The EAS was updated in October 2024, to introduce new work category and qualification requirements across the electrotechnical sector to align with the updated Mandatory Technical Competences (MTC) Framework document and annexes (published by the Building Safety Regulator in July 2026), as well as aligning requirements for competence to the Building Safety Act 2022.

The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023 inserted a new Part 2A into the Building Regulations 2010, which came into force on 1 October 2023. This contains detailed requirements on clients to appoint designers and contractors who are competent and creates a legal dutyholder framework requiring competent clients, designers and contractors to plan, manage, monitor, and deliver building work that complies with the Building Regulations.

The MTC criteria set out the mandatory skills, knowledge, experience, behaviours and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements that will ensure that an individual working within the business has the appropriate skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours to undertake work in a self-certification scheme designated in Schedule 3 of the Building Regulations.

The MTC annex for electrical work is freely available on the BSI Communities Built Environment Competence Hub.

While building regulations and building control systems differ in each UK nation, all nations place an emphasis on competence and compliance with applicable building regulations. The MTC criteria provide a consistent UK-wide benchmark for the skills, knowledge, experience, behaviours and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) expected of competent electricians.

Government has directed self-certification schemes to ensure that all members are compliant with the MTC requirements by 1st July 2028.

From October 2026 businesses who are certified by a certification body such as NICEIC, NAPIT, Blue Flame, OFTEC or registered with a registration body such as SELECT in Scotland will need to ensure their Qualified Supervisors and relevant Employed Persons (depending on the work categories to be assessed) hold appropriate qualifications for the work they undertake within their scope of certification/registration.

Businesses who are certified by a certification body such as NICEIC, NAPIT, Blue Flame, OFTEC or registered with a registration body such as SELECT in Scotland that undertake work such as all Electrotechnical Work in dwellings and for areas other than dwellings, where work includes the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment, Solar Photovoltaic, Electrical Energy Storage System installations, Micro Wind Turbines, as well as conducting electrical periodic inspection and testing.

The business will be asked to ensure the relevant employed persons undertaking the work hold the work category qualifications at the next assessment. If they have not completed this, the certification / registration body will look for evidence, such as employed persons being booked on to the appropriate qualification(s) at the subsequent assessment. Failure to complete obtain the relevant qualification(s) by July 2028 could lead to certification / registration being withdrawn.

At this stage it is not a mandatory requirement if you do not want your businesses to be recognised for the new work categories. However, if undertaking relevant work there is a mandatory requirement to comply with the published MTC requirements from 1st July 2028.

Please contact the Certification or Registration Body your business is associated with. They are best placed to provide accurate and relevant guidance.

They can provide guidance on what is required and the steps you need to take.

For those wishing to register with a Certification or Registration Body they can be contacted below:

Blueflame

NAPIT

NICEIC

OFTEC

SELECT

The Awarding Organisation should have issued you with a certificate detailing the qualification details, this can be checked by comparing the qualification title with the qualifications listed in the current EAS Qualifications Guide, or by contacting your preferred certification or registration body.

If you need more tailored or independent advice, particularly if you have been working in the industry for a long time or are unsure which qualification route is right for you then you should speak to The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP).

TESP provides impartial, expert guidance on:

• The different qualification pathways available

• How your existing experience may map to current requirements

• How to avoid rogue or unregulated training providers 

TESP’s advice is independent of any awarding body or training organisation, ensuring you receive trustworthy and unbiased support. Visit the TESP website

Contact the Awarding Organisation who issued the qualification as they may be able to re-issue a copy of the qualification certificate.

• EAL

• City & Guilds

• LCL Awards

• BPEC

• SQA

Yes. You may also present more recent apprenticeship completion certificates from various issuing authorities without evidence of the underpinning technical qualifications or end point assessment (AM2/FICA) certification.

Formal training programmes prior to 1994 will probably have followed an apprenticeship training programme. If this is the case, the final Apprenticeship Completion Certificate, Deeds or Diploma can be provided in lieu of the FICA, AM, AM1 or AM2.

If part of your original training included an end point assessment (AM2/FICA) and you have not completed this, you may still be possible to undertake this by contacting your training provider.

Training for electrotechnical apprenticeships now includes an end point assessment.

If you have an electrotechnical qualification that does not include an end point assessment or an apprenticeship deed, the route available would be to undertake an Experienced Worker Assessment.

The Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA) is available for eligible experienced workers who have not achieved core competence qualifications detailed in the EAS Qualifications Guide. The EWA would include the Experienced Worker qualification and the appropriate industry achievement measurement competency assessment (AM2 or AM2E).

The Experienced Worker Assessment is aligned to the Level 3 Electrotechnical apprenticeship standard, it recognises existing industry work experience and prior learning carried out to date. The Experienced Worker Assessment is only for individuals who have been working in the electrotechnical industry as a practicing electrician for a minimum of 5 years full-time, hold a relevant Level 2 technical knowledge qualification and are able to demonstrate relevant on-site evidence of performance in their current role.

Further information can be found on the EWA website

Qualifications may be evidenced by the individual providing their ECS card information (either ECS card number, image or CPD record).

Where an ECS card is or has been held, ECS can verify if an individual’s qualifications are sufficient when qualification certificates are inaccessible or unavailable.

Please note, the JIB/SJIB ECS card alone is not sufficient evidence of meeting the qualification requirements, the card will need to be verified via ECS, and evidence retained.

When a Qualified Supervisor applicant has been trained outside the UK they need to demonstrate that they have fully met the same UK qualification standards as if they had been trained in the UK.

The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP) and ECS have developed a new service with the qualifications recognition body Educational Counselling and Credit Transfer Information Services (Ecctis), formerly known as UK Naric, that will map non-UK electrical qualifications against the specific knowledge requirements of the Experienced Worker Assessment referenced in this Qualifications Guide.

The Electrotechnical Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA) enables those who trained outside of the UK to demonstrate they meet the requirements of the relevant underpinning core technical competence referred to in Table A4.1 and where relevant Tables A4.2 to A4.6 of the EAS Qualifications Guide.

In many cases, the applicant’s existing qualifications will be recognised. However, in all cases, existing qualifications must be assessed and verified that they meet the same criteria as the UK requirements by taking the Ecctis Electrotechnical Skills Statement.

The service will provide the Qualified Supervisor applicant with an ‘Industry Skills Statement’ – further information can be found on the Ecctis website.

There will be no exemptions from the practical performance elements – even if the Qualified Supervisor applicant has significant practical experience of working overseas, they will still need to be working in the UK to complete the practical elements of the Experienced Worker Assessment. Practical assessments must be completed using work within the UK which can be verified/observed.