Inspection & Testing

The Qualification That Pays for Itself

The City & Guilds 2391-52 is the industry-standard inspection and testing qualification for electricians in the UK. It combines Initial Verification (2391-50) and Periodic Inspection and Testing (2391-51) into a single 5-day intensive course, qualifying you to inspect, test, and certify electrical installations — both new and existing.

Electricians with the 2391 can sign off Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs), Initial Verification certificates, and Periodic Inspection reports. These are legally required for landlord safety compliance, property sales, insurance, and change of use — creating a consistent stream of well-paid work that doesn’t depend on new installation projects.

Who Is This Course For?

• Qualified electricians adding testing to their services — If you hold the Level 3 Diploma (2365) and 18th Edition (2382), the 2391 is your next step. It opens up EICR work, which many electricians find is their most reliable income source.

• Electricians pursuing their Gold Card — While not a formal Gold Card requirement, the 2391 is expected by most employers and is essential for NICEIC or NAPIT registration.

• Domestic installers expanding their scope — Part P registered electricians who want to offer periodic inspection and condition reporting alongside their installation work.

• Experienced electricians without formal testing qualifications — If you’ve been testing informally but need the certificate to sign off reports and satisfy compliance requirements.

What You’ll Learn

• Initial Verification — How to inspect and test a new electrical installation before it’s energised, verifying compliance with BS 7671

• Periodic Inspection and Testing — How to assess an existing installation’s condition, identify deterioration, and determine safety

• EICR Completion — How to complete an Electrical Installation Condition Report with correct observation codes (C1, C2, C3, FI)

• Testing Procedures — Continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance, RCD testing, and prospective fault current measurement

• Safe Isolation — Procedures for safely de-energising circuits before testing

• Certification and Documentation — Electrical Installation Certificates, Minor Works Certificates, and Condition Reports

How the Course Works

This is a 5-day intensive classroom course at our Nottingham training centre, combining theory with hands-on practical training on industry-standard Fluke testing equipment. Class sizes are limited to 6–8 learners with 2 dedicated trainers, ensuring you get personalised attention and plenty of time with the test equipment.

The course is structured to build your confidence progressively — starting with the theory of testing procedures, moving to hands-on practice on our training rigs, and finishing with realistic assessment scenarios. Our trainers are practising electricians with real-world experience in both domestic and commercial inspection work.

Assessment

Assessment includes both written and practical components. The practical assessment involves completing a full inspection and test on our training installations, recording results accurately, and completing the correct certification. Our 95%+ pass rate reflects the quality of training and the personalised support you receive throughout.

Earning Potential

The 2391 is one of the most commercially valuable electrical qualifications. Typical EICR rates:

• Domestic EICR: £150–£350 per inspection (2–4 hours work)

• HMO/Landlord EICR: £200–£400 per property

• Commercial EICR: £400–£1,500+ depending on installation size

Landlords are legally required to have an EICR every 5 years for rented properties, creating consistent repeat demand. Many 2391-qualified electricians find that testing work provides their most reliable income stream.

Convenient Central Location

Our training centre in Arnold, Nottingham (NG5 7ER) is ideally positioned for electricians across the East Midlands and surrounding regions. We regularly welcome students from Derby (25 mins), Leicester (40 mins), Sheffield (50 mins), Lincoln (50 mins), Birmingham (90 mins), Mansfield (15 mins), and Chesterfield (30 mins). Free parking and easy access via the M1, A52, and A46.

ELCAS Funding

This course is eligible for ELCAS (Enhanced Learning Credits) funding for serving and former Armed Forces personnel. Total Skills is an approved ELCAS provider (Provider Number: 12999), offering up to 80% financial support.

The City & Guilds 2391-52 is regulated by Ofqual at Level 3 on the RQF. It replaces the older 2394/2395 split qualifications and is required for NICEIC, NAPIT, and ELECSA membership. Completing the 2391 enables you to sign off Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs), initial verification certificates, and minor works certificates.

Who Is This Course For?

The 2391 is for qualified electricians who want to inspect, test, and certify electrical installations. You need the Level 3 Diploma (2365-03) and a current 18th Edition (2382) as prerequisites. Most students take the 2391 after completing their diplomas and 18th Edition — it is the next logical step before or alongside the NVQ. The qualification is also essential for experienced electricians who want to carry out periodic inspection and testing as a service, landlord EICRs, or pre-purchase electrical surveys. Many electricians add the 2391 specifically to increase their earning potential through testing work.

What This Qualification Unlocks

The 2391 is the qualification that allows you to legally inspect, test, and certify electrical installations. Without it, you cannot issue EICRs, electrical installation certificates (EICs), or minor works certificates in your own name. The 5-day course covers safe isolation, instrument use, continuity and insulation resistance testing, earth fault loop impedance, RCD testing, prospective fault current measurement, and how to complete and interpret certification documents. You also learn to identify defects using the C1/C2/C3/FI coding system and make professional judgements about the condition of existing installations.

Career and Earning Potential

Inspection and testing is one of the highest-earning specialisms for electricians. A domestic EICR takes 2 to 4 hours and typically charges £150 to £300 depending on property size — making it possible to earn £500 or more per day from testing work alone. The 2391 is also a requirement for competent person scheme registration (alongside the NVQ), which allows you to self-certify notifiable electrical work under Part P of the Building Regulations. Many electricians build a mixed practice of installation and testing work, with EICRs providing a reliable recurring income stream from landlords, estate agents, and property management companies.