Loading...
Please wait while we load your content
Loading...
Please wait while we load your content
The step-by-step pathway for career changers and adult learners to become a fully qualified electrician through the City & Guilds 2365 diploma route.
The adult diploma route is the most popular way for people aged 18 and over to become a qualified electrician without a traditional apprenticeship. It uses the same City & Guilds 2365 qualifications that apprentices work towards, but delivered through intensive classroom and workshop training rather than a 3-4 year employer-based programme.
This route is ideal for career changers, ex-military personnel, those facing redundancy, and anyone who wants to enter the electrical trade as an adult learner. You do not need any prior electrical experience to get started — just motivation and a willingness to learn.
At Total Skills, we deliver the 2365 diplomas through a hybrid model: online theory combined with practical workshop sessions at our training centre in Nottingham. This gives you the flexibility to study around existing commitments while still getting the essential hands-on experience.
Six steps from complete beginner to fully qualified electrician
Foundation
Your starting point. The Level 2 Diploma covers the fundamentals of electrical installations including electrical science, health & safety, wiring systems, and basic inspection & testing.
Advanced
Building on Level 2, this covers complex installations, fault diagnosis, electrical design, three-phase systems, and advanced testing procedures.
Industry Standard
The UK standard for electrical installation. Every practising electrician needs this qualification to understand and apply the current wiring regulations.
Essential Competence
Proves you can carry out initial verification and periodic inspection of electrical installations. Required for signing off your own work and self-employment.
On-Site Assessment
An on-site competence assessment based on evidence of real work. Once complete, you can apply for your JIB Gold Card.
Fully Qualified
The industry-recognised proof that you are a fully qualified electrician. Required on every construction site in the UK and by most employers.
The Level 2 Diploma is your entry point into the electrical industry. It covers the core knowledge and skills every electrician needs, delivered through a combination of online theory sessions and practical workshops at our training centre.
The course typically takes 14-16 weeks to complete with our hybrid delivery model. You will study theory online at your own pace, then attend practical workshops to develop hands-on skills with real equipment and wiring systems.
The Level 3 Diploma builds on your Level 2 knowledge and takes you to a higher level of competence. It covers more complex installation techniques, fault diagnosis, electrical design and calculations, and three-phase systems.
This qualification typically takes 16-20 weeks and follows the same hybrid delivery format. Level 3 demonstrates to employers and clients that you have an advanced understanding of electrical installations.
Save by enrolling on both the Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma together as a combined package. You get a discounted price and a guaranteed place on both courses with a seamless progression plan.
The package is the most popular option for career changers who are committed to completing the full diploma pathway.
View Package Details & PricingLooking to leave your current career for a skilled trade with strong earning potential and job security.
Transitioning from the armed forces into a civilian career. ELCAS funding may cover up to 80% of your training costs.
Using redundancy as an opportunity to retrain in a high-demand trade with excellent long-term prospects.
Flexible scheduling means you can study around existing commitments and transition gradually into a new career.
No. There is no upper age limit. You need to be at least 18 to enrol, but we regularly train learners in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond. The adult diploma route is specifically designed for mature learners.
There are no formal entry requirements for the Level 2 Diploma. You do not need GCSEs, A-levels, or any previous electrical experience. You should be comfortable with basic maths (fractions, percentages, simple algebra) and have a good level of English.
Yes, many of our learners work alongside their studies. The hybrid delivery format (online theory + practical workshops) is designed to be flexible. However, the NVQ Level 3 specifically requires you to be working on real electrical installations to gather evidence.
Costs vary depending on whether you take individual courses or bundle packages. We offer interest-free payment plans, and funding may be available through ELCAS (armed forces) or City & Guilds bursaries. Visit our course pages for current pricing.
Yes. You earn exactly the same City & Guilds qualifications. The JIB and employers recognise both the apprenticeship and adult diploma routes equally. The only difference is the route you take to get there.
The Level 2 Diploma takes around 14-16 weeks, and the Level 3 around 16-20 weeks. The 18th Edition and 2391 can be completed in 1-3 weeks each. The NVQ requires 6-18 months of on-site evidence. In total, most learners are fully qualified within 18-24 months.
No waiting lists. Flexible payment plans. Industry-recognised qualifications. Begin your journey this week.