Get the recognition you deserve with the Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA)

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Are you a practising electrician with years of hands-on industry experience?

Do you want to unlock new opportunities but find your lack of formal recognition is holding you back? 

If this sounds familiar, there is a solution. The Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA) offers a practical and achievable pathway to gaining the credentials to match your experience.

The EWA is tailored to electricians like you, who have been working in the industry for several years but haven’t completed an apprenticeship or achieved an equivalent recognised Level 3 vocational qualification.

Whether you’re an employed or self-employed electrician, you can complete the EWA in as little as three months and get your career moving forward – fully qualified to the industry Level 3 benchmark.

We offer two EWA routes: 

  • Installation Electrician
  • Domestic Electrician

Both routes are based on the same content as industry apprenticeships, so new entrants and existing workers are assessed and accredited against the same industry standard.

At NICEIC, we offer flexible payment plans to help you spread the cost, making it easier for you to achieve your goals without financial strain.

Ready to begin your application? Please complete the enquiry form below.  

Price: £1,395 (£1,674 inc VAT)

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Accredited by City & Guilds and developed by an industry group that included ECA, JIB, NET, Certsure, ECS and the IET.

Why choose the Experienced Worker Assessment with NICEIC?

NICEIC is the UK’s leading electrical certification body, trusted by thousands of electricians, householders and businesses. 

We’re committed to continuous improvement in the sector by supporting electrical professionals to develop their businesses and raise industry standards.

We've been training the profession for more than 20 years, and our rigorous standards ensure that anyone certified by NICEIC meets the highest levels of competency and professionalism.

With NICEIC, you’re not just getting a certificate – you’re choosing quality, reliability, and a brighter future. With our support, you’ll have access to the best resources, expert assessors, and a network of industry-leading professionals.

How the process works 

As a practising electrician, you need a qualification that recognises your existing achievements, so the assessment is structured around real-world evidence of your work.

At NICEIC, we also know you need to fit the completion of the qualification around your work schedule and other commitments, so you can continue earning a living.

Before you get started, you’ll need:

  • at least a Level 2 electrical qualification*, and
  • for the Domestic Electrician EWA route, a minimum of three years’ experience working as a domestic electrician (excluding any time spent in training); or
  • for the Installation Electrician EWA route, a minimum of five years’ experience working as an installation electrician (excluding any time spent in training).

*If you don’t hold a Level 2 electrical qualification, you may be eligible to complete the new Electrical Underpinning Knowledge and Understanding Test.

The EWA is straightforward and flexible – here’s what you need to do and know: 

Step 1: check you’re eligible by completing the Skills Scan and Candidate Background Form. This is a self-assessment process that will help you understand the depth of knowledge, skills and experience expected to complete the assessment and work out if the EWA is right for you. 

Skills Scan for Domestic Electrician EWA route

Skills scan for Installation Electrician EWA route

Step 2: a follow-up technical discussion to review and verify your Skills Scan and Candidate Background Form. We will also go through a process called ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ where we assess your existing qualifications, skills and experience against the EWA qualification criteria. For example, if you already hold the 18th Edition and inspection and testing qualifications, you won’t need to repeat these, making for a shorter overall process.

Step 3: fill in any gaps needed to complete the EWA qualification for your chosen route. This will be done via a combination of on-site assessment, portfolio building and (if required) undertaking the 18th Edition and inspection and testing qualifications.

Step 4: take the EWA end point assessment.  Once you’ve achieved the Experienced Worker qualification, you’ll need to undertake and pass the AM2E (Installation route) or AM2ED (Domestic route) Assessment at an independent NET centre.

Key benefits of choosing NICEIC for your Experienced Worker Assessment

The EWA is not a short cut to getting qualified. It’s a formal recognition of your experience and skills, backed by evidence of your knowledge and rigorous assessments. 

It allows you to be accredited against the same industry standards as your peers who have come through more traditional training routes.

Key features

  • Our streamlined process allows you to achieve your qualification while continuing to work.
  • We offer flexible payment options, so you can spread the cost and manage your budget without stress.

  • Qualify for your ECS Gold Card – on completion, you’ll be eligible to apply for an ECS Gold Card.

Candidates for NICEIC’s EWA are also automatically enrolled on our Student Membership scheme, allowing access to our Pocket Guide app, regular e-bulletins, Connections magazine (quarterly), live and on-demand episodes of our webinar series, The Wire, as well as industry-leading technical advice and support. 

And if you need to complete the 18th Edition and inspection and testing qualifications, we can organise these for you. Simply visit our online training shop to find the course(s) you need. 

Turn your experience into opportunity

In just a few months, you can formalise your skills, boost your earning potential, and unlock new career opportunities.

Benefits of completing the EWA

Apply for your ECS Gold Card

Once you complete the EWA, you’ll be eligible to apply for the ECS Gold Card, giving you access to:

  • Larger contracts and high-value projects requiring ECS certification
  • Increased earning potential as a recognised qualified electrician
  • Enhanced credibility with clients, employers, and industry professionals.

Access to NICEIC schemes and qualified supervisor status

Successfully completing the EWA opens doors to NICEIC certification. Once you’re qualified, we’ll support your application to join a range of NICEIC schemes, and help you gain status as an NICEIC qualified supervisor (QS), a key credential in the electrical industry.

Advance with further qualifications

The EWA also fulfils entry requirements for Electrician Plus–aligned qualifications. These industry-recognised qualifications are essential for those aiming to work with low carbon and renewable technologies, including:

  • EV (electric vehicle) charging installations
  • Solar PV systems
  • Electrical energy storage systems (EESS).

Don’t let your experience go unrecognised. With the EWA, you can formalise your skills, expand your qualifications, and move into future-focused electrical sectors.

Enquire today

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Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA) FAQs

The EWA is designed for practising electrical professionals who have built their knowledge and skills through years of hands-on experience, but who have not completed an apprenticeship or an equivalent recognised Level 3 vocational qualification.

It is not suitable for new entrants to the electrotechnical industry, apprentices, or those who have gaps in their knowledge or industry experience. If you are not currently working as an electrician, you will not be able to generate up-to-date evidence across the range of activity required for the EWA.
To register on the EWA, you will need:

Qualifications
Experience
  • For the Domestic Electrician EWA route, a minimum of three years’ experience working as a domestic electrician (excluding time spent in education or training).
  • For the Installation Electrician EWA route, a minimum of five years’ experience working as an installation electrician (excluding time spent in education or training).
The Skills Scan is a self-assessment process that determines whether you are eligible to undertake the EWA. The process helps you understand the depth of knowledge, skill, and experience required to complete the assessment. It is made up of two parts: a questionnaire and a technical discussion. The aim is to ensure from the outset that this is the right pathway for you.
Once we have received your completed Skills Scan and Candidate Background Form, our experts will contact you to arrange an online video meeting. During this session, we will review your responses and carry out a technical discussion. You will be expected to demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and experience equivalent to that of the relevant Level 3 apprenticeship standard.
To complete the Domestic Electrician EWA, you will need to pass the Electrotechnical in Dwellings Experienced Worker Qualification (2347), which requires you to:

1. Complete an EWA portfolio covering the following Level 3 performance units.
  • Apply Health, Safety and Environmental Considerations in Dwellings
  • Plan and Oversee the Electrical Work Activities in Dwellings
  • Apply Design and Installation Practices Including Termination and Connection of Conductors in Dwellings
  • Inspect, Test, Report and Commission Electrical Systems in Dwellings
  • Apply Fault Diagnosis and Rectification in Dwellings.
If you have not done so already, you will also need to complete the following to claim the Experienced Worker Qualification.
  • 18th Edition Wiring Regulations Qualification (2382 or equivalent) 
  • Initial and Periodic Inspection and Testing Qualification (2391-52 or equivalent) 

2. Once you have completed the Electrotechnical in Dwellings Experienced Worker Qualification (2347), you will need to pass an AM2ED practical assessment.

Note: the AM2ED can only be undertaken once the Electrotechnical in Dwellings Experienced Worker Qualification (2347) has been completed and must be taken at an NET licensed centre. To find your nearest centre please visit www.netservices.org.uk/find-a-centre/
To complete the Installation Electrician EWA, you will need to pass the Electrotechnical Experienced Worker Qualification (2346), which requires you to:

1. Complete an EWA portfolio covering the following Level 3 Performance Units:

Mandatory units:
  • Apply Health, Safety and Environmental Considerations
  • Organise and Oversee the Electrical Work Environment
  • Terminate and Connect Conductors
  • Inspect, Test and Commission Electrical Systems
  • Apply Fault Diagnosis and Rectification.
Specialist unit
  • Apply Design and Installation Practices and Procedures.
And you will also need to complete the following to claim the Electrotechnical Experienced Worker Qualification:
  • 18th Edition Wiring Regulations Qualification (2382 or equivalent)
  • Initial Verification Qualification (2391-50 or equivalent)

2. Once you have completed the Electrotechnical Experienced Worker Qualification (2346), you will need to pass an AM2E practical assessment.

Note: the AM2E can only be undertaken once the Electrotechnical Experienced Worker Qualification (2346) has been completed and must be taken at an NET licensed centre. To find your nearest centre please visit www.netservices.org.uk/find-a-centre/
Evidence used in your EWA portfolio must be based on current work carried out in the UK, so it can be properly verified and assessed on-site. This is a standard requirement set by awarding organisations for quality assurance purposes. It’s important to ensure you can generate this evidence before registering for the EWA.
The EWA process typically takes between 3 and 18 months. The duration depends on your ability to generate the required on-site evidence and whether you already hold some of the necessary qualifications. Most of the time will be spent building your e-portfolio and undergoing on-site assessments.
The cost is £1,395 and includes:
  • Assessor support via an e-portfolio platform
  • Three portfolio progress reviews
  • Two on-site assessments
  • One final portfolio review.
Note: this cost does not include the required end-point assessment (AM2E or AM2ED), or any additional qualifications needed to complete the EWA.
Yes, we offer flexible payment plans to help spread the cost. You can start your journey today with manageable payments over time.
No. If you already hold these qualifications, you will not need to take them again. However, you will need to provide copies of your original certificates.
Yes, you can apply. However, you must complete both before the EWA can be awarded. These qualifications must be booked and paid for independently of NICEIC’s process.
No, the AM2E or AM2ED assessments must be booked and paid for separately from NICEIC’s process.
If you are completing the Installation Electrician Experienced Worker Assessment and have previously passed the AM2, you will not need to retake the full AM2E assessment. Instead, you will be required to complete a supplementary AM2E unit.
The specific unit you need to complete depends on when you originally passed the AM2:
  • Before April 2010: you will need to complete the Testing and Safe Isolation supplementary unit.
  • After April 2010: you will need to complete the Containment and Safe Isolation supplementary unit.
Please note: some AM2 assessments conducted in 2010 took place after the April transition. NET will confirm which supplementary unit applies to you as part of their application process.

For more information, visit the NET website: AM2E Supplementary Units - NET.
At least one performance assessment must take place while you are carrying out work on-site with the assessor physically present. You will also need time to complete your portfolio, which can be done during or outside of work hours. The time required will vary depending on your existing experience. If you need to complete the 18th Edition or inspection and testing qualifications, you may need to attend an approved centre. You will also need to visit an approved NET centre to take your AM2E or AM2ED end-point assessment.
With the EWA, you can formalise your skills and take advantage of new career opportunities faster than you might expect. In just a few months, you can be ready to apply for your ECS Gold Card, allowing you to:
  • Work on larger contracts and higher-value projects that specify ECS cards as mandatory
  • Earn more as a fully qualified electrician
  • Gain recognition and credibility with clients and employers.
Access to NICEIC schemes and registration as an NICEIC qualified supervisor (QS)
  • Completing the EWA opens up access to a wide range of NICEIC schemes. Once you’ve completed the assessment, we can support you to apply for one or more of our electrotechnical schemes and, if successful, to register as an NICEIC qualified supervisor.
Further qualifications
  • Achieving the EWA also meets the learner entry requirements for registration on Electrician Plus-aligned qualifications. These meet the mandatory technical competence requirements for qualified supervisors and employed persons responsible for the installation of low carbon and renewable technologies.
  • This can open up new business opportunities in fast-growing sectors such as electric vehicle (EV) charging installation, solar PV and electric energy storage systems (EESS).