 4, arc fault detection devices on socket-outlet final circuits rated up to 32 A are a requirement in certain higher-risk premises, and recommended in all others.

Higher Risk Residential BuildingsRequired

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)Required

Purpose-built student accommodationRequired

Care homesRequired

All other premises (single-phase AC)Recommended

Using AFDDs does not remove the need to apply the other protective measures required elsewhere in BS 7671.

Training hub FAQs

Who is the Elec-Mate training hub for?

It is designed for electrical apprentices, newly qualified electricians, and experienced electricians doing CPD or specialist upskilling.

What can I learn here?

You can work through apprentice training, 18th Edition, AM2, inspection and testing, 2391, EPA preparation, and ongoing revision support.

Does training content connect back into the app?

Yes. Once you sign up, you can move from training into the Study Centre, calculators, certificates, and AI support inside Elec-Mate.

How does Elec-Mate keep 18th Edition content up to date?

All content is aligned to BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 — the current edition of the IET Wiring Regulations including Amendment 4 (2026). Where specialist topics such as EV charging (Section 722) or arc fault detection (Regulation 421.1.7) require additional knowledge beyond the general standard, Elec-Mate directs learners to the relevant specialist guidance rather than simplifying it away.

How many off-the-job training hours do electrical apprentices need?

Since 1 August 2025, off-the-job (OTJ) training is set as a fixed number of hours per apprenticeship standard rather than the old "20% of paid hours" rule. The Installation and Maintenance Electrician standard (ST0152) requires a minimum of 1,066 OTJ hours across the apprenticeship. Hours must be logged and evidenced — Elec-Mate's portfolio tools make that record-keeping straightforward.

Are EAL and City & Guilds electrical qualifications the same?

No. EAL and City & Guilds are separate, standalone awarding organisations with their own qualification codes, units and assessments. An employer or college will specify which one you study; one does not convert into the other, even where the underlying learning looks similar. Both routes prepare you for the same end-point assessment (EPA) and AM2.

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