Level 3 Electrotechnical Qualification (5357)

You must hold a <strong>completed Level 3 electrical installation diploma</strong>: the City &amp; Guilds <strong>2365-03</strong> or <strong>2366-03</strong>, or an equivalent from another awarding body (for example the <strong>EAL 8202</strong>). You upload your diploma certificate during enrolment and our staff approve it before we register you with City &amp; Guilds. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) then credits your diploma, so you complete only the units still outstanding. You also need an <strong>18th Edition certificate</strong> (2382-22 or 2382-26) &mdash; the BS 7671 unit is claimed by proxy from it; if you don&rsquo;t hold one, you will need to complete the 18th Edition (Total Skills runs the <a href="/courses/18th-edition-wiring-regulations-2382">2382-26 course</a>). Holders of the <strong>2366-03 or EAL</strong> qualifications may book at the same &pound;2,200, but the extra knowledge units and assessments their diploma leaves outstanding are <strong>not included</strong> in the fee and must be completed separately before the qualification can be certificated &mdash; as set out in City &amp; Guilds&rsquo; exemption guidance; your assessor confirms them at your skill scan. The 5357-95 is the non-apprentice pathway, aimed at learners aged <strong>19+</strong> &mdash; younger learners should follow the apprenticeship pathway (5357-94). If you have not yet completed your Level 3 diploma, start with the <a href="/courses/2365-level-3-diploma-electrical-installation"><strong>2365 Level 3 Diploma</strong></a> first.

If you hold the 2365 Level 2 and Level 3 Diplomas, the City &amp; Guilds exemption guidance (Table 1D) sets out the outstanding units: the portfolio units <strong>102</strong> Apply Health, Safety and Environmental Considerations; <strong>106</strong> Organise and Oversee the Electrical Work Environment; <strong>118</strong> Termination and Connection of Conductors; <strong>109 or 110</strong> (specialist unit &mdash; installation or maintenance); <strong>113</strong> Inspect, Test and Commission Electrical Systems; and <strong>115</strong> Apply Fault Diagnosis and Rectification &mdash; all assessed by us through your OneFile portfolio. Plus two tested units: <strong>505</strong>, the online multiple-choice test for unit 105 (Understand how to Plan and Oversee Electrical Work Activities), which we deliver and include in the fee; and the BS 7671 unit <strong>022 or 026</strong> (one from), an online test claimed by proxy from your <strong>18th Edition certificate</strong> (2382-22 or 2382-26) &mdash; if you don&rsquo;t hold one, you will need to complete the 18th Edition first (Total Skills runs the 2382-26 course). Holders of the <strong>2366-03</strong> or of <strong>EAL</strong> qualifications (such as the 8202) have additional knowledge units and assessments outstanding &mdash; these are <strong>not included</strong> in the course fee and must be completed separately before the qualification can be certificated, as set out in City &amp; Guilds&rsquo; exemption guidance. Your assessor confirms your exact unit list at your skill scan.

The City &amp; Guilds handbook states that <strong>industry expects completion of the qualification to take a minimum of 24 months</strong>. This is deliberate: the Gold Card is meant to demonstrate consistent, repeated competence across a genuine range of work, so your portfolio is built from real on-site evidence over time. Most learners work as trainee electricians &mdash; typically on an ECS Trainee card &mdash; and earn while they build their portfolio.

Yes. Evidence for the skills units must be generated in the workplace or a realistic working environment, so you need access to a suitable range of electrical installation work &mdash; installation of wiring systems, termination and connection, inspection, testing and commissioning, and fault diagnosis. Most 5357 learners work as trainee electricians or improvers for an electrical contractor, typically holding an ECS Trainee card while they build their portfolio.

Once your portfolio is signed off and your City &amp; Guilds certificate claimed, the final step to your <strong>JIB/ECS Gold Card</strong> is the <strong>AM2 end-point assessment</strong> &mdash; a robust, timed practical and theory assessment delivered by NET (National Electrotechnical Training) centres. The AM2 can only be taken <strong>after</strong> the 5357 is complete; it is booked and paid for separately with NET and is not included in the course fee. With the 5357 and AM2 complete you can apply for your ECS Gold Card.

Total Skills assesses the <strong>performance (portfolio) units</strong> entirely through workplace evidence &mdash; there is no classroom attendance. You upload evidence (photographs of your work, work logs, certificates, witness testimonies) to your OneFile e-portfolio; your dedicated assessor visits your workplace to observe you carrying out real installation, testing and fault-finding work, and holds professional discussions to confirm your underpinning knowledge. We also deliver the <strong>unit 505 online multiple-choice test</strong> (for unit 105, Understand how to Plan and Oversee Electrical Work Activities), which is included in the fee. The BS 7671 unit (<strong>022 or 026</strong>) is an online test claimed by proxy from your 18th Edition certificate, so you do not sit it with us.

Bookings open on <strong>24 October 2026</strong>. City &amp; Guilds registration begins from <strong>1 November 2026</strong> &mdash; enrol before then and we will process your registration as soon as registrations open.

The course fee is <strong>&pound;2,200</strong>. You can pay in full at enrolment, or choose the instalment plan: a <strong>&pound;600 deposit followed by 5 monthly payments of &pound;320</strong> (no credit checks or finance agreements). A flex plan is also available &mdash; choose your own deposit (minimum &pound;600) and payment duration (up to 5 months). The fee includes City &amp; Guilds registration, assessor visits, OneFile portfolio support and the unit 505 online test. Holders of the <strong>2366-03 or EAL</strong> qualifications pay the same fee, but the additional knowledge units and assessments their diploma leaves outstanding are not included and must be completed separately before the qualification can be certificated. The AM2 is booked separately with NET.

The 5357 is the replacement for the 2357 NVQ, which closes to new registrations on 31 October 2026. The main differences: the new route is <strong>sequential</strong> &mdash; you complete your Level 3 diploma first rather than building the portfolio alongside it; completion is expected to take a <strong>minimum of 24 months</strong> of on-site evidence; and Recognition of Prior Learning applies to diplomas from other awarding bodies (such as EAL) as well as City &amp; Guilds. The destination is unchanged: the qualification first, then the AM2, leads to the JIB/ECS Gold Card.

The City & Guilds 5357 (Ofqual 601/6299/5) is the NVQ Level 3 on-site competence qualification that replaced the withdrawn 2357. Non-apprentice learners register on 5357-95 (Recognition of Prior Learning). It proves on-site competence and, together with the AM2 end-point assessment, completes the route to the JIB Gold Card.

A completed Level 3 electrical installation diploma — City & Guilds 2365-03 or 2366-03, or an equivalent such as EAL 8202 (which itself requires the Level 2 diploma first). The diplomas come first: the NVQ no longer runs in parallel with Level 3. The qualification is for non-apprentice learners aged 19+.

A minimum of 24 months building an on-site competence portfolio while you are working (for example as an ECS Trainee), with workplace assessor visits. Once the portfolio is complete, you sit the AM2 end-point assessment for your JIB Gold Card.

£2,200, or a £600 deposit plus 5 monthly payments of £320, or a flexible payment plan. Bookings open 24 October 2026, with City & Guilds registration from 1 November 2026.

Yes. Existing Total Skills Level 2 / Level 3 / L2&3 package learners can still sign up to the 2357 through their learner portal until 24 October 2026. The 2357 is closed to new public enrolments — everyone else takes the 5357.