From 1 October 2026, changes to the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification will affect how competence is evidenced across parts of the UK electrical industry. For electricians, contractors, subcontractors and electrical businesses, the key message is simple:
The right person must be able to evidence the right qualification, experience and competence for the work they are carrying out. This is especially important for businesses and individuals involved in periodic inspection and testing, EV charging, solar PV, battery storage and other low carbon technologies.
If you work in these areas, now is the time to review your qualifications, check your records and understand whether any training is needed before the October 2026 deadline.
This guide from Kelly Energy Training explains what the EAS is, what is changing, who is affected and which electrical training courses may be relevant.
What is the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification?
The Electrotechnical Assessment Specification, often shortened to EAS, is the framework used by certification and registration bodies to assess electrical competence.
It is used across the electrotechnical industry to help determine whether businesses and individuals can demonstrate the required competence for the electrical work they carry out.
In practice, the EAS helps shape how competence is assessed for areas such as:
- Electrical installation work
- Inspection and testing
- Periodic inspection and testing
- Low carbon technologies
- Qualified Supervisor responsibilities
- Registration and assessment requirements
For many electricians, the EAS may not be something they think about every day. However, it sits behind many of the standards used by certification and registration bodies when assessing electrical businesses and the people carrying out work for them.
The October 2026 changes make this more important because they place a clearer focus on individual competence and qualification evidence for specific categories of work.
What is changing from 1 October 2026?
From 1 October 2026, the EAS changes will introduce clearer competence and qualification expectations in key areas of electrical work.
The main areas affected include:
- Periodic inspection and testing
- EV charging installations
- Solar PV installations
- Electrical energy storage systems
- Other defined low carbon technology work
The change is not simply about holding a certificate somewhere in a file.
It is about being able to show that the individual carrying out the work has suitable qualifications, experience and competence for that specific type of work.
For businesses, this means reviewing the competence of employees, subcontractors and agency workers. If someone is carrying out work under your business, you need to be confident that their qualifications match the work they are doing.
For individual electricians, it means checking whether your own qualifications and CPD records are current, relevant and easy to evidence.
Why individual competence matters
The electrical industry has changed significantly in recent years.
Electricians are no longer only working on traditional domestic, commercial or industrial installations. Many are now involved in specialist areas such as EV charging, solar PV, battery storage and wider low-carbon technologies.
These areas require specific technical knowledge and practical competence.
The updated EAS reflects this by making competence more directly linked to the individual person carrying out the work. A business being registered is not enough on its own if the person completing the work cannot evidence that they are properly qualified for that work.
This matters because it helps support:
- Safer electrical work
- Clearer responsibility
- Stronger competence records
- Better standards across specialist work
- More confidence for clients, scheme providers and contractors
For electricians who already keep their training and CPD up to date, the change should be manageable. For those who have not reviewed their qualifications for some time, October 2026 is a clear deadline to act.
Who will be affected by the 2026 EAS changes?
The changes may affect a wide range of electricians, contractors and organisations across the electrical industry.
This includes:
- Sole trader electricians
- Small electrical contractors
- Larger electrical firms
- Subcontractors
- Agency workers
- Qualified Supervisors
- EV charging installers
- Solar PV installers
- Battery storage installers
- Renewable energy contractors
- Facilities management companies
- Housing associations
- Commercial building services contractors
- Electrical labour agencies
The level of impact depends on the type of work being carried out.
If your work includes periodic inspection and testing or low carbon technology installations, you should review your qualifications as a priority.
If you run a business, you should also review the qualifications and evidence held by your team, subcontractors and agency workers.
Periodic inspection and testing
Periodic inspection and testing is one of the key areas affected by the updated EAS.
This includes work such as Electrical Installation Condition Reports, often known as EICRs.
From October 2026, those carrying out or taking responsibility for periodic inspection and testing will need to meet clearer qualification and competence expectations.
This may include holding a relevant Level 3 inspection and testing qualification, depending on your role and scope of work.
Recognised qualifications may include:
- City & Guilds 2391 to 51 Periodic Inspection and Testing
- City & Guilds 2391 to 52 Inspection and Testing
- Other accepted Level 3 qualifications listed by relevant certification or registration bodies
You may also need to evidence relevant experience and ongoing CPD.
If inspection and testing forms part of your work, do not assume that experience alone will be enough. Check your qualifications, check your records and speak to a training provider if you are unsure what you need.
Low carbon technology installations
Low carbon technologies are another major focus of the updated EAS.
The electrical industry is moving quickly, and more electricians are working on technologies that require specialist knowledge.
The affected areas include:
If you carry out work in one of these areas, you need to be able to show that you hold a relevant accepted qualification for the specific type of work you are doing.
For example, an electrician installing EV charge points should hold a suitable EV charger installation qualification. An electrician installing solar PV should hold a recognised solar PV installation qualification. Those working with battery storage should hold training that reflects battery storage and electrical energy storage systems.
A general electrical qualification may not be enough on its own for these specialist areas.
For businesses, this is especially important. If your company offers EV, solar PV or battery storage services, you should check that every person carrying out this work has the right qualification for that work category.
Level 3 electrical qualifications
The 2026 EAS changes place stronger focus on individual qualification evidence.
For many electricians, this means reviewing whether they hold a recognised Level 3 qualification that reflects their current scope of work.
This may include qualifications such as a Level 3 NVQ Qualified Electrician qualification, or other accepted evidence depending on the role, route and work being carried out.
If you are unsure whether your current qualifications are suitable, it is worth checking now rather than waiting until close to the deadline.
For businesses, this should be part of a wider workforce competence review.
Ask:
- Who is carrying out which type of work?
- What qualifications do they hold?
- Are those qualifications relevant to the work they perform?
- Are certificates and CPD records easy to access?
- Are subcontractors and agency workers included in the review?
This is where many businesses could be caught out. The focus is not only on the company. It is on the individual people doing the work.
18th Edition and BS 7671
The 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations, also known as BS 7671, remains central to electrical work in the UK.
While the EAS changes are especially focused on inspection and testing and low carbon work categories, current technical knowledge is still an important part of demonstrating competence.
If your 18th Edition qualification or knowledge predates the latest BS 7671 updates, including Amendment 2, it may be time to complete an update course.
This is particularly important if your work involves design, installation, inspection, testing or certification.
An 18th Edition course is one of the more straightforward training actions to plan, but it is still worth booking early to avoid pressure closer to October 2026.
AM2 and apprenticeship routes
The AM2 remains an important assessment for apprentices completing an electrotechnical apprenticeship route.
However, for this blog, it is important not to confuse the AM2 pathway with the main EAS changes affecting periodic inspection and testing and low carbon technologies from October 2026.
If you are an apprentice approaching your AM2, speak to your training provider about your assessment route, preparation and timing.
If you are already a qualified electrician, the more immediate EAS related checks are likely to be your current work scope, inspection and testing qualifications, low carbon qualifications, 18th Edition knowledge, CPD records and evidence of competence.
What should electricians do now?
The best approach is to complete a simple competence review.
Start with these questions:
- What work do I currently carry out?
- Does my work include inspection and testing?
- Do I complete EICRs?
- Do I install EV chargers?
- Do I install or maintain solar PV systems?
- Do I work with battery storage or energy storage systems?
- Do I hold a recognised qualification for each of those areas?
- Are my certificates easy to find?
- Is my CPD up to date?
- If I run a business, have I checked my employees, subcontractors and agency workers?
Once you know where the gaps are, you can plan your training properly.
Leaving this until the final months before October 2026 could make it harder to secure the right course dates, especially for multi day courses and specialist low carbon training.
Kelly Energy Training courses that can support EAS readiness
Kelly Energy Training delivers electrical and low carbon training courses for electricians, contractors and businesses preparing for the 2026 EAS changes.
Relevant courses include:
- Level 3 NVQ Qualified Electrician
- 18th Edition
- PAT Testing
- City & Guilds Testing and Inspection
- Solar PV Installation and Maintenance
- EV Charger Installation
- Battery Storage and ESS
Whether you are an individual electrician, a small contractor, a renewable energy installer, a facilities management company, a housing association or a labour agency, Kelly Energy Training can help you identify the right training route.
Our team can talk you through your current qualifications, help you understand possible gaps and support you in booking the right course before the October 2026 deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EAS?
EAS stands for Electrotechnical Assessment Specification.
It is the framework used by certification and registration bodies to assess competence for electrotechnical work.
When do the EAS changes take effect?
The key changes come into effect from 1 October 2026.
This gives electricians and electrical businesses time to review their current qualifications, evidence and CPD records before the deadline.
What are the main EAS changes in 2026?
The main changes include clearer competence and qualification expectations for periodic inspection and testing, as well as new work categories and qualification requirements for low carbon technologies such as EV charging, solar PV and energy storage systems.
Do the EAS changes affect every electrician?
Not every electrician will be affected in the same way.
The impact depends on the type of work you carry out. Electricians involved in periodic inspection and testing, EICRs, EV charging, solar PV or battery storage should review their qualifications as a priority.
Electrical businesses should also review the competence of employees, subcontractors and agency workers.
What qualifications might I need before October 2026?
The qualifications you need depend on your current work scope.
Relevant training areas may include:
- Level 3 NVQ Qualified Electrician
- 18th Edition
- Inspection and Testing
- EV Charger Installation
- Solar PV Installation and Maintenance
- Battery Storage and ESS
Kelly Energy Training can help you understand which courses are relevant to the work you carry out.
Do I need a Level 3 qualification for inspection and testing?
If you carry out periodic inspection and testing or EICRs, you should check whether you hold a recognised Level 3 inspection and testing qualification.
This may include qualifications such as City & Guilds 2391 to 51 or 2391 to 52, depending on your role and scope of work.
Are EV charging and solar PV included in the EAS changes?
Yes. Low carbon technologies are a key part of the updated EAS requirements.
This includes EV charging, solar PV, electrical energy storage systems and micro wind turbines.
If you carry out this type of work, you should check whether you hold an accepted qualification for that specific area.
Do I need to retrain if I am already qualified?
Not necessarily.
The first step is to audit your existing qualifications, experience and CPD records. If your qualifications match the work you carry out and your evidence is clear, you may already be in a good position.
If there are gaps, or if you work in specialist areas without the relevant qualification, you may need additional training.
Where can I find electrical training courses for the EAS changes?
Kelly Energy Training offers electrical and low carbon training courses that can support electricians and businesses preparing for the 2026 EAS changes.
Courses include Level 3 NVQ Qualified Electrician, 18th Edition, Testing and Inspection, EV Charger Installation, Solar PV Installation and Maintenance, and Battery Storage and ESS.
Contact Kelly Energy Training to discuss your current qualifications and find the right course for your needs.
Conclusion
The October 2026 EAS changes are a clear signal for electricians and electrical businesses to review competence, qualifications and evidence.
The key question is:
Can the individual carrying out the work evidence the right qualification and competence for that specific work?
If the answer is yes, you are in a stronger position.
If the answer is no, or you are unsure, now is the time to act.
Kelly Energy Training can help you review your training needs and book the electrical, inspection and testing, EV, solar PV and battery storage courses that support your route to EAS readiness.
Speak to Kelly Energy Training today to discuss your training requirements ahead of the October 2026 EAS changes.
