There are many terms specific to the trades industry, from the technical to the bureaucratic, and it’s important to sort out which ones you need to know. You may have heard of the JIB ECS Gold Card if you’ve been looking into a career as an electrician.
JIB
JIB stands for Joint Industry Board. This is the organisation that sets the standards for the electrical industry, including employment standards, certification requirements, apprenticeship processes, and more. Through its efforts, the JIB allows for stability, security, and confidence to be maintained among electrical workers and the general public. There is a Scottish JIB for administration of this scheme in Scotland, whereas the JIB itself administers to the rest of the UK.
ECS
ECS stands for Electrotechnical Certification Scheme. This is the scheme for electrical technicians in the UK, endorsed by the electrical industry. It provides ID and competency to certified electricians.
The Gold Card
A variety of cards are available to ECS-qualified technicians, with the Gold Card being granted to those who are certified as installation technicians. The Gold Card thus serves as reliable identification for those who have completed the necessary training to become installation electricians.
Holders of an ECS Gold Card are legally certified to work without supervision on commission, installation, and maintenance for household electrical wiring and other low-voltage devices and appliances.
How to Get an ECS Gold Card
At present, Level 3 NVQ certification is required before an Installation Electrician ECS Gold Card can be obtained. However, if you have been trained as an electrician in or before the year 1999, you may have the opportunity to apply without NVQ certifications, supposing you provide proof of prior certification.
The following criteria must be met and proven in order to qualify:
- UK qualifications based on competency or their equivalent (see non-UK qualifications page).
- Passed an ECS Health, Safety, and Environmental Assessment as detailed on the H&S Assessment
- BS7671 qualifications as outlined by the regulations that are current during your application (as of January 1st, 2019, these are covered by a recognised BS7671:2018 qualification).
Full Apprenticeship Deeds or Apprentice Completion Certificate
To prove that an apprenticeship as an Installation Electrician has been completed, either the completion certificate or formally signed apprenticeship deeds issued at the end of the training will be required.
Qualifications for new trainees – starting 1st September 2016
The NET AM2S (Technical Theory, Practical Competency, and End Point) assessment for Level 3 Electrotechnical Qualification (Installation) Apprenticeship Standards will have to be completed by anyone new to the industry.
Alternatively, a Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment (Buildings, Structures and the Environment), which includes either the JIB Mature Candidate Assessment (Level 3 in Electrotechnical Services Experienced Worker) AND the NET AM2, or just the NET AM2, is necessary to be eligible for an ECS Gold Card for Installation Electricians.
Qualifications completed and certificated from 1st September 1999
The NET AM2S (Technical Theory, Practical Competency, and End Point) assessment for Level 3 Electrotechnical Qualification (Installation) Apprenticeship Standards will have to be completed by anyone new to the industry.
Alternatively, a Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment (Buildings, Structures and the Environment), which includes either the JIB Mature Candidate Assessment (Level 3 in Electrotechnical Services Experienced Worker) AND the NET AM2, or just the NET AM2, is necessary to be eligible for an ECS Gold Card for Installation Electricians.
Qualifications completed and certificated between 1st January 1994 and 1st September 1999
City & Guilds 2360 (parts one and two) technical theory certifications successfully completed between the 1st of January, 1994, and the 1st of September, 1999 as well as an AM2 assessment.
Solid references from current and prior employers for a duration of at least three years will be required as well.
Qualifications completed before 1st January 1994
Most training programmes carried out earlier than 1994 will have been apprenticeship programmes. In these cases, formal Apprenticeship Deeds or Apprentice Completion Certificate are required as evidence of technical competency. Technical certificates alone do not qualify an applicant for the ECS Gold Card for Installation Electricians.
Without formal and complete apprenticeship documents, a JIB Mature Candidate Assessment will have to be provided in their stead.
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