MEL's Guide to Becoming an Approved Electrician

Are you an experienced electrician looking for the next step? Do you feel that you should get more advanced work and better-paid jobs? Becoming an approved electrician may be the answer, but the process can seem complicated.

What is an Approved Electrician?

An approved electrician has undergone rigorous training to prove that their work meets a high standard. 

Approved status demonstrates a high level of credibility to your clients and potential employers. 

Experience and Skills Required

All industry bodies need you to have at least two years of experience as an electrician to apply for approved status.

In terms of specific knowledge requirements, BS7671:2018 training is a great starting point.

The British Standard 7671 (also called the IET wiring regulations or often ‘the regs’) is the national standard for electrical installation. It contains health and safety legislation, including strict standards for safe wiring and the verification of electrical installations. 

Compliance with BS 7671 is a legal requirement under the Health & Safety at Work Act, so electricians must have the required training and technical expertise to follow ‘the regs.’

How to become an Approved Electrician

Many companies only hire electricians approved by bodies such as the Joint Industry Board (JIB) or the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT). Each offers a range of exclusive benefits, significantly boosting your employability and opening doors to rewarding career advancement and higher-salaried positions.

Relevant qualifications are just one step in becoming an approved electrician. Depending on where you apply, there are several different requirements. 

Joint Industry Board (JIB)

The JIB covers England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. To become a JIB Approved Electrician, prospective members must:

Complete an apprenticeship in electrical installation

Apprentices study towards a qualification whilst working full-time for an employer. These are practical courses designed to give you hands-on experience, all while getting paid. Applications can be made directly to employers or training providers such as colleges and technical schools. Electrical apprenticeships often last around four years and can be undertaken at any age.

Demonstrate competency in testing and inspection

Several different courses qualify you for JIB membership. They will often be taken as part of your apprenticeship. 

The focus of these courses is often on periodic testing - a vital skill for becoming an approved grade maintenance electrician:

City & Guilds Level 3 Award in Initial and Periodic Electrical Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations (2391-52)

This qualification covers appropriate legislation, initial verification, periodic inspection and testing techniques, completing and issuing certificates or reports and understanding of results and measurements.

City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (2365-03) 

Units include principles of electrical science, electrical installations technology, and health and safety within Building Services Engineering.

EAL Level 3 Award in Electrical Installation Inspection, Testing, Certification and Reporting

Covers the theory and practice involved with the initial verification and commissioning, periodic inspection, testing, and condition reporting of both single and three-phase electrical installations. 

Two years of experience

After completing your apprenticeship, JIB requires you to have two further years of work as an electrician. This allows you to refine your skills and build on your apprenticeship.

Additional responsibilities

An approved electrician must show that they have taken up extra responsibilities during their two years of experience. An example could be managing other team members on a project.

Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB)

The Scottish Joint Industry Board has its own assessment of competence, which qualifies electricians for approved status. 

Electricians must pass the Advanced Competence Assessment (ACA) to achieve approved status. It takes one day to complete and consists of five sections:

A - Assessment of Safe Working Practices

B - Safe Isolation of Supplies

C - Inspection and Testing (Initial Verification & Periodic Inspection and Testing)

D - Supervision (Operatives and Installation Work)

E - Underpinning Knowledge Assessment

To be eligible for the ACA, candidates must have been working as a graded electrician for at least two years.

ECS Cards

Once you achieve JIB or SJIB approval, you can apply for an ECS card (Electrotechnical Certification Scheme). This will serve as your approved electrician ID. It proves your qualification status, shows your experience, endorsements, and skills, and displays your JIB/SJIB grade.

ECS cards are recognised across the industry. They are often required for construction sites and are the personnel certification scheme of choice across various sectors.

NAPIT

NAPIT offers an alternative pathway to achieving approved status. They offer various membership schemes, allowing you to choose which is most relevant to the types of work you usually do.

As well as two years of experience, most schemes require a Level 3 Certificate or Diploma. 

The relevant qualification for work in dwellings only is the Level 3 Certificate in Installing, Testing and Ensuring Compliance of Electrical installations in Dwellings. 

Members applying for approved status for all Electrotechnical work generally require a Level 3 Electrotechnical apprenticeship, which incorporates an end-point assessment of competence.

NAPIT offers a range of exclusive benefits. Clients looking for an approved electrician can find you using the NAPIT member search. You can also take advantage of their free technical support helpline, as well as competitive prices from the NAPIT Direct online store, as part of your membership.

Career Opportunities

Once you have your approved status from one of these bodies, you will have proof of your expertise as an electrician. You will have access to higher-level, better-paid work, more senior roles, and work within specialised areas such as commercial or industrial installations. 

Approved electricians are in high demand - demand for renewable energy as the UK moves towards net-zero, the expansion of infrastructure, and increasingly advanced technology in modern homes are just some examples of where the demand for highly-skilled electricians is on the rise.

At Maidenhead Electrical, we are looking for Approved Electricians to expand our team, servicing our blue chip client base. 

Our team takes on a range of exciting projects, working with clients such as Chelsea FC and Royal Holloway, University of London. Though we are growing, we remain a small team in which everyone has got your back and you feel that your contribution makes a difference. 

We support successful candidates in their professional development, offering incentives and opportunities to advance within our team.

Take the next step in your career - apply today and unlock your full potential with Maidenhead Electrical.