The practical performance assessments within the EWA qualification must relate to current work carried out in the UK so it can be properly verified and assessed on-site. Any previous overseas work experience cannot be used as credit towards or exemption from the EWA practical assessments.
Previous experience can, however, be taken into account in terms of the years of experience as a practising electrician, which is required in order to be eligible to register on the EWA. You will need:
- 5 years’ experience for Installation Electrician EWA or
- 3 years’ experience for the Domestic Electrician EWA.
More information on the non-UK qualifications process for ECS cards can be found on the ECS website.
In general, an overseas qualified and experienced person would go through the Ecctis (UK ENIC) electrotechnical mapping* (which maps against the knowledge units of the apprenticeship qualification), complete a documented or recorded technical discussion with the training provider to confirm that they have knowledge and work experience across the range of activity required, and then would need to be working in the UK to provide evidence for the practical assessments. Past evidence from overseas work cannot be accepted.
*please note the electrotechnical mapping and NOT the general mapping must be undertaken
We have developed a new service with the qualifications recognition body Ecctis or UK ENIC (formally known as UK Naric), that will map non-UK electrical qualifications against the specific knowledge requirements of the Experienced Worker Assessment.
The service will provide you with an ‘Industry Skills Statement’ – find out more on the Ecctis website. Please ensure that you select the Electrotechnical or Domestic Electrician mapping, not a general mapping statement.
Training providers cannot accept any non UK qualifications without this mapping.
There will be no exemptions from the practical performance elements – even if you have significant practical experiences of working overseas, you will still need to be working in the UK to complete the practical elements of the EWA.
To gain an ECS card with non-UK qualifications, you will need to complete one of two routes:
Installation Electrician
The Installation Electrician Experienced Worker Assessment, which includes:
- BS7671:2018 (18th edition) Requirements for Electrical Installations
- A Level 3 award in the Initial Verification of Electrical Installations
- The UK Industry Assessment of Occupational Competence (AM2E), provided by National Electrotechnical Training
Domestic Electrician
The Domestic Electrician Experienced Worker Assessment, which includes:
- BS7671:2018 (18th edition) Requirements for Electrical Installations
- A full Inspection and Testing qualification covering Initial Verification and Periodic Inspection
- The UK Industry Assessment of Occupational Competence (AM2ED), provided by National Electrotechnical Training
You will also need to complete the ECS Health, Safety and Environmental Assessment.
