Trainee Electrician

Card information

The Trainee Electrician ECS card is for trainees that are undertaking a formal JIB industry training programme that will lead to an ECS Gold Card.

This is not traditionally an apprentice, but may include apprenticeships where employers want to recognise additional experience or reward higher grading of individuals as Trainees rather than apprentices. 

This card is issued under the strict understanding that a formal industry training programme is being undertaken and that all work the trainee carries out is under supervision. A Trainee therefore has a specific industry definition as is not just someone undertaking training, but is only a formal programme leading to gold card. 

The trainee should be JIB-registered by their training provider to get the full benefit from industry registration and includes the initial ECS trainee card. The JIB training requirements are listed in the JIB Handbook.

Eligibility and requirements

To be eligible for an ECS Trainee Electrician card, applicants must:

1. Provide evidence that they are on a formal industry training programme leading to an ECS Gold Card.
2. Supply one of the following sets of documentation (shown below), which will determine the level of trainee electrician card awarded.
3. Have passed the ECS Health, Safety & Environmental Assessment. For more details visit the ECS H&S Assessment page.

Documentation to supply:

Trainee Electrician (Stage 1):

• Scheme entry at Stage 1 requires the following:
  • Employer’s sponsorship
  • A copy of a formal industry training agreement that shows enrolment on a training programme leading to the requirements of an ECS Gold Card
  • The ECS Health, Safety & Environmental Assessment, or if being registered by the training provider the first scheme unit covering Health and Safety legislation, practices and procedures

Trainee Electrician (Stage 2):

• Employer’s sponsorship
• And ONE of the following (for Electrical routes):
  • City & Guilds 2330 Certificate in Electrotechnical Technology at Level 2 or
  • City & Guilds 236 Part 1 or
  • City & Guilds 2360 Part 1 or
  • City & Guilds 2351 Units 1, 2, 3 & 4 or
  • City and Guilds 2365-02 Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation (Buildings and Structures) (600/5498/0) or
  • EAL Diploma in Electrotechnical Services Units 1,2,3,4,5 & 6 or
  • EAL Level 2 Diploma In Electrical Installation (QCF) (600/6724/X) or
  • EAL Level 2 Intermediate Diploma in Electrical Installation (601/4561/4)
  • Units ELTK 01 to 05 of the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical systems and equipment (buildings, structures and the environment)

Trainee Electrician (Stage 3):

• Employer’s sponsorship
• Evidence that you are working towards the relevant end point assessment (i.e. AM2/AM2s) and Level 3 NVQ or equivalent in your chosen field
• And ONE of the following (for Electrical routes):
  • City & Guilds 2330 Certificate in Electrotechnical Technology at both Level 2 and Level 3 or
  • City & Guilds 236 Parts 1 and 2 or
  • City & Guilds 2360 Parts 1 and 2 or
  • City & Guilds 2351 (All eight Units) or
  • City and Guilds 2365-03 Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation (Buildings and Structures) 600/5499/2 or
  • City and Guilds 8202-30 Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma in Electrical Installation (Tecbac) (601/7307/5) or
  • EAL Diploma in Electrotechnical Services Level 3 (All ten Units) (500/3526/5) or
  • EAL Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation (QCF) (600/9331/6) or
  • EAL Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Electrical Installation (601/4563/8)
  • Units ELTK 01 to 08 of the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical systems and equipment (buildings, structures and the environment)