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Total Skills UK

Home Study Electrician Courses in the UK

Study the theory of your electrical qualification 100% online, from anywhere in the UK, at your own pace. Practical training at our Nottingham centre only where the qualification requires it.

Our home study electrician courses are designed for adults balancing full-time work, family life, or a career change. You study when it suits you, with tutor support available whenever you need it — email, phone. There is no fixed classroom timetable to clash with shifts or school runs.

Where a qualification requires hands-on practical assessment, you come to our Nottingham training centre for practical days you book individually as you are ready — or combine 2 to 3 days into a short block where your schedule and the available dates line up. Level 2 typically needs 5 to 7 practical attendance days in total. Level 3 needs practical days plus in-person written exams. All the theory, mock exams, revision and e-learning happens from home. The 18th Edition exam can be completed entirely remotely with online invigilation.

What Home Study Means at Total Skills

  • Instant access to the online learning platform on enrolment — no physical pack to wait for.
  • Desktop, tablet or mobile — study through any browser, or install the iOS or Android app.
  • Self-paced — work through units as fast or as slow as you need. Typical learners study around 8 hours per week.
  • Tutor support — email and phone. You are not learning in isolation.
  • Unlimited mock exams on the platform — take and retake until you pass.
  • Remote exam option on selected courses, with online invigilation.

We do not ship a physical home study pack — everything is digital. You get going the same day you enrol.

Home Study Courses Available

Level 2 · Hybrid (online theory + Nottingham practical)

City & Guilds 2365 Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installations

The foundation qualification for anyone new to the electrical trade. 100% online home study theory plus 5–7 practical attendance days at our Nottingham centre — booked individually as you are ready, or combined 2–3 at a time where dates line up. Complete in 2–3 months flexible or 4–5 months weekends-only.

Level 3 · Hybrid (online theory + Nottingham practical & exams)

City & Guilds 2365 Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations

The next step after Level 2. Online theory across all Level 3 units, with practical days you book individually at our Nottingham centre and in-person written exams. Covers three-phase systems, fault diagnosis, and installation design.

Level 2 + 3 combined · Hybrid

City & Guilds 2365 Level 2 + 3 Diploma Package

Both qualifications in one combined enrolment. Most cost-effective route if you are starting from scratch and aiming for full Level 3. Includes a 2-day Wiring Regulations classroom session.

Level 3 Award · 100% remote option available

City & Guilds 2382 18th Edition Wiring Regulations — Online Exam Only

For qualified electricians needing to update their BS 7671 certificate. Study at your own pace and sit the exam remotely with online invigilation — no travel to Nottingham required. Covers the current 2382-26 (BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 "Orange Book") amendment.

Level 3 · Assessment-only · Workplace + Nottingham

City & Guilds 2346-03 Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA)

If you have been working as an electrician for 5+ years but do not have a formal Level 3, the EWA is the assessment-only route to full qualification. Most of the evidence-gathering happens while you work.

Level 3 NVQ · Workplace-assessed

City & Guilds 2357 NVQ Level 3 Electrical Installation

The workplace-based NVQ Level 3 route. Theory and portfolio work can be done from home; on-site assessment happens at your place of work. No classroom attendance required.

Who Home Study Courses Suit

Career changers

Studying around a full-time job in another industry — evenings, weekends, early mornings. You do not need to quit work to qualify.

Parents and carers

Who can’t commit to a fixed weekly classroom timetable. Home study fits around school runs and family responsibilities.

Electricians’ mates and improvers

Formalise the skills you already use every day without taking months off work. Evidence stacks up quickly when you already work in the trade.

Learners outside the East Midlands

Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or anywhere in England — the theory is fully online. You only travel to Nottingham for practical days on courses that require them.

Home Study vs. Traditional College Evening Class

AspectTotal Skills (Home Study)Traditional College Evening Class
Theory delivery100% online e-learningIn-person, two evenings a week
PaceSelf-paced, when it suits youFixed to college term timetable
Completion time (Level 2)2–5 months9–12 months
Tutor supportEmail and phone on demandOnly during scheduled class
Mock examsUnlimited online retakesLimited scheduled sessions
Practical5–7 days in Nottingham, booked individuallyWoven across the academic year
FlexibilityHigh — fit study around work and familyLow — miss classes, fall behind

Home study is not for everyone. If you learn best in a classroom with scheduled lessons, a college evening class might suit you better. If you want to qualify faster with the flexibility to fit study around other commitments, home study is the shorter path.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to live near Nottingham to do a home study course?
No. The theory is 100% online and works from anywhere in the UK. The only time you visit Nottingham is for practical days on courses that require them — and you book those individually as you are ready, or combine 2 to 3 days into a short block where your schedule and the available dates line up. Level 2 typically needs 5 to 7 practical attendance days in total. Level 3 needs practical days plus in-person written exams. The NVQ uses workplace assessment, and the EWA needs one or two days for the practical task and knowledge test. The 18th Edition exam-only course can be completed entirely remotely with online invigilation.
How much time will I need to spend studying each week?
Typical home study learners put in around 8 hours per week. That could be an hour each weekday evening plus a longer weekend session, or any other mix that suits you. You control the pace — study harder to finish sooner, or take it steady around other commitments.
Is home study the same qualification as a college course?
Yes — identical. We deliver City & Guilds-regulated qualifications, so the certificate you receive is the same one a learner at a local college would get. The difference is in how you study, not what you earn.
What if I get stuck on the theory?
Tutor support is included on every course. Email or phone — we usually reply within the same working day. There are also video walkthroughs of the harder topics and unlimited mock exams on the platform.
Can I pay monthly?
Yes. Every home study course has interest-free payment plans available. Select the plan at enrolment — no credit check, no interest, spread the cost over the duration of your course.
Do you ship a physical home study pack?
No — everything is digital. You get instant access to the online learning platform on enrolment, with digital workbooks, video walkthroughs, and mock exams. That means no waiting for a pack to arrive in the post, and you can study from any device.

Ready to Start Your Electrical Career?

No waiting lists. Flexible payment plans. Industry-recognised qualifications. Begin your journey this week.