This apprenticeship is in the process of being revised or adjusted. In the meantime, the version below remains approved for delivery. Further details of this and other apprenticeships being revised or adjusted are available in the revisions and adjustments status report.
Royal apprenticeships
These are Green apprenticeships which have been hand-picked by industry experts to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
A temporary dispensation has been applied to the ST0152 end-point assessment plan V1.1 for this apprenticeship. The dispensation will remain live from 13/02/2025 until the apprentices registered on V1.1 have either completed their EPA, including any resits and retakes, or moved to V1.2.
V1.1
This document explains the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the installation and maintenance electrician apprenticeship. End-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) must follow this when designing and delivering the EPA.
Installation and maintenance electrician apprentices, their employers and training providers should read this document.
National Electrotechnical Training (NET) is the sole EPAO for this EPA and must conduct the EPA for this apprenticeship. NET is the industry charity whose purpose is to independently ensure electrotechnical competence. It owns and delivers AM2 which is the competence assessment for the electrical industry. A bespoke version of AM2 will form the EPA for the revised installation and maintenance electrician apprenticeship standard.
The responsibilities of NET include:
• external quality assurance of the installation and maintenance electrician apprenticeship standard
• the production of all assessment material
• provision of the premises in which all assessment takes place (via the NET licensed centre network)
• provides the licence for NET approved and qualified independent assessors to undertake the independent assessment of the EPA
• confirming competence via the EPA which confers eligibility for the award of an ECS gold card by the Joint Industry Board (JIB)
The EPA will be conducted under controlled conditions by NET licensed independent assessors and will be available through NET’s licensed centre network of over 50 centres across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
A full-time apprentice typically spends 48 months on-programme (this means in training before the gateway) working towards competence as an installation and maintenance electrician. All apprentices must spend at least 12 months on-programme. All apprentices must complete the required amount of off-the-job training specified by the apprenticeship funding rules.
This EPA has 3 assessment methods.
The grades available for each assessment method are:
Assessment method 1 - observation of practical competence in a controlled environment:
Assessment method 2 - scenario based interview:
Assessment method 3 - online knowledge assessment:
The result from each assessment method is combined to decide the overall apprenticeship grade. The following grades are available for the apprenticeship:
The EPA is taken in the EPA period. The EPA period starts when the EPAO confirms the gateway requirements have been met and is typically 6 months.
The EPAO should confirm the gateway requirements have been met and the EPA should start as quickly as possible.
The apprentice’s employer must confirm that they think the apprentice is working at or above the occupational standard. They will then enter the gateway. The employer may take advice from the apprentice's training provider(s), but the employer must make the decision. In making this decision, the employer may take advice from the apprentice's training provider(s), but the decision must ultimately be made solely by the employer and confirmed through the Readiness for Assessment checklist available on the NET website.
NET as the EPAO determines when all other gateway requirements have been met, and the EPA period will only start once the EPAO has confirmed this.
These are:
The apprentice must submit any policies and procedures as requested by the EPAO.
The assessment methods can be delivered in this order:1. Observation of practical competence in a controlled environment. 2. Then the scenario-based interview or online knowledge assessment. 3. Finally, the method not undertaken in point 2.
The result of one assessment method does not need to be known before starting the next.
All assessment methods for the EPA will typically be carried out over 3 consecutive days. Where it is necessary to schedule the scenario based interview and or the online knowledge assessment separately, all elements must be completed within a 10 working day period. It is recommended that the apprentice does not exceed a 7.5 hour working day and breaks should be permitted as per NET guidance.
In an observation of practical competence in a controlled environment, a NET licensed independent assessor observes an apprentice carrying out a range of simulated electrical exercises which reflect typical electrical work carried out in the workplace.
The observation of practical competence in a controlled environment must be assessed holistically by the NET licensed independent assessor when they are deciding the grade for the observation of practical competence in a controlled environment.
This assessment method is being used because:
The practical installation reflects the scope of an installation and maintenance electrician’s work as set out in the KSBs, and is typical of the apprentice’s work, ensuring that they can demonstrate the range specified within the occupational standard in practice. As part of an installation and maintenance electrician’s role, they will be expected to carry out an installation to a specification and test and inspect using the appropriate British standards and associated guidance notes, with an awareness of net zero and green technologies. Therefore, this method of assessment is deemed as the most appropriate for this occupation as it accurately reflects all environments and current workplace tasks of the apprentice, which may not be available in a timely, standardised manner to the apprentice, if observed in the real working environment.
AM2 is the benchmark required for all installation and maintenance electricians. This is the agreed competence standard for the industry. This EPA is a revised version of the Industry Assessment of Competence AM2 and the apprenticeship covers the professional recognition required for an installation and maintenance electrician.
The observation of practical competence in a controlled environment must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.
The observation will take place in controlled conditions within a NET licensed assessment centre. NET licensed independent assessors can observe up to 4 apprentices at a time for each component as specified by NET guidance.
The EPAO must give an apprentice 10 days notice of the observation with questions.
The observation must take 17 hours.
The observation with questions may take place in parts but must be completed within 3 working days. A working day is typically 7.5 hours. The reason for this split is to accommodate the different components that take several hours to complete.
The EPAO must manage invigilation of the apprentice during the assessment, to maintain security of the EPA, in line with their malpractice policy. This includes breaks and moving between locations during the working day.
The NET licenced independent assessor must explain to the apprentice the format and timescales of the observation with questions before it starts. This does not count towards the assessment time.
The NET licensed independent assessor should observe the following during the observation:
Component 1 - planning, safe isolation and risk assessment ( 1 hour)
Apprentices will prepare and complete a risk assessment for the assessment area work environment. Associated to this will be an observed exercise of safely isolating the installation before working on the installation.
Component 1 includes:
• a completed risk assessment
• NET Licensed independent assessor undertaking visual observation of the apprentice completing the safe isolation procedure
• planning for installation .
Component 2 - installation and maintenance observation (10.5 hours)
Apprentices will carry out installation and maintenance activity to a set specification, including circuits for new technologies. Monitoring of the installation for safe practice will be conducted by the NET licensed independent assessor and then assessed when the installation is complete. If this section is not completed within the component assigned time, then the assessment will be recorded as ‘out of time’ and this component will be deemed to have been failed.
Including:
• Single phase lighting and power circuits
• Single phase and three phase fixed equipment
• Three phase motor circuit with remote control
• Heating control circuits
• Emergency lighting and safety sensor circuits
• Circuits for commercial such etc. EV charger and PV array
• Plastic and metal containment systems
• Data circuits
• Circuits for special locations
Component 3 - testing and associated regulatory documents. (3.5 hours)
Overview
Apprentices will test the installation in accordance with the British Standard and associated guidance documents, which will be available for reference. Due to the sensitivity and safety critical nature of this element, it must be fully observed by the NET licensed independent assessor. The NET licensed independent assessor will monitor to ensure safe practice throughout this component and the assessment will be stopped and graded as a fail, should unsafe practice occur. If this section is not completed within the specified time, then the assessment will be recorded as ‘out of time’ and this component will be deemed to have been failed.
This will include:
• dead testing in correct sequence
• live testing supervised by a NET licensed independent assessor
• completion of an Electrical Installation Certificate
• functional testing.
Component 4 - fault finding and reporting on electrical circuits (2.0 hours)
Apprentices will use their knowledge and skills to interrogate an electrical installation and identify faults on simulated faulty circuits. It will be observed by a NET licensed independent assessor for the apprentice to undertake tasks on a simulated electrical installation. The assessment will be stopped and graded as a fail, should unsafe practice occur. If this section is not completed within the specified time, then the assessment will be recorded as ‘out of time’ and this component will be deemed to have been failed.
This will involve:
• identifying and reporting a range of faults on simulated faulty circuits
The NET licensed independent assessor conducts and assesses the observation of practical competence in a controlled environment. They must record the KSBs observed.
The NET licensed independent assessor makes all grading decisions.
These activities provide the apprentice with the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.
The EPA will take place under controlled conditions in a NET licensed assessment centre.
The EPAO must produce the following materials to support the observation of practical competence in a controlled environment:
• NET licensed independent assessor assessment materials which include:
• EPA guidance for the apprentice and employer
In the scenario based interview, a NET licensed independent assessor and apprentice have a formal two-way conversation.
It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate their competency across the KSBs as shown in the mapping. This assessment method has 1 component. The interview consists of an NET licensed independent assessor asking an apprentice a series of scenario-based questions to assess their responses against the KSBs for this method. The NET licensed independent assessor leads this process to obtain information from the apprentice to enable a structured assessment decision-making process.
This assessment method is being used because:
• it allows for testing of responses where there are a range of potential answers that cannot be tested through the practical observation or knowledge assessment
• it could be conducted remotely, potentially reducing cost
The scenario based interview must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.
A NET licenced independent assessor must conduct and assess the scenario based interview.
During this method, the NET licensed independent assessor must use questions from the question bank derived on typical electrical installation and maintenance scenarios.
The purpose of the questions will be to cover the following themes:
• communication and cooperation
• customer service
• safety
• commercial awareness (defined as: a sustainable and economic approach to work)
• quality and continuous improvement
• continuous professional development and personal welfare
Questions will be open and designed to elicit responses against the KSBs prescribed for this method. NET licensed independent assessors must use the question bank as a source for questioning and marking materials supplied by NET. KSBs met and answers to questions, must be recorded by the NET licensed independent assessor. The interview will be recorded to aid moderation and quality assurance.
The EPAO must give an apprentice 10 days' notice of the interview.
The scenario based interview will last for 90 minutes. The NET licenced independent assessor can increase the time of the interview by up to 10% to allow the apprentice to complete their last answer.
The independent assessor must ask at least 12 scenario based questions. The independent assessor must use the questions from the EPAO’s question bank.
The scenario based interview will typically take place in a NET licensed centre incorporated within the allocated 3 days of EPA time.
The scenario based interview can also be conducted via video conferencing. NET will have processes in place to verify the identity of the apprentice and ensure the apprentice is not being aided.
The scenario based interview should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.
A question bank will be developed by NET as the EPAO.
The assessment specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The EPAO must ensure that questions are refined and developed to a high standard. The questions must be unpredictable. A question bank of sufficient size will support this.
The EPAO must ensure that apprentice has a different set of questions in the case of re-sits or re-takes.
The EPAO must produce the following materials to support the scenario based interview:
The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation and moderation.
In the test, the apprentice answers questions in a controlled and invigilated environment. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge mapped to this assessment method.
This assessment method is being used because:
• it allows for the efficient testing of knowledge where there is an objectively correct answer
• it allows for flexibility of delivery administration in terms of when and how it is taken
• it allows for larger volumes of apprentices to be assessed at one time.
The test must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.
The online knowledge assessment can be computer based.
The online knowledge assessment must consist of 40 multiple-choice questions.
The apprentice must be given at least 10 days notice of the date and time of the online knowledge assessment.
The apprentice must have 90 minutes to complete the test.
The online knowledge assessment is open book which means that the apprentice can refer to reference books or materials whilst taking the test.
In the test, the apprentice will be permitted to have
NET will provide these materials; the apprentice is not permitted to use their own copies in the assessment.
The online knowledge assessment must be taken in the presence of an invigilator under the responsibility of the EPAO.
The EPAO must have an invigilation policy setting out how the online knowledge assessment must be conducted. It must state the ratio of apprentices to invigilators for the setting and allow the test to take place in a secure way.
The EPAO is responsible for the security of the online knowledge assessment including the arrangements for on-line testing. The EPAO must ensure that their security arrangements maintain the validity and reliability of the online knowledge assessment.
The online knowledge assessment must be marked by NET licensed independent assessors or marker employed by the EPAO. They must follow a marking scheme produced by the EPAO. Marking by computer is allowed where question type supports this.
A correct answer gets 1 mark.
Any incorrect or missing answers get zero marks.
The EPAO is responsible for overseeing the marking of the online knowledge assessment. The EPAO must ensure standardisation and moderation of online knowledge assessment.
The online test will take place in a NET licensed centre.
The apprentice must take the online knowledge assessment in a suitably controlled and invigilated environment that is a quiet room, free from distractions and influence. The EPAO must check the venue is suitable.
Video conferencing can also be used to conduct the test, but the EPAO must have processes in place to verify the identity of the apprentice and ensure the apprentice is not being aided. The invigilator may be the NET licensed independent assessor, or any independent person appointed by the EPAO.
The EPAO is required to have an invigilation policy that will set out how the test is to be carried out. The EPAO is responsible for ensuring the security of any multiple-choice tests they administer to ensure the test remains valid and reliable (this includes any arrangements made using online tools). The EPAO is responsible for verifying the identity of the person taking the test.
Questions will be written by NET as the EPAO and must be relevant to the occupation. The EPAO should maintain the security and confidentiality of their questions. The EPAO must develop test specifications and question banks of sufficient size to prevent predictability and review them regularly (and at least once a year) to ensure they, and the questions they contain, are fit for purpose. The specifications, including questions relating to underpinning KSBs must be varied, yet allow assessment of the relevant KSBs. The specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs shown in the mapping. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. The EPAO should maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting employers. The questions must be unpredictable.
The EPAO must ensure that apprentices have a different set of questions in the case of re-sits and re-takes.
The EPAO will produce the following material to support this assessment method:
• a question bank
• test specification
• outline of the assessment method’s requirements
• sample tests and mark schemes
• live tests and mark schemes
Performance in the EPA determines the apprenticeship grade of:
NET licenced independent assessors must individually grade the: observation of practical competence in a controlled environment and scenario based interview in line with this EPA plan.
The EPAO must combine the individual assessment method grades to determine the overall EPA grade.
To achieve an overall pass, the apprentice must achieve at least a pass in all the assessment methods. In order to achieve an overall EPA distinction, apprentices must achieve a pass in the observation of practical competence assessment method and distinctions in the scenario based Interview and online knowledge test assessment methods. The EPAO must combine the assessment method grades to determine the overall EPA grade. Apprentices who fail one or more assessment methods will be awarded an overall EPA fail.
Grades from individual assessment methods must be combined in the following way to determine the grade of the EPA overall.
If the apprentice fails one or more assessment method, they can re-sit or a re-take at their employer’s discretion. The apprentice’s employer needs to agree that a re-sit or re-take is appropriate. A re-sit does not need further learning, whereas a re-take does.
The apprentice should have a supportive action plan to prepare for a re-sit or a re-take.
The employer and EPAO agree the timescale for a re-sit or re-take. A re-sit is typically taken within 3 months of the EPA outcome notification. The timescale for a re-take is dependent on how much re-training is required and is typically taken within 3 months of the EPA outcome notification.
Failed assessment methods must be re-sat or re-taken within a 6-month period from the EPA outcome notification, otherwise the entire EPA will need to be re-sat or re-taken in full.
Re-sits and re-takes are not offered to an apprentice wishing to move from pass to a higher grade.
The apprentice will get a maximum EPA grade of for a re-sit or re-take, unless the EPAO determines there are exceptional circumstances.
The EPAO must have reasonable adjustments arrangements for the EPA.
This should include:
Adjustments must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined in this EPA plan.
Internal quality assurance refers to how the EPAO ensures valid, consistent and reliable EPA decisions. The EPAO must adhere to the requirements within the roles and responsibilities section:
The EPAO must also:
Affordability of the EPA will be aided by using at least some of the following:
This apprenticeship aligns with:
Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) for Technician Member (TMIET)
The Electrotechnical Joint Industry Board for ECS Gold Card. As part of the application process the appropriate Health and Safety components will be recognised.
The apprenticeship will either wholly or partially satisfy the requirements for registration at this level.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Standard, End-point assessment plan and funding band revised | 03/09/2023 | Not set |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery. The funding band for this standard has been reviewed and remains at £18000 (May-2018). | 10/09/2015 | 02/09/2023 |
Crown copyright © 2025. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence