Portable Appliance Testing - PAT Training and Qualifications

PAT Training and Qualifications

It is not stated in the health and safety regulations for an individual to have any qualifications to PAT Test but it does state that it must be done by a competent person who has been given instruction to perform the necessary checks in a safe manner. Personnel performing PAT may attend a course for training.

In the UK, there is no requirement to have a formal qualification for persons carrying out PAT Testing. The Electricity at Work regulations of 1989 simply state that inspecting and testing must be carried out by a competent person, however does not mention a benchmark for competency. It has become accepted practice, however, for individuals operating as PAT Testers to hold a 2377–12 City and Guilds qualification. PAT Testers in the UK do not need to be electricians or have a background in the electrical industry. The only U.K. nationally recognized qualification of competence in PAT is offered by City & Guilds: 'Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment – Vocational 3 (No. 2377)'. although many other non-recognized PAT training courses are available.

It is a legal requirement to have attended a course or gained a qualification in order to PAT test in Australia. Proof of a company’s competence in PAT testing is usually found in the form of a course certificate or qualification. A formal examination process for the topic is operated in collaboration with EAL or city and guilds (the awarding body) under the authority of the QCA (The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority) who validate and authorise the qualification.