Plugtest Training - Answers to your PAT Testing questions.

PAT Questions & Answers

The following are brief answers to some of the typical questions we get asked about our PAT training courses. Please feel free to contact us should you require any further information or have any other questions.

What qualifications do I need to undertake the testing?

No specific qualifications are required, the regulations only require the testing to be done by a competent person. The definition of a competent person in the regulations is - "A person possessing sufficient technical knowledge or experience to be capable of ensuring that injury is prevented". All of our courses are designed to provide the technical knowledge and practical experience to undertake the testing.

Should I attend a City & Guilds or a Competent Person course?

Generally it depends on what you are looking to do. If you intend to carry out the testing as a service to customers, we recommend attending a City & Guilds course. The C&G qualification is a requirement of most membership association such as NICEIC and NAPIT, customers may also ask to see proof of your qualifications. If you are looking to test just the equipment within your own company, our PAT Competent Person course would be suitable. It is run at the same high standards as our C&G course but does not carry the formal qualification.

How much does the test equipment cost?

PAT testing equipment ranges in price from a few hundred pounds to around a thousand pounds. The type of equipment suitable for your requirements will depend on the quantity and type of equipment you are testing. We can offer advice on the most suitable type for your requirements during the training. Further information on test equipment

Do I need to regularly renew my training certificate?

There is no requirement to renew your training certificate in the way you do with a first aid certificate.

I have no previous electrical knowledge; will I be OK to attend a PAT course?

Previous electrical knowledge is not essential and we are confident we can train most people. We deliberately keep our class sizes small to ensure that no one gets left behind. If you are looking to attend a City & Guilds 2377-22 course, we recommend that you carry out some home study before attending. If you book a course we will be happy to email you a copy of our training manual.

Will you cancel a course if you do not get enough people to attend?

No. Unlike many training providers we will never cancel a course because we can not get enough people to attend?

How many spaces do you have left on the course?

The website is a live system. If dates are shown, there are still places available. The dropdown box will show the total number of spaces still available. There are never more than eight people on each course. On booking a course you will receive a confirmation email with an enrolment pack attached.

If I fail the City & Guilds exam can I re-sit and what are the costs?

Yes, the price for the exam only re-sit is £50 +VAT. We normally arrange this to coincide with our next course (depending on availability), or alternatively we can organise a re-sit at our head office in Cambridgeshire at a convenient time and date for you.

I already have a PAT tester and would like to train using it!

No problem, bring it to the course and you can use it for the practical parts of the course. We have experience in using most PAT testers.

I have attended a City & Guilds 2377 course with another company but I'm not confident to do the testing!

Some 2377 courses are designed only to teach you to pass the exam, not to actually do the testing! The previous 2377 syllabus concentrated mainly on the legal and theory aspects. The new 2377 syllabus has improved and now covers more practical testing and we make sure that all of our courses have plenty of hands on learning. After the course there will always be someone at the end of the phone if you get into difficulties.

Where can I buy the test equipment from? Do you supply test equipment?

PAT testing equipment can be purchased from most electrical wholesalers. We also sell test equipment to our training customers.

Should I train a member of staff or get a subcontractor to do the testing?

All portable electrical appliances in the workplace need to be tested. In-house testing is often the most cost effective and flexible way of meeting the legal requirements.

Can I test other peoples/companies equipment after I have attended a training course?

If you are looking to test equipment as a service we would recommend that you check your insurance covers you to do so.

I am thinking about starting my own PAT business, will your course help me do this?

If you are looking to start PAT testing as a business we recommend that you attend our City & Guilds 2377 course. This qualification is a requirement of NICEIC, NAPIT and most public liability insurance policies. The course does not cover starting a business, but if you have any specific questions we will do our best to help.

quote 10 out of 10. The course was by far the best I have been on. I would highly recommend the 2 day course as it covers every aspect of pat testing. I’ve just done my first PAT for a company which I felt very confident doing thanks to Plugtest. - Paul, Fuzed PAT Services quote