18th Edition Wiring Regulations

The Essential Qualification for Every Electrician

The 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) is the UK national standard for the design, installation, and verification of electrical installations. Every practising electrician needs to be current with these regulations — whether you’re qualifying for the first time, updating from a previous edition, or renewing your certification for employer or regulatory requirements.

Our City & Guilds 2382-26 course (Amendment 4, the "Orange Book") prepares you for the 18th Edition exam with expert-led training, comprehensive materials, and proven exam preparation techniques. With a track record of exceptional pass rates, we give you the best possible chance of passing first time.

Who Is This Course For?

• Electricians qualifying for the first time — The 18th Edition is a core requirement on the pathway to becoming a qualified electrician. It sits alongside the Level 2 and Level 3 Diplomas as part of your essential qualifications.

• Qualified electricians updating their certification — If you hold the 17th Edition (or earlier), you need to update to the 18th Edition to remain compliant. Many employers, NICEIC, NAPIT, and other competent person schemes require current certification.

• Electrical contractors and supervisors — Understanding the current regulations is essential for anyone overseeing electrical installation work, signing off certificates, or managing teams.

• Building services engineers and designers — The course covers the regulation framework you need for specifying and approving electrical installations.

How the Course Works

We offer a 2-day intensive classroom course at our Nottingham training centre. This is not a lecture — our expert tutors walk you through BS 7671 section by section, explaining how to navigate the book, apply the regulations to real-world scenarios, and find answers quickly under exam conditions.

• Day 1: BS 7671 structure and scope, protection for safety (overcurrent, fault, RCD protection), and special installations and locations

• Day 2: Cable selection and calculations, inspection and testing requirements, exam technique and preparation, followed by the exam itself

The exam is an open-book assessment — you can refer to your copy of BS 7671 throughout. It consists of multiple-choice questions, and success depends on knowing how to navigate the regulations quickly rather than memorising them. That’s exactly what our course teaches you.

Why Classroom Beats Self-Study

You can study BS 7671 on your own — but the regulations book is 700+ pages of technical standards. Without guided instruction, most people struggle to know which parts matter for the exam and how to find answers under time pressure. Our classroom course gives you:

• Expert tutors who are practising electricians — They explain the regulations using real-world examples, not just textbook theory

• Small class sizes (maximum 12 students) — Ask questions, discuss scenarios, and get personalised attention throughout

• Structured exam preparation — Learn which parts of BS 7671 contain the answers to the most common exam questions and how to locate them fast

• Immediate access to sample exams on booking — Start practising before you arrive, via desktop or our mobile app for iOS and Android

• Exam included on Day 2 — No need to book or pay for the exam separately, and no need to travel to a different venue

What You’ll Learn

• Structure and application of BS 7671 — how to navigate the regulations efficiently

• Protection for safety — overcurrent protection, fault protection, and RCD selection

• Special installations and locations — bathrooms, swimming pools, solar PV, EV charging

• Inspection, testing, and certification requirements

• Cable selection, current-carrying capacity, and voltage drop calculations

• Changes introduced in the latest amendments to BS 7671

Exam Details

The City & Guilds 2382-26 exam is an open-book, multiple-choice assessment. A pass mark of 60% is required. You can refer to your copy of BS 7671 throughout the exam — the key is knowing where to find the answers quickly. Our course specifically trains you in this skill.

If you prefer, the exam can also be taken remotely with online invigilation, without needing to attend the centre.

Your Career Pathway

The 18th Edition is required for:

• Inspection & Testing (2391) — You need current 18th Edition certification before starting the 2391

• NVQ Level 3 (2357) — Required as part of the qualification set for your Gold Card

• NICEIC/NAPIT registration — Competent person schemes require current BS 7671 certification

• ECS Card renewal — Your ECS card registration requires up-to-date 18th Edition

Getting Here

Our training centre is in Arnold, Nottingham (NG5 7ER), with free on-site parking and excellent transport links. Easily accessible via the M1, A52, and A46 — we regularly welcome students from Derby, Leicester, Sheffield, Lincoln, Birmingham, and further afield.

All-Inclusive Pricing

Our price of £400 includes everything: tuition, all course materials, and the City & Guilds exam fee. There are no hidden extras. This is our best-value course — and the exam is included on Day 2, so there’s no need to book or pay for it separately.

The City & Guilds 2382-26 Level 3 Award in the Requirements for Electrical Installations BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 — Ofqual number 603/3319/4 — is the current "18th Edition" qualification, taught to the new Amendment 4 standard (the "Orange Book") that was published on 15 April 2026. Our 2-day intensive course covers the IET Wiring Regulations governing all UK electrical installation work, with the City & Guilds exam included on Day 2. Class sizes are limited to 12 students and we also offer a remote exam option (£200 via online invigilation) for learners outside the East Midlands.

Who Is This Course For?

The 18th Edition is mandatory for every working electrician in the UK. You need it if you are progressing through the diploma pathway towards your Gold Card — it pairs with the 2365 Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma Package as a requirement before 2391 Inspection & Testing and the NVQ Level 3 (2357). You also need it if your existing certificate has expired, if you need to update from an older edition, or if you are a facilities manager, building inspector or designer signing off electrical work under Part P. Competent person schemes (NICEIC and NAPIT) both require a current 18th Edition certificate. There are no formal entry requirements — anyone can book this course, including complete beginners preparing for a career in the trade. Not sitting a full 2-day course? See our 18th Edition Exam Only option for candidates who have self-studied.

Replacing a Previous 18th Edition Certificate (2382-18 / 2382-22)

If you hold an older 18th Edition certificate — the original 2382-18 (Amendment 1 and 2, the "Brown Book") or 2382-22 (Amendment 2, the "Red Book") — your existing certificate remains valid and is not automatically invalidated. However, City & Guilds now only offers 2382-26 (Amendment 4) for new assessments. That means when you renew (which most employers, NICEIC/NAPIT schemes and ECS card refreshes require), you sit the 2382-26. Amendment 4 adds significant new content: battery storage systems (new Chapter 57), Power over Ethernet (PoE) installations, ICT equipment earthing, low-voltage generators, energy efficiency design, and revised medical location regulations. The exam format is unchanged — the new content is what has moved. Most renewal learners find the 2-day refresh comfortable because the fundamentals are familiar; what is new is the Amendment 4 regulations and navigating the updated Orange Book layout.

18th Edition Exam Format & Pass Mark

The 2382-26 exam is open-book: 60 multiple-choice questions, 2-hour time limit, 60% pass mark — that is 36 out of 60 correct answers. You are permitted to refer to your BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 Orange Book during the exam — no other notes or textbooks allowed. Because it is an open-book exam, success depends on knowing how to navigate the book fast, not on memorising content. Our 2-day classroom course is built around this: Day 1 walks through the structure of BS 7671 with worked regulation lookups; Day 2 is exam practice followed by the live exam in the afternoon. You have two options for sitting: our Nottingham centre (£400) — full 2-day training + exam, all materials and exam fee included; or the remote exam (£200) — self-study at home, then sit the exam via Talview online invigilation (Windows PC, webcam and second device required; book 7+ working days in advance). Same exam, same certificate, either route. Want to see where you stand before booking? Try our free 18th Edition mock exam — 60 questions with a 120-minute timer, no signup needed.

How Much Does the 18th Edition Course Cost?

The full 2-day classroom course at our Nottingham centre is £400 all-inclusive — that covers the 2-day training, City & Guilds 2382-26 exam fee, and all course materials. There are no hidden extras. If you have already studied the Orange Book and only need to sit the exam, the exam-only option is £150 at our Nottingham centre or £200 via Talview remote online invigilation — both award the same City & Guilds certificate. See 18th Edition Exam Only for booking and available dates.

Upgrading from the 17th Edition?

If you hold the 17th Edition (2382-15) certificate, your qualification is not automatically invalid — but it pre-dates the current BS 7671:2018 standard entirely. Employers, competent person schemes (NICEIC and NAPIT), and JIB card renewals now expect the current 18th Edition, specifically the 2382-26 (Amendment 4). There is no need to revisit every edition in between: you sit the current 2382-26 exam and receive the current certificate. If you are unsure whether the classroom course or exam-only option suits you better, read our dedicated 18th Edition update guide which covers the new Amendment 4 content and what has changed since 2382-22.

Studying Online or Outside Nottingham?

The 2-day classroom course runs at our Nottingham training centre. Learners regularly travel from Derby, Leicester, Sheffield, and across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire — the centre is well located for anyone within the Midlands. We do not have additional classroom venues in other cities. If you cannot travel to Nottingham for the classroom days, the exam-only route gives you a remote option: study at home using the Orange Book, then sit the 2382-26 remote exam online via Talview invigilation for £200 from your own Windows PC. See 18th Edition Exam Only for the remote exam requirements and how to book.

What This Qualification Unlocks

BS 7671 is the regulatory framework that every electrical installation in the UK must comply with — you cannot legally design, install, or certify electrical work without understanding it. The course covers the structure of the regulations, special locations (bathrooms, swimming pools, agricultural, medical), circuit design, protection against electric shock, overcurrent protection, earthing arrangements, and the new Amendment 4 content. After passing, you hold the qualification needed to progress to 2391 Inspection and Testing (which is the next step towards EICR sign-off authority), and you meet the BS 7671 requirement for your ECS Gold Card. The 18th Edition on its own does not authorise you to issue certificates — certification authority comes from the NVQ Level 3 + Gold Card + competent person scheme membership — but without the 18th Edition, none of that pathway is possible. Total Skills also runs a fully home study electrician course pathway for learners outside Nottingham, with the 18th Edition sitting as a 2-day in-person or remote exam component within that route.

Career and Earning Potential

The 18th Edition is not a standalone career qualification — it is a mandatory component of almost every electrical career path. Without it you cannot progress to Inspection & Testing, register with a competent person scheme, or apply for your Gold Card. Keeping your BS 7671 certificate current is also essential for maintaining your ECS card and scheme membership. At £400 classroom or £200 remote, the 18th Edition is one of the lowest-cost qualifications on the pathway but its impact is significant — it is the regulatory knowledge that underpins everything else you do as an electrician, from domestic rewires through to commercial design and EV charging or solar PV specialist work (both of which require current BS 7671 certification as a prerequisite).