APL Domestic Electrical Installer being replaced
In order to be able to self-certificate electrical work undertaken in a domestic dwelling, individuals need to register with a scheme provider as a 'Competent Person' "CPS" (e.g. NICEIC, Napit etc). Unless you are a registered Installer with the competent persons schemes Gas Safe Register or OFTEC carrying out electrical work as a secondary task; We have been informed that as a stand alone qualification from September 2021 this qualification will not be recognised for registration to an Electrical only CPS. We therefore will be running our last course in June 2021. Individuals wishing to register on a Competent persons Scheme should do so in a timley manner. We will be announcing a new Level 3 Electrical Qualification to replace this, but it will be more expensive and longer in duration. Candidates who have completed the APL can have their existing qualification recognised as recognition of Prior learning (RPL) against the new Qulaification. Gas Safe Registered or OFTEC Registered operatives can continue to use this as evidence of CPD. This update is due to the IET reviewing the CPS rules.
The Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) is the document that sets out the criteria contractors/businesses must be assessed on in order to be registered with a Competent Person Scheme (CPS). It is the industry agreed standard that scheme operators, such as Napit and NICEIC, must adhere to when designing and conducting assessments to verify competence.
The EAS document was updated and published in 2020 and now includes a number of new and enhanced requirements CPS operators must witness in order to verify competence. As a result, CPS operators entry criteria and assessment procedures will and come into effect from September 1st 2021.
Two of the main relevant changes are as follows;
- A requirement to hold a formal ‘craft’ qualification such as the "LCL Awards Level 3 Certificate In Installing, Testing and Ensuring Compliance of Electrical Installations in Dwellings" (Candidates will requie to build an on-site Portfolio with a CPS registered Electrician) along with a current BS7671 and inspection and testing qualifications or the Ciity & Guilds Level 3 Electrotechnical Experienced Worker Qualification (must have 5 years Experience).
- A requirement for two years responsibility for electrotechnical work.
The LCL Awards APL/Domestic Electrical Installer Course (DEI) has previously been accepted as a ‘certificate of competence’ along with a current BS7671 and inspection and testing qualification to become registered with a competent person scheme. Certificates of competence will no longer be accepted by EAS and therefore not recognised by CPS operators such as Napit and NICEIC.
The LCL Awards Level 3 Certificate in Installing, Testing and Ensuring Compliance of Electrical Installation Work in Dwellings is a recognised qualification in the latest EAS document (table 4A, 4B & 4C route 2). We are currently working with LCL Awards to implement this scheme and we intend to apply for the City & Guilds 2346-03 for the more experienced operatives who do not have recognised qualifications.
The APL/ Domestic Electrical Installer Course will no longer be available at our centres after June 2021. Candidates who have registered for or completed the DEI should register withtheir chosen CPS in a timley manner.
Please find more information and links to the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification here:
https://electrical.theiet.org/bs-7671/building-regulations/electrotechnical-assessment-specification/
If you wish to Transfer to the Level 3 Certificate in Installing, Testing and Ensuring Compliance of Electrical Installation Work in Dwellings you can apply for a transfer by contacting david@cctrainingservices.com
LCL Awards has assured us that it is fully committed to ensuring that all of our electrical qualifications and courses are industry recognised and as members of the EAS committee we welcome these changes which aim to improve safety and protect the technical integrity of the electrotechnical industry.
