Becoming a qualified electrician is a good option for workers moving to the UK seeking a rewarding hands-on career with long-term job security and above average rates of pay. There is a
skills shortage in the electrical engineering field and experienced electricians are subsequently in high demand. However, practicing electricians must be thoroughly trained and assessed to ensure
they meet rigorous safety standards. In the UK, this means gaining recognised UK qualifications.
What Is The Situation For Electricians Who Have Qualified Outside The UK, And Do Not Possess UK Qualifications?
This depends on the country in which you earned your electrical qualifications. The Joint Industry Board (JIB) establishes the qualification and grading standards for electricians in the UK, but only recognises a few other electrical qualifications from other countries.
JIB-Approved Licence Countries:
❖ Australia
❖ Canada
❖ New Zealand
❖ Republic of Ireland
❖ South Africa
❖ United States
So, if you’ve qualified in any of these countries, you can work as an electrician here in the UK without additional training and qualifications.
Electricians From Non-JIB Approved Countries
If you’ve qualified as an electrician in another country including most EU countries, you will need to follow these steps to have your qualifications recognised by the JIB. This is the case even if
you’re an EU citizen and have previously worked as an electrician in the UK before Brexit.
1. Submit your overseas qualifications in full to the UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC). You will be issued with a Letter of Comparability confirming that your qualifications accord with UK regulations, and a UK NARIC Certificate of Comparability.
2. Send the Certificate of Comparability to JIB, with a letter that outlines your situation and plans while working in the UK.
3. JIB will advise whether you need to obtain further qualifications to be fully approved. Typically, these include:
⮚ Wiring Regulations 18 th Edition
⮚ ECS Health and Safety Assessment
⮚ AM2 Assessment of Occupational Competence
⮚ City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical
Installations (City & Guilds 2391-52)
⮚ NVQ level 3 in Electrotechnical Services (City & Guilds 2356)
PTT: Expert Training For The Electrical Industry
At PTT, we offer a range of professional electrical qualifications that will enable you to legitimately work as an electrician in the UK. Our qualifications are backed by globally recognised
organisations, such as City & Guilds, and are delivered in line with BS EN 9001 quality standards. Whether you already possess a qualification from a JIB-approved licence country and need to top up your training to meet current UK regulations, or your existing qualifications don’t mean UK standards, we welcome anyone looking to qualify to work as an electrician in the country.
Contact Us To Find Out More
For more information on any of our electrical courses, or to reserve your place, please call PTT on 01442 828754.
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