PAT Testing Course
Bristol

The first module builds the foundation for everything that comes later. You'll learn what Portable Appliance Testing actually involves, why it exists, and how it sits within an organisation's broader approach to electrical safety. Key industry terminology is introduced early so that nothing in the rest of the course takes you by surprise.

You'll also get to grips with the main categories of electrical equipment you'll encounter as a tester — portable, movable, hand-held, stationary, fixed and IT equipment — and the equipment classes (Class I, Class II and Class III) that govern how each type is protected against electric shock. Knowing these distinctions from the outset is essential, because the class and category of an appliance determines which tests apply.

Before you start testing appliances, you need a clear picture of what can go wrong with electricity. This module explains the mechanisms of harm — electric shock, burns and electrical fire — and describes the conditions under which defective equipment becomes genuinely dangerous.

The module then works through the UK legal framework behind PAT testing: the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), and the duties they impose. We also address a point that causes widespread confusion — there is no law specifically requiring PAT testing, yet employers and duty holders are legally obliged to maintain electrical equipment in a safe condition, and systematic inspection and testing is the recognised means of demonstrating that. You'll finish the module knowing who carries legal responsibility and what "reasonably practicable" means in real terms.

The formal visual inspection is the single most important step in the PAT process — it accounts for the majority of faults found. This module takes you through exactly how to conduct a thorough visual inspection and what to look for: the signs of damage, wear and misuse that mean an appliance must be withdrawn from use.

We then go inside the appliance, covering plug wiring to BS 1363, correct fuse ratings, cable and flex condition, strain relief, and the integrity of casings and connections. You'll understand how an appliance's construction relates to its equipment class, and the clear distinction between the informal user checks that any member of staff might carry out and the formal visual inspection that must be conducted by a competent person.

This is the most practical part of the day. Working directly with PAT testing instruments, you'll learn how to set up and operate each type of tester safely and correctly. We introduce the range of instruments you'll find in the field, from simple pass/fail units through to more advanced models that store and export records digitally.

You'll practise connecting appliances correctly, appreciate why calibrated equipment matters, and build the kind of hands-on confidence that only comes from actually doing it. By the end of the module, using a PAT tester will feel entirely routine.

This module covers the formal test sequence and how to apply it across different types of appliance. You'll work through the core electrical tests — earth continuity testing, insulation resistance testing, lead and polarity checks, and functional checks — and understand the purpose of each one and what a result actually tells you about an appliance's condition.

Crucially, you'll learn how the correct test sequence varies between Class I and Class II equipment, so you always apply the right tests in the right order. Safe working practice runs through the whole module, reinforcing that every test you conduct should be both meaningful and safe.

Running a test is only half the job — you need to be able to interpret what the results mean. This module teaches you how to compare readings against acceptable limits, make a confident pass or fail decision, and respond appropriately when an appliance fails. You'll also learn correct labelling procedures and how to keep clear, defensible records.

We cover how to establish sensible retest intervals, following the risk-based approach set out in the current edition of the IET Code of Practice, which replaced rigid fixed-frequency tables with a judgement-led method. Frequency decisions should reflect the equipment type, its environment, how intensively it is used, and by whom. Thorough records and a well-maintained asset register are shown to be the backbone of demonstrating ongoing compliance and due diligence.

The final module draws together everything covered during the day and places your new skills in their proper regulatory context. You'll learn the difference between statutory requirements — the law you must comply with — and non-statutory guidance, the recognised best practice that shows you how to comply, and why both matter to anyone working as a competent PAT tester.

Central to this module is the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, currently in its 5th edition. We explain what the Code covers, how it underpins the relevant legislation, and how to use it as your primary reference tool going forward. You'll finish the course with a clear understanding of what competence means in this field, how to demonstrate due diligence, and how to carry out PAT testing to a professional, fully defensible standard.