HomePAT Testing Refresher Training
There is no fixed legal requirement to repeat PAT training at set intervals. What matters is that you are competent to carry out the inspection and testing.
How often should you attend PAT refresher course?
The need for refresher training depends on how regularly you carry out testing, your knowledge, and whether the equipment or guidance has changed. HSE identifies training, relevant experience and regular reassessment as evidence to consider when assessing competence. Someone who tests regularly and keeps up with developments may have different training needs from someone who attended a course several years ago but has rarely used the skills since.
If your organisation prefers a planned interval, we generally suggest refresher training every four or five years. This is our recommendation, rather than a legal requirement or a fixed period for which competence is guaranteed. An earlier refresher may be appropriate if you have stopped testing for an extended period or need to address gaps in your knowledge.
When is a refresher particularly useful?
We recommend considering refresher training if:
- You have not carried out inspection and testing for an extended period.
- You are working with unfamiliar equipment or a different PAT tester.
- There have been significant changes to the Code of Practice or relevant regulations.
- A review of your work has identified mistakes or areas where further training would help.
Regular testing helps maintain practical skills, but it can also reinforce mistakes if nobody checks your approach. A course provides an opportunity to ask questions, review your methods and practise with guidance from an instructor.
Did you train before the fifth edition of the Code of Practice?
The fifth edition of the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment was published in 2020. It introduced changes to test limits, equipment classifications and the management of electrical safety. If your last training was before the fifth edition was introduced, we recommend attending a refresher, particularly if you have not otherwise updated your knowledge. Changes included revised leakage test limits and clarification of the procedures for Class II equipment with a functional earth, often described as Class II FE. Understanding these changes helps you select appropriate tests and avoid unnecessarily failing equipment. The fifth edition also placed greater emphasis on risk assessment when determining inspection and testing intervals, replacing the previous table of suggested frequencies. Our guide to the fifth edition of the IET Code of Practice explains the main changes.
Does a PAT training certificate expire?
We do not put an expiry date on Plugtest training certificates. Your certificate records your successful completion of the course and assessment at that time. It does not remove the need to maintain your knowledge and practical skills.
Other training schemes have different arrangements. For example, first aid at work certificates last three years, with HSE also strongly recommending annual refresher training. First-aid skills may be used infrequently, making opportunities to practise particularly valuable. PAT testing does not have an equivalent fixed renewal cycle. Your employer or a customer may have its own requirements for recent training, so check any policies that apply to your work.
Which course should you book as a refresher?
We do not run a separate, shortened refresher course. Instead, we recommend attending our one-day PAT Competent Person course. Revisiting the full course gives you the opportunity to refresh the inspection process, equipment classification, test selection, interpretation of results and record keeping. It also helps identify anything you may have forgotten or misunderstood during your original training.
The course combines theory with hands-on practice in small groups, giving you time to ask questions and discuss equipment you encounter at work. All test equipment is provided, although you are welcome to bring your own PAT tester to become more familiar with it.
Delegates receive a comprehensive training manual and a certificate of competence following successful completion of a practical assessment. We also provide ongoing technical support for questions that arise after training.
View our PAT testing courses and available dates.