Qualifications Criteria For Entry onto CompEx Courses
CompEx centres often receive enquiries relating to the competency of persons carrying out electrical
installation, maintenance, inspection & testing and similar activities and what qualifications are required
for eligibility for enrolment on a CompEx course.
It should be noted that the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 imposes duties on persons involved in
electrical work commercially whether employers, the self employed or employees, including most
trainees. Regulation 16 (Persons to be competent to prevent danger and injury) states: “No person shall
be engaged in any work activity where technical knowledge or experience is necessary to prevent
danger or, where appropriate, injury, unless he possesses such knowledge or experience, or is under
such degree of supervision as may be appropriate having regard to the nature of the work.”
It is stated in the Memorandum of guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (HSE: 1989)
that “the object of the regulation is to ensure that persons are not placed at risk due to a lack of skills on
the part of themselves or others in dealing with electrical equipment”. It continues: “the scope of
‘technical knowledge or experience’ may include:
(a) adequate knowledge of electricity;
(b) adequate experience of electrical work;
(c) adequate understanding of the system to be worked on and practical experience of that class of
system;
(d) understanding of the hazards which may arise during the work and the precautions which need to
be taken;
(e) ability to recognise at all times whether it is safe for work to continue.”
The term ‘electrician’ is generic, has no legal status and is in no way protected. Anyone may refer to
themselves as being an ‘electrician’. As such, the term is no indicator of a person’s level of training,
technical qualifications achieved, or the extent of relevant work experience accumulated - all factors
which will affect a person’s ability to do electrical work properly. The ability to perform a particular task
properly is defined as competency. Generally speaking, a suitably qualified and competent electrician
should be able to perform a wide range of installation activities in domestic, industrial and commercial
installations. Persons wishing to enrol on a CompEx course will be asked for some evidence of their
‘competency’. This will include production of original certificates obtained from successful completion of
a recognised apprenticeship and/or training at a technical or further education college and suitable
proof of identity. Possession of a JIB or SJIB Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) gold card meets
the above criteria.
For those that are not in possession of a valid or current ECS card (e.g. they produce an expired JIB or
SJIB grade card / UK Register of Electricians card, expired ECS card), a current and suitable proof of
identity should be requested alongside the card (the candidate should be advised to renew to a current
and valid ECS card as soon as is practical – visit www.jib.org.uk or www.sjib.org or
www.ecscard.org.uk for further details.
To check those individuals who are not in possession of any of the above cards, a list of the most
common recognised qualifications are relevant combinations are produced overleaf.
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Note – The qualifications listed overleaf (see Appendix A) are those most commonly found within the UK
Electrotechnical sector. If a qualification is held that is not listed, but is believed to be equivalent to
provide relevant technical underpinning knowledge, contact CompEx for clarification of the
appropriateness of the award to be used to satisfy the CompEx scheme requirements.
List of gold card ECS occupational disciplines from the JIB/SJIB criteria who may
automatically register for a CompEx course
• Electrical Fitter
• Instrument Mechanic
• Maintenance Electrician
• Installation Electrician
• Distribution Networks Electrician
• Marine Electrician
• Senior Graded Electrical Trainee (Adults) / Trainee Electrician (Stage 3) - (Must be in final year
of training and will be issued with a non-electrical certificate until full electrical qualification and
framework is achieved, then a replacement CompEx core competence certificate will be issued,
upon verification by CompEx)
• Apprentice – (Must be in final year of apprenticeship and will be issued with a non-electrical
certificate until full electrical qualification and framework is achieved, then a replacement
CompEx core competence certificate will be issued, upon verification by CompEx)
• ECS Related Disciplines (Please contact CompEx for clarification).
Please refer to https://www.ecscard.org.uk/Knowledge-Base/What-is-a-qualified-electrician
Appendix A
See attached spreadsheet for details
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Appendix A
Awarding Qualification Title Additional requirements to achieve Qualified
Title Level Type
Body or Number Electrician Status
JIB ECS Gold Card A Candidate who holds a valid ECS Electricians gold coloured
card issued by either the JIB or SJIB can be considered as
SJIB ECS Gold Card
having met the necessary prerequisites to enrol on CompEx
The Electricians Awarded as an Advanced Craft certificate upon successful
City & Guilds
Certificate completion of full training or apprenticeship
A' electricians replaced by 236 (*see note 1 below as a minimum
City & Guilds Electrical Installation work (part 1) 2 VRQ
certificate requirement)
replaced by 236 (*see note 1 below as a minimum
City & Guilds B' Certificate Electrical Installation work (part 2) 3 VRQ
requirement)
City & Guilds C' Certificate Electrical Installation work (part 3) 3 VRQ *see note 1 below as a minimum requirement
City & Guilds 236 Electrical Installation (Parts 1 & 2) 2,3 VRQ *must have 236 parts 2 (or equivalent - *see note 1) as well
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
City & Guilds 2360 Electrical Installation (Parts 1 & 2) 2,3 VRQ
*see note 1) as well
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
*see note 1) as well
City & Guilds 2356 Electrotechnical Services 2,3 VRQ
*Is the whole NVQ that used 2330 as the technical certificate
(VRQ)
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
City & Guilds 2351 Electrical Installation 2,3 VRQ
*see note 1) as well
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
*see note 1) as well
City & Guilds 2330 Electrotechnical Technology 2,3 VRQ
*Apprentices were required to achieve both L2 and L3. Adults
only needed 2330 L3
NVQ Diploma in Installing
City & Guilds Electrotechnical Systems &
3
EAL Equipment (Buildings, Structures
and the Environment) (QCF)
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plus AM2, and for tech certs or equivalents for underpinning
knowledge, see
NVQ Level 3 in Electrical
http://www.jib.org.uk/documents/handbooks/19-28557-jib-
City & Guilds 2357 Installation (Buildings and 3
handbook-2017-section-4.pdf
Structures)
Electrotech apprenticeship
City & Guilds 5357 3
qualification
At both levels 2 and 3 the 2365 is not acceptable as a
standalone qualification for either electrician or craft status,
details are available in the City & Guilds qualification manual
City & Guilds 2365 Electrical installations 2,3 regarding the strict limitations of this qualification on their
website and progression from it into learning for an
occupation.
Adult assessment only programme that allows ECS card to be
City & Guilds obtained
ETS.3 JIB mature candidate assessment
EAL For guidance see https://www.ecscard.org.uk/Mature-
Candidate-Assessment
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
City & Guilds 2394/2395 Inspection & Testing 3 VRQ
*see note 1) as well
Initial verification and certification must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
EAL 3 VRQ
of electrical installations *see note 1) as well
Periodic inspection testing and
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
EAL certification of electrical 3 VRQ
*see note 1) as well
installations
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
City & Guilds 2391 Inspection & testing 3 VRQ
*see note 1) as well
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
City & Guilds 2380 16th edition wiring regulations 3 VRQ
*see note 1) as well
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
City & Guilds 2382 17th edition wiring regulations 3 VRQ
*see note 1) as well
Design & verification of electrical replaced by 2391/02 (Not suitable as a standalone
City & Guilds 2400 3 VRQ
installations qualification)
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Awarding Qualification Title Additional requirements to achieve Qualified
Title Level Type
Body or Number Electrician Status
Inspecting & Testing
City & Guilds 2391/01 3 VRQ replaced 2391 (Not suitable as a standalone qualification)
Electrotechnical systems
Design & verification of electrical
City & Guilds 2391/02 3 VRQ replaced 2400 (Not suitable as a standalone qualification)
installations
City & Guilds Diploma Building Services Engineering 4 HLQ *see note 1 below as a minimum requirement
City & Guilds HNC Electrical/Electronic engineering 4 HLQ *see note 1 below as a minimum requirement
City & Guilds HNC Building Services 4 HLQ *see note 1 below as a minimum requirement
Engineering & must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
EAL Diploma 3 VRQ
Technology(progressive) *see note 1) as well
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
EAL Diploma Engineering & Technology 3 VRQ
*see note 1) as well
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
EAL Diploma Electrotechnical Services 3 VRQ
*see note 1) as well
Inspecting & Testing must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
EAL Diploma 3 VRQ
Electrotechnical systems *see note 1) as well
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
EAL Diploma Building Electrical Maintenance 3 VRQ
*see note 1) as well
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
EAL Diploma Installation of Electrical Equipment 3 VRQ
*see note 1) as well
Advanced Electrical/electronic must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
EAL Diploma 3 VRQ
principles *see note 1) as well
EITB Part I (or equivalent ITB)
EITB Tech Cert 2 VRQ *see note 1 below
Certificate
EITB Part II (or equivalent ITB)
EITB Tech Cert 3 VRQ *see note 1 below
Certificate
EITB Part III (or equivalent ITB)
EITB Tech Cert 3 VRQ *see note 1 below
Certificate
Btec national must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
Edexcel Electrical/Electronic engineering 3 VRQ
certificate *see note 1) as well
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must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
ETCAL NVQ Electrical/Electronic engineering 3 NVQ
*see note 1) as well
Awarding Qualification Title Additional requirements to achieve Qualified
Title Level Type
Body or Number Electrician Status
City & Guilds HNC Instrument & Control Engineering 4 VRQ *see note 1 below as a minimum requirement
BTEC national Elec/electronic & Instrument must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
Edexcel 3 VRQ
certificate Engineering *see note 1) as well
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
City & Guilds Plant & Process Engineering 3 VRQ
*see note 1) as well
HNC Engineering(mechanical) 4 VRQ *see note 1 below as a minimum requirement
Advanced Diploma Engineering 3 VRQ *see note 1 below as a minimum requirement
Manufacturing & mechanical
BTEC Diploma 3 VRQ *see note 1 below as a minimum requirement
Engineering
BTEC Diploma Mechanical engineering 3 VRQ *see note 1 below as a minimum requirement
must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
NET / JIB AM2 Achievement Measurement 2 PPA
*see note 1) as well
Final Integrated Practical must have tech cert & relevant NVQ3 or SVQ3 (or equivalent -
NET / SJIB FICA PPA
Assessment *see note 1) as well
*Note 1: For proven completed apprenticeship / trained craftspersons, (i.e. Those qualifying prior to the National Qualifications Framework -
NQF, i.e.NVQ / SVQ), must have been a registered apprentice or undergone some equivalent method of training and have had practical training in electrical
installation work, and be able to demonstrate that they completed the relevant apprenticeship or other approved method of training (e.g. apprenticeship
completion diploma or relevant advanced craft certificate from awarding body). Older UK personnel may only hold indentures from their apprenticeship.
Note 2: ELECTRICIANS TRAINED OVERSEAS - Anyone trained overseas should contact UK Naric on 0870 990 4088 to have their qualifications evaluated
and hold the City and Guilds IEE 17th Edition Qualification and a valid health and safety assessment. Bona fide references must be supplied to confirm
experience and competence.
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